What is the best way to fund-raise for a friend?

[rurounihime]

Soooo... I've never done this before. I have a longtime friend who is currently homeless with her husband and three children. They're trying to find the best way to raise money (read: they are not begging for help; I offered) but she is legally blind because she has no money for her prescription and therefore can't work. This also causes problems with her husband leaving to work, as they have the kids to take care of. They have a car but little else in the way of wordly belongings.

I'm just wondering... What is the best way to raise money online for another individual? I'm going to help her with her prescription, but I can only do so much. Are there any reputable sites or third party groups that you guys trust to get the money where it's supposed to go? Somewhere I can set up an account for my friend and her family?

How does this even WORK??

Comments

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

I've had luck with gofundme. Just set it up, explain the situation, then start pimping like hell!

Make sure to set a goal that's realistic in terms of what they need. I would say at least 2-3 months expenses and then add $1500 for unknown other costs. I'll help spread the word once it's set up.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Thank you SOOOO much for such a speedy response. Wow. I don't even know where to begin. I'm going to see my friend this weekend and I'd like to present her with some options. She and her husband are absolutely work-capable, but it's incredibly hard to find work when you can't even shower more than once a week, you know? They had some shitty things happen to them all at once, culminating in this. I feel (and she does, too) like if they could just get themselves into a rented apartment for a month or three, they'd be able to get their feet under them.

I will research the site and I'll definitely let you know what she decides to do.

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

Look into long-stay hotels. Those are a good option when you don't have the money for the deposit on an apartment. There are also often people looking to rent out their houses for a month at a time on places like craigslist.

Where are they and where are they looking for work?

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

They're in Sacramento, CA. From what I understand, they will get an allowance through a housing program that amounts to a little under $700.00 a month for rent if they can just FIND a place, but so far she's had no luck finding something for that price that will allow 5 people. They did a few weeks in a hotel as part of another program, but that time period has run out so they had to leave.

I didn't even know about this until tonight and it's been this way for several months, apparently. It's overwhelming.

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

Okay, so Sacramento is pretty expensive. I would say plan on asking for about $12,000 as your goal. That should be good for 2 months rent and living expenses plus a little extra on the side.

The nice thing about gofundme is that you can set it up so it sends you the money as it's donated. So, for example, say you get $700 in one day, that $700 (minus a small fee) is put into your account and shows up 3 days later.

The sooner you set this up, the better. We can plaster this all over fandom and facebook and maybe raise some money for them.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great system. Okay, let me run it by my friend. I'm pretty sure she'd like a hand in this, to be involved and not just receiving money with no connection to the givers. I'll talk to her tomorrow.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Okay, here it is! *crosses fingers* Thank you so much for your help.

gofundme.com/fqnij8