I'm raising £2,600 to help prevent homelessness.

Hi, my name is Darby, I'm a disabled and chronically ill writer and former illustrator. I have multiple sclerosis, hyper-mobility-spectrum-disorder, complex PTSD (SA and DV survivor), among some other health and mental health related issues, and I live alone. Over a year ago, in late 2023 my landlord's representatives informed me that they would be increasing my rent.

As I was (and still am) relying on housing benefits to help pay most of my rent due to my ill health, this meant I was unable to meet the increase. Which meant I started to get into arrears with my rent. In March of 2024 my current landlord attempted to evict me with a section 8 notice. This notice was improperly issued, not filed with the court, and was ultimately unenforceable.

The did, however, further increase my rent. The local council hasn't been particularly helpful in this matter, and despite being band 1 priority for housing, I've had exactly one property offered in the 18+ months I've been on the housing register - a property that was advertised as being wheelchair accessible, but it turns out, was not.

Now, on May 1st, just days before my 38th Birthday, I was served a second Section 8 eviction notice. This one has been properly filed, and I'm expected to appear in court at the end of May, with eviction proceedings beginning on the 1st of June.

As many might be aware, most smaller local charities and homeless prevention schemes have been shut down, or have been so severely underfunded that they can no longer offer one-on-one support. The council continue to be useless and the person who has been allocated to deal with my homelessness application works only part time and is now on annual leave.

By the time she gets back and processes my application, then forwards my case onto a proper housing officer, chances are, it'll be too late.

Currently my only avenue to prevent the immediate Section 8 eviction proceedings is to pay off all rent arrears, which total approx £2,900 including the rent that is due this month. I've managed to raise £300 myself so far by selling personal belongings, but I need help and support. I'm doing all I can and will continue to try and sell everything I'm able to, cut back further (if possible) and do what I can to fight this, but I'm very, very worn out. My mental health is in serious decline, and my physical health symptoms are getting worse due to the stress of the situation.

I've had to ask for help a lot, and you'd think it would get easier. But it doesn't. Situations like this make disabled people feel like failures. Like burdens. I don't want to feel like a burden, or a failure, but I also don't want to give up.

So, I'm asking for help again, because I don't know what else to do. Thank you for reading, it means a lot.