A better crowdfunding site than GoFundMe?

[moriah]

Last edited Wed Sep 24, 2014, 10:40 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm kind of in a crisis, and I wouldn't come to DU about it, except that I'm not sure what else to do.

As you're aware, I am on SSDI. When I got my backpay and was able to pay off my bills (including the money I owed the guy who was nice enough to let me stay with him while I was going through my approval process), I thought I had a roommate who was willing to share the expenses on a place with me. She bailed at the last minute, and I found another roommate who really did need me -- the one who was recently acquitted of shooting a wife-beater.

Sadly, though, for the last several months she has not been able to pay her rent. I wasn't about to kick her out when I knew her trial was coming up -- too soft-hearted. But it's gotten to the point where I had to put last month's rent on a credit card, and this month I will have to give up the place I'm in and get a new place.

I found one I will be able to afford easily ($525 a month, all utilities paid, where I'm paying $1000 on this place without the renters paying me anything), the trouble is they are requiring a $500 deposit, which I do NOT have, and there's no way I can come up with that money. I can't keep paying the bills on this place and my landlord wants me out by the 30th. A friend suggested to set up a GoFundMe, but given their stance on abortion funding, I don't want to give them money from any donations that anyone might make to help me get into this new place.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I mean, if I'm evicted I can get on the homeless shelter waiting list, but there's no way I'd be able to keep my cat, and he's what keeps me going. Without him I wouldn't even get out of bed most days. I checked on public housing, since i qualify, but their waiting list is 3 months, and I have to be out sooner than that.

Any thoughts, energy, prayers, etc, to perhaps finding a place that won't charge that kind of deposit would be greatly appreciated as well.



--------------------------

Update:

Thanks to the generosity of both DUers and one person who said they were from the Conservative Cave, I'll be able to pay the deposit now!

You guys have no idea what kind of weight this has taken off of my shoulders.

You all rock, and I wish all of you the best... and if any of you ever need anything, PM me!

[catrose]

1. Youcaring.com

No fees. They do add some to your donation but you can change or delete the fees.

An acquaintance used the site to pay for genome sequencing in his cancer treatment, and I used it to help a friend whose house flooded.

Best wishes to you & your cat.

[moriah]

2. Thank you -- I just don't want to support anti-choice fundies.

Appreciate the best wishes for me and my kitty.... he's been laying on me all day, knows something's wrong. He's a good cat.

[catrose]

3. I understand

I've stopped dealing with GFM for the same reason. Let us know when your page is up. Kitties are worth all the effort!

If you qualify for Meals on Wheels, they bring pet food too. And my rescue, when someone calls to ask us to rehome a cat, we ask what it will take to keep the pet. It's easier to find money for deposits, vet care, whatever than to find foster space for another cat. I know you'll get what you need to stay with your cat.

[moriah]

5. I would hate to have to even consider surrendering him.

I've even got a script for him from my doctor, as an "Emotional Support Animal".

I think MoW only serves seniors in my area, there's just not enough funding for us younger agoraphobes. But thank you so much for your suggestions, and well-wishes. I'm trying not to stress but ... well, can't help it.

[moriah]

6. My friend Jennifer decided to set up the YouCaring one, Indegogo seemed too confusing for her.

The link is here if anyone wants to share it.

http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/help-crystal-and-ash-avoid-homelessness-/238558

Thank you all.

[WillyT]

4. Try:

Link: http://tinyurl.com/ohq3p9z

[politicat]

7. K&R

[moriah]

8. BTW: to the "Conservative Cave" member who donated -- thank you!

I tried to send you an email thanking you, because every bit *does* help, but the email bounced.

So, anyway, here's a public thank you.

[tblue37]

9. Do you have a page set up now? If so, please provide a link.

Never mind--I see the link now. I will donate this afternoon when I get home to my desktop.

[catrose]

10. Your eyes are sharper than mine

I haven't seen the link yet but would be glad to donate.

[catrose]

11. Duh

Never mind. I thought that was someone's example. I kept looking for an edit to the original OP.

[moriah]

12. Sorry hon! I wasn't thinking, guess I shoulda updated the OP.

But thanks to all of you, the goal amount has been reached!

I'll edit the OP to reflect that.

I am truly amazed at the generosity of DUers! (And Cavers, too, for that matter, was not expecting that!)

[tblue37]

16. That's exactly how I missed it myself at first. nt

[moriah]

13. Don't stress, goal was reached! But thank you so much for offering.....

.... I'm still in awe right now.

I had Jennifer log in and post an update that the goal was reached, but she said she can't figure out how to turn off donations to the account. So I'll probably have to hack at it with her later this afternoon and make sure that it's no longer accepting donations. $500 was all I needed, and it's already up to $562.

I'm totally floored and grateful!

[catrose]

14. EVEN THOUGH GOAL WAS REACHED

I wanted to donate anyway, and maybe others will too. So don't touch that dial, wherever it is! We can see that the $500 was met--yay!--but moves always cost more than planned/wished/hoped, and I'm happy for you to have a bit of a cushion. Fancy Feast for Ash, something special for you--or just something to throw at life's little/big emergencies. Somehow life always expands to swallow income, I've found. Blessings for a happier future to you both. I know your generosity to your beleaguered but nonpaying roommates will come back to you.

[moriah]

15. Thank you again, hon.

I wasn't sure if it would show that the full amount had been reached, since one was an offline donation -- they preferred to use Paypal directly rather than go through YouCaring. Glad to know it does show that.

And yeah, I couldn't imagine kicking someone in her situation out when she couldn't pay the rent -- it took a lot of sweet-talking to even get my landlord to let her stay here, since there was a trial pending. I also knew it wasn't her fault she couldn't pay the rent. At least now, without the trial hanging over her head, she can start over -- she's already checking back at the places that wouldn't hire her while the trial was pending to see if she can get at least a part-time job to go with her current one (which is finally giving her more hours since she has privileges at the local military base again). And landlords won't discriminate against her anymore, so she can actually get her own place too -- already found one, since she got her bail money back.

I can tell a huge difference already with her now that this weight is off of her shoulders -- it's like she can finally breathe again. And sleep, too. She said the morning after her acquittal that she got her first decent night's rest in a month.

And thanks to all of you guys, so can I.