I somehow didn't realize that a friend of mine had ended up where we all don't want to be, and where I have actively worried about being for the last year since my building sold--homeless. Now she has started a gofundme page to help get out of the homeless shelter with the overconfident mice. (Read more!)
May I introduce the lovely (and funny, and very good at swearing, though she doesn't do it here) Sam Whyte, who asks, "Help Me Back To Orange Street". (But where, we may ask, is Orange Street, exactly?)
Help Me Back To Orange Street
Well, this is awkward. No, it’s more than awkward, it’s an abdication of dignity and I really hope you wont think too badly of me. I left a very solid and dependable field of employment to do something stupid and frivolous for less money. It was great and I don’t regret it, except there’s no sick pay. If you are occasionally laid up and unable to do owt then it’s the difference between poverty and penury.
I’m loathe mention "charitable work"; firstly because you don't give your labour freely then assume to get something back; secondly because I know a lot of you will object, as I do, to the notion we should only help those who've been fortunate enough to be in a position to make a contribution in the past. But if it helps my case ...
I have happily done lots of community work alongside paid work; I have done free research, policy, and copy writing for the LGBT Foundation and additional digital support work for Mind ; I even kept a digital peer support project going on a voluntary basis after the funding ended because I was really committed to it . Now I need some help back and it bloody kills me to ask for it, but ask for it I must ...
As some of you may know my flat was sold by my landlord late last year after they went into administration and I had to put my possessions into storage. I am currently staying in a room in a council hostel with most of my things in a storage container.
Staying in these conditions has been incredibly difficult and my mental health has suffered to the point where I cannot work enough to put any money aside. I need some money to get a flat deposit sorted and get my possessions, furniture and white goods out of storage.
Living out of a hostel in unsustainable in the long term and has such a negative impact on my health that I'm currently caught in a vicious circle.
It's shit. It's SO shit. There's no wifi and a grotty kitchen and bathroom I share with 12 other women. Not only are there mice crawling about, they seem in no way fazed by humans. I'm struggling to live in the same environment as over-confident mice. I feel like Robert Smith in the Lullaby video, only less compellingly sexy and with literally no musical accompaniment.
If you are able to help I would be extremely grateful. If not then that's completely cool too.
Much love,
Sam
I have happily done lots of community work alongside paid work; I have done free research, policy, and copy writing for the LGBT Foundation and additional digital support work for Mind ; I even kept a digital peer support project going on a voluntary basis after the funding ended because I was really committed to it . Now I need some help back and it bloody kills me to ask for it, but ask for it I must ...
As some of you may know my flat was sold by my landlord late last year after they went into administration and I had to put my possessions into storage. I am currently staying in a room in a council hostel with most of my things in a storage container.
Staying in these conditions has been incredibly difficult and my mental health has suffered to the point where I cannot work enough to put any money aside. I need some money to get a flat deposit sorted and get my possessions, furniture and white goods out of storage.
Living out of a hostel in unsustainable in the long term and has such a negative impact on my health that I'm currently caught in a vicious circle.
It's shit. It's SO shit. There's no wifi and a grotty kitchen and bathroom I share with 12 other women. Not only are there mice crawling about, they seem in no way fazed by humans. I'm struggling to live in the same environment as over-confident mice. I feel like Robert Smith in the Lullaby video, only less compellingly sexy and with literally no musical accompaniment.
If you are able to help I would be extremely grateful. If not then that's completely cool too.
Much love,
Sam
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