We are the Devitt's and we include me, Mom (Jaz), and Dad (Mike), and our 5 children.

The Eldest, Destiny is 14 and just finished Middle school.

Our only son, Alex is 13 and just finished 7th grade.

Then there are the 3 little girls all in Elementary, 3rd grade and under.

Sierra is 8, Angelique is 7 and Nakiya turns 6 in August.

2016 was a really tragic year for us and we are trying our hardest to turn 2017 around!

In 2016 we suffered a car accident in March resulting in my losing my Teacher job at the YMCA and my bus driving job at Disney. Then before we could recover my mother passed in May. I inherited her car by June which helped with the total loss of my car from the accident. I found new employment at another school starting in August but our Landlord wanted the past due balance by September or we had to move. We paid what we could but agreed to leave without involving the courts and adding fees.

By October 1st we were squeezing seven into a motel room built for four. We changed motels twice finding one of the same expense but larger in size, more like a studio apartment with a full kitchen, one large closet and even a small balcony. Between my working as a Teacher and Michael working as a Cocktail/Server at TGIF still we managed to pay off some debts and maintain the motel by the week. However in-spite of our constant searching, calling and emailing we have not been allowed into a 3 bedroom due to our family size and all the 4 bedroom apartments are on a waiting list, some years long. Even the Orlando Housing Authority has closed their wait list for being 3 years long!

However, after 2 months of experiencing terrible migraines and multiple hospital and doctor visits, Mike lost his job at TGIFridays inspite of medical documentation.  Because of this we have now had to leave the motel for a temporary shelter with no A/C in this Florida heat, no refrigerator to keep food cold and fresh and are having to use a single cooler and daily bags of ice just to keep a few daily needs cold.  The only true perk to where we are now is that we are not spending $380 a week on the motel and can begin saving our funds to make this move more possible.

After much prayer for the road to rise up where it is God's will, as well as much stress and repeat heartache as time slips by, we finally starting looking in Iowa where my father and siblings live.  

Rather quickly we found a 4 bedroom apartment (on the first floor, great due to my MVA spinal injuries) willing to not only approve us but offer only a $250 deposit (already paid) and no application fees! We also found out there will be no Pet deposit or fees to bring our 2 cats currently at a foster home! Talk about rising up, there are no deposits needed for our utilities either and best of all its in Ames, Iowa, a college town with lots of schools and restaurants for us both to work at. I also plan to get a Notary commission in Iowa and continue to do weddings and mobile notary work as I did in FL.  

Ames has the best rated schools in the state from Preschool to College, all schools in their district have Gifted/Talented programs (even better since all five of my children passed testing as Gifted here in FL). This will put us 30 minutes from my Dad in Des Moines and about an hour from my younger brother in Iowa City who recently married and had his first child! I grew up spending my summers in Manson, IA with my Dad and siblings.

Having experienced the countrysides of Iowa and the city life of Florida, we are ready for a different pace of life and there really is almost nothing left for us here in Florida since my Mom, Grandma EE, passed away.

To make our VICTORY over HOMELESSNESS happen we need the following funds:

$1200 Rental Truck one way FL to IA

$500 Rental Truck Gas to Iowa (cargo)

$300 Toyota Sequoia Gas to Iowa (family)

$200 for the 2 motels over the road in TN ($110) and IL ($90)

$300 for the 3 meals for 3 days for Seven over the road

$1200 First Month's Rent for August at New Apartment

TOTAL WE NEED = $3700

We need help with raising the funds (and yes even $5 helps), Prayer is always needed and even if you have no funds to spare please help us by sharing our link for the more shares we get the more of a donation the company "FreeFunder" will give to us (up to $70 for 500 shares on Facebook)!!

Also, maybe you have Gas Gift Cards or Fast Food Gift Cards you'd like to send to help reduce the cost of Gas and Food on our trip?

Maybe you want to "SPONSOR" a specific part of our trip like paying for the motel in TN or IL?

We are open to any and all contributions that would make this trip possible, for WE are the Body, and through Christ ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!!... Including a fresh start on life, in a new place with family who love us, and a chance to leave all the sad memories of our past in Florida behind...

Please stand with us in any way you can!  If you would rather make a donation via PayPal or in person feel free to contact me at [email protected] directly.

Even though we are leaving Florida we love all our friends here and will always cherish our good memories with all of you!

God Bless,

Mike & Jaz, Destiny, Alex, Sierra, Angelique and Nakiya.