I left an abusive relationship of eight years, when I was at the end of my pregnancy, with only twelve dollars to my name, and a van. I knew I needed to raise my baby away from the harmful father. It didn't occur to me I was being abused or that I was living a dangerous lifestyle until I became pregnant and thankfully, it opened my eyes.
I moved over five times during my pregnancy in order to stay out of homelessness. Living in a small rural area, no one would hire me due to my pregnancy. I was uneligible for low income housing because for years a let my ex trash my credit, believing him that "credit doesnt really matter."
I moved three more times after my child was born. And unfortunately I now have to move again. Every place has been temporary and I would really like to have as stable home for my children. I also have a nine year old.
I havebeen doing a lot of soul searching and have found that I really would like to give back to the community the same way I have been helped out. If it wasn't for countless warm hugs and words of encouragement, I know I wouldn't have made it.
I have found a beautiful home here in my town, and the rent is quite reasonable. My idea is to run a starter buisness out of it. The property is zoned to be both a residence and a business. The place would be a resource center for single parents with infant children, to use computers and fax machines, and internet. There will be a baby play area in the center of the room, with desks surrounding the play area for parents to watch their children play while they use the internet.
I know one of the hardest obsticles to overcome has been, how to go to school, without putting my baby in childcare 40 hours a week, and pay the bills.
I know there are a lot of moms and dads like me who have small children who do not want to see their children put in child care with strangers. Online courses are perfect for parents and children, however it is difficult to go to school from home and take a test with a screaming child in your arms. It is also hard to learn how to get it all done online without any experience with online classes and the internet. And it took me a long time to find a place with a computer I could use and an internet connection.
My center would provide my support as I have learned how to do these things, and it would allow parents to stay in the same place as their children. Also if someone does not have a computer or printer or fax, they have those resources at my center.
I know there are internet cafes, and WiFI places at Mc Donalads, or the library. But time on the computers is limited, and the settings aren't baby friendly. They are also costly, I would like my center to be free or low cost, as the people attending do not have any money, like myself, but perhaps have determination and will and just need the opportunity given to them.
This center is a home environment for both children and parents to thrive and suceed. This place would also be available to people wishing to start up a business, but lack the resources like a laptop or internet.
I have a lot of detail I could continue to tell you, but the basic point is that I lack the immediate funding to move into this place.
Since I am going to school fulltime, and I am not currently working, I can not prove that I can make enough income to afford the place.
However I have already some people who need me to babysit, but I can not until I am in there. There are also programs that help me pay for rent and move in fees, but I have to have signed a lease first. And the landlord doesnt want to sign a lease until I can prove I have some income.
I would also like to either have a foster child in the home, someone who is desiring a loving family as much as I am desiring to provide one, or possibly housing at least one endangered pregnant woman at the house. It is large enough for me to provide this service, but I can not even do anything until I can get into the door.
Due to my bad credit, I can not get a loan to start this business. And although I am sure there are programs available to get me started with a business like this, I know I will not be able to recieving funding immediately. I am trying every avenue I can think of, but I am running out of time.
I have until the end of the month to move into a new place, I can not find a place to rent that will let me move in with no money and no credit.
I don't know how I could start working right now, as I am not set up with a day care provider, and although dshs does provide help with day care, the process takes a few weeks and I still have to find someone to watch my children that I can trust.
Its seems quite backwards to put my children in daycare, to start a daycare business where I can work at home and take care of my children and continue schooling.
I am in the week of finals, so i have no idea how I would be able to start work until at least another week or two, and that is if someone would hire me. I have applied at a few places, but since I live in a small town, I can not get hired anywhere until the begining of January.
Also my nine year old will be having christimas break soon, so both my children would have to be in daycare, while I wokred and then I wouldnt have time to do my school finals or see them. Even if I did get hired right away, and found day care right away.
So to sum it up, I need your help.
Your help will allow me to move into this home, provide a home for me and my children, a place where I can babysit immediately ( the people I am living with now will not let me babysit here), and start making money enough to pay the bills, in conjunction with financial aid and my TANF. I am only a couple hundred dollars short a month. I will be able to get the proper paper work taken care of to open the business, get the computers and software, internet connection for the local public, baby stuff so the parents can change their chidlrens diapers and so forth, and a place for at least one endangered pregnant woman to stay for free until she is ready to be on her own.
I would like to add that if this woman is going to school, she will have the option to stay with me as long as she likes, even if she wants to be a doctor. I don't care, I just want to provide the community with the reasources I have been desperate for.
I know this buisness will do well, day care centers alone do well. But I know that a buisness centered around the idea of helping single parents with infants get education and skills while still being in the same room with their children is a much needed place.
I do not want to be homeless again, or have my children in a shleter, or have to go back to that horrible relationship. And I do not want to get in contact with the father to ask for money, because I do not want him to know where we are. he is just too dangerous.
If your still reading this and would like to help, I would gratefully appreciate it. If you also have any knowledge about helping me start up a web based business, I would be grateful as well. I think it would be a good idea to have a web business, to create revenue and also the parents can set up profiles on the site and save their work and progress, without having to lug around papers and files, and would be able to access their portfolios and work from anywhere in the world. Giving them more opportunity.
Again thank you all so much for your help. Its because of you that I will be able to make this dream a reality!
Please contact me if you would like to help give me direction to people who can help me start my buisness for free. Also I do not need money as much as I need donations of furniture and computers, and a changing table, I also do not have a bed. So all forms of help I will be grateful, not just money. Thank you all so much again.
