Urgent Help Needed for Young Family Facing Housing
Donation protected
We are a humble couple from Portugal, residing in Dublin for over 4 years, and our journey has been marred by constant stress since day one. Despite being hardworking and leading a simple life, we find ourselves in a desperate situation. Unbeknownst to us, we endured subletting in our apartment for about 2-3 years, discovering too late that our landlord was a scammer who vanished, leaving numerous bills in my name. This forced us to shoulder the debts of the scam artist.
Over time, various flatmates fled without paying rent, and since my name is on the lease, the financial burden fell on me. I am currently facing an eviction notice, and the panic is overwhelming. We came to Dublin seeking a better life, but these circumstances have left us worse off. While returning to Portugal is an option, our situation changed two months ago with the arrival of our newborn, and going back is no longer feasible.
My partner receives €262 per month from the state, and due to her high-risk pregnancy, I had to quit my job, leaving me without any income. Attempts to seek help proved futile. We applied for Rent Supplement, receiving only €45 per week. In essence, we are surviving on €300 per week to cover rent arrears of €4,000, a rent delay of €2,780, and bills for electricity and hot water. This leaves us with around €300 per week to manage food, bills, and necessities for our baby.
We've never asked for help before, and I've never been one to expose my struggles. However, we are at a breaking point. With the cold weather approaching, there's a fear of essential services being cut off, especially concerning the well-being of our baby. Any assistance, especially for food, would make a significant difference. We appreciate your support during this challenging time.
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Ricardo Cardoso
Organizer
County Dublin
Marlene Gil
Team member