Urgent homelessness crisis

this is my friend's story

- I am staying at a motel because the only available shelter in my area that I'm eligible for* was extremely hostile to me as a disabled/chronically ill person, with staff making extremely hurtful and disgusting comments regarding my needs and directing me to sleep outside whenever I voiced any concerns. They are religiously run so they are exempt from the ADA and I have no recourse about this treatment. *(I am not eligible for the few others available; I'm a non-veteran with no children, and my abuser was not an "intimate partner", which makes me ineligible for DV-specific resources.)

- I ended up in the ER with RSV after less than two weeks at the shelter. NO windows in the building open, and they do not use ANY air filters. Nearly EVERYONE there was sick, and there is ZERO clean air indoors. They also do not enforce hand-washing or cough-covering whatsoever, so, many residents don’t do either, even after the bathroom; yet, cooking and cleaning are handled primarily BY residents (who are not required to do so properly or safely). I was VERY lucky I didn’t get Covid & Norovirus too, as most shelter residents had at least one of the three, including those who cook/clean and refuse handwashing.Going back is not an option.

- I am in the “housing pool” but waitlists are so full they’re closed anyway, and there are no housing programs open, or planning to. It’s just wait, hope, and try to survive until a spot opens up somewhere.

- The motel is roughly $500 per week depending on daily changing rates. I have already spent almost all of my benefits for the month on the motel so far, which hasn’t even covered half the month. I have NOWHERE else to go, no friends with couches available, and no family support.

- My city has been making news headlines for cops raiding homeless encampments, destroying belongings and tents, and arresting both the homeless and even volunteers. Being unhoused is effectively illegal, while only the ONE shelter is available, which treats disabled peoples' lives like dirty garbage.There are also severe concerns of theft and assault among those sleeping outdoors, especially as this is a high-drug-use area. It is also winter in the PNW. It is about to be very, very cold outside.It is overall NOT a safe area to be sleeping outdoors even without disabilities, but relocating is also not currently an option for me.

- I am desperate and need help to stay sheltered as long as possible, hoping that subsidized/supportive housing opens up before I have to sleep outside, where I'll be tremendously at risk of harm and even arrest. Please consider donating to help cover as much time at the motel as possible.The goal is set at $1000 as a placeholder as I don't know how long this will be my situation.