Goal- $500,000 bucks!
FAQ: Understanding the Housing Goal
(a.k.a. the “Yes, We Thought This Through” Section)
Why is the fundraising goal $500,000?
Yes, we know. It’s a big number.
We noticed too. We stared at it for a while after we stared at housing prices.
The goal reflects the combined cost of purchasing a modest home and making the accessibility modifications required for Charlie’s medical and mobility needs.
Adaptive renovations are expensive and, inconveniently, do not significantly increase a home’s resale value. This isn’t about buying something fancy. It’s about buying something usable.
The goal is not “investment property.”
It’s “a house where daily care doesn’t feel like a physics experiment.”
What kinds of modifications are needed?
Charlie’s care requires a home that works safely for him and for the people caring for him.
Examples include:
- A fully accessible bathroom, likely designed so the entire bathroom functions as a shower. Lifting Charlie is becoming unsafe, especially in wet environments. Slipping is bad. Very bad.
- A large bedroom with space for Charlie, his bed, and extensive medical and therapy equipment, including food supplies, respiratory machines, mobility devices, bath chairs, therapy balls, and monthly medical shipments. (Yes, monthly. No, they do not arrive neatly.)
- Future accommodation for a Hoyer lift so transfers can be done safely as Charlie grows. Gravity is undefeated.
- Open living areas to allow wheelchair access and space for in-home therapies.
- Covered parking for a wheelchair-accessible van, because transferring a medically fragile child in a Texas thunderstorm is not an enriching experience.
- Solar panels, to help offset the high electrical usage required for medical equipment and frequent hot-water sanitation. Charlie’s equipment does not believe in energy conservation.
Why doesn’t a smaller home work?
Because Charlie’s care takes space.
Safety, storage, and accessibility are not optional add-ons. A smaller home would require compromises that increase injury risk and reduce the ability to manage care at home.
This is not about luxury.
It’s about function.
No one is asking for marble countertops.
We’re asking for room to safely exist.
What size and type of home is being considered?
The plan is to purchase a modest 4-bedroom home, approximately 1,800 square feet or larger, in a decent, accessible neighborhood.
This allows space for:
- Charlie and his care needs
- Olivia
- Tristin
- Momma
- Visiting family
- Storage, therapy activities, and equipment that refuses to live quietly in a corner
Why this location?
The search is focused on areas with reasonable access to Charlie’s established and future medical care, including specialty hospitals and services he relies on.
Momma is from the Fort Worth area and has family and support connections there. Proximity to appropriate medical providers is essential for both routine care and emergencies — because medical emergencies are rude and rarely schedule themselves.
Why is this being done now?
This transition is happening now due to the conclusion of a custody case, not having a place to live in MA, and an approved relocation closer to extended family support in TX.
Charlie, Momma, and Olivia will initially stay with family, which provides critical emotional and logistical help during the transition. However, the available space is limited and not suitable for Charlie’s long-term medical and accessibility needs.
In addition, consistent hands-on caregiving support cannot be fully established until appropriate housing is secured and the family can function under one roof.
Stability isn’t just comforting.
It’s required.
Why can’t Charlie’s mom work a traditional job?
Charlie requires around-the-clock care due to complex medical needs and a circadian rhythm disorder that causes him to sleep and wake in short, unpredictable cycles throughout the day and night.
Traditional employment does not mix well with “might need you at 2:17 a.m.”
Income is currently supplemented through writing, sewing, and art, with long-term plans dependent on care availability and Charlie’s evolving needs.
(This information is provided for context and is not part of the housing cost calculation.)
Is this fundraising about profit or investment?
No.
The home is intended to be:
- a safe living space
- medically functional
- stable for Charlie’s long-term care
The renovations are purpose-built and unlikely to add resale value.
This is not an investment strategy.
It’s a care strategy.
Where can I learn more?
If your curiosity is satisfied and you’d like to return to GiveSendGo, thank you for taking the time to understand the details.
If you’d like to help but don’t want to restrict your gift solely to housing, you’re welcome to do that here.
More background, updates, and context about Charlie and his needs can be found at:
If you’re here because you wanted clarity before deciding how to help, that’s exactly what this page is for.