FIGHTING EVICTION NEED TO REHOUSE OUR FAMILY

I honestly don't even know where to begin... 
So much has happened
But I also want to be as transparent as possible and tell the full story so folks understand the weight of everything 

My family and I 
(my mom, sister, best friend-all pictured)
Got our 1st eviction notice over a year ago 
The 3 of us were homeless for a few years after my moms late husbands passing 
but by some outrageous miracle got our section 8 in a raffle and have lived in our current home for 10+ years 
I met Darlene (my best friend) shortly after moving in 
She came to live with us a few years later after having trouble at home 

A little over a year ago my mom her girlfriend at the time and my little sister moved to Vegas
Kind of just looking for a new and safer and more affordable space 
During their transition we got our first eviction notice 
It's been primarily Darlene and I trying to navigate this new space of fighting to live somewhere that's been home for so long  

**also some points I just kind of don't know how to insert into the story, 
After my family moved out Darlene and I became friends with a handful of other young qtpoc folks who all ended up being kicked out of their living spaces for being queer
So our house became this really beautiful new found safe space and grounding for ourselves as well as like 5 other people
Mind you were on section 8 and more than half of the people that are technically supposed to be living there are in Vegas 

I think for a long time after getting so many notices we were all at a stand still of how we resist not only on a individual and household level but as a community 
So we started doing Porch Poetry in the front of our house 
(which the video is of) 
As a way to fund raise for lawyers and things as well as for us to move  
While also cultivating and sharing this new found space that we built within the house for ourselves
and just taking up space in our hood that is getting uber rapidly gentrified ultimately resulting in our eviction  

it's been a really confusing, taxing, exhausting, manipulative, and draining uphill battle and game 
For the 1st couple of months our landlord was using a lot of scare tactics to try and push us out 
Giving us a ridiculous amount of notices 
Locking us out the gates 
Trying to evict us for things that aren't within legal reason and just overall harassing us 
We live in a 4plex and hes only evicting the folks on section 8 because its easier and we aren't protected by rent control 
Our neighbors have already moved *who have lived here longer than us*

So fast forward to now, 
We recently paid for lawyers because he finally actually filed an unlawful detainer 
So, once your landlord files an unlawful detainer you don't pay rent till your actual court date when its determined if you stay in the unit and back pay all the rent or use the money you've saved to move out 

Before we even could get to a court date
The worst thing that could honestly have ever happen happened 

One night Darlene my partner Victor and I were out with some other folks heading to a party 
Not realizing the area we were in had a history of hostility and violence  towards black and queer folk 

Some people came up to Victor and I trying to rob us and Victor was shot 
Victor passed March 10th 

It's been almost 2 months now and I swear to God everyday is just as confusing as the 1st
It's crazy, even writing this doesn't feel real 
None of it makes sense
I almost feel like I'm lying
Like I'm gonna wake up 

After his passing Darlene and I went up to Oakland for his services and ended up staying for about a month 
Just being in his space, with his family and loved ones 
Mourning and grieving and holding each other 
And cant even remember when we got back 

But when we did we were met with a new notice asking for all the rent we had saved up over the past couple months
While we were gone our landlord got our original case dismissed so we basically lose everything and are possibly looking at having to start this whole process over again of fighting a U.D and paying for lawyers and waiting for a court date and all the things 

Our landlord also wont let us have Porch Poetry anymore 

I think we are all just so tired 
I know I don't have anymore fight in me 
And just want to move 

Our Section 8 voucher is for a 2 bedroom 
So our max is 1,970 for a new apt.
So to move into most spaces its just about  4,000 upfront as well as the application fee 

We literally have lost all of our savings 
And are hoping to get back to 5,000 just so we can cover all the costs that come with moving and anything in between

I KNOW THIS IS ALOT TO READ
I hope this makes sense and isnt hard to follow 
I think I just didnt want there to be any confusion or space for assumption when asking community for so much money

I didn't include any photos of Victor, felt like it would be a out of place but
I do want to acknowledge that  not just here but everyday we are honoring Vick and carrying him with us 
Everything I do is in his name