Nationwide — Kahnai Jackson, a 27-year-old African American single mom from Los Angeles, California, has been dwelling in her automobile along with her two younger kids since shedding their house within the L.A. wildfires. Regardless of the devastation, Jackson has been unable to get authorities help as a result of she didn’t have the paperwork to show she lived there.Jackson was renting a room in an Altadena house when the Eaton Fireplace swept by means of the neighborhood. The hearth destroyed the home, however as a result of her rental settlement was casual, she had no lease or utility payments in her identify. With out official proof of residence, she doesn’t qualify for catastrophe reduction.
“Being a renter, you don’t get something just like the house owners do,” Jackson advised Fox LA. “I simply didn’t have the paperwork to get the assistance they have been giving.”
For the reason that hearth, Jackson and her kids, 5-year-old Jeremiah and 8-year-old Jenia, have been shifting between motels and sleeping of their automobile. She’s additionally a full-time nursing pupil and picks up aspect jobs at any time when doable to make ends meet.
“I’m working, doing aspect jobs, or no matter I can to get cash,” she stated. “However I can’t work as a lot as I need to as a result of I’m in class a lot of the day. Then I’ve to select up my youngsters by 6 — it’s lots.”
Regardless of these challenges, Jackson is set to offer a greater life for her kids. She not too long ago began a GoFundMe marketing campaign in hopes of elevating sufficient cash to search out secure housing. The marketing campaign has raised almost $19,000 to this point.
“I’m simply attempting to be sturdy and provides them a secure basis,” she stated. “In order that they received’t suppose that is regular.”
