Hello my name is Teri and I am an Alameda fire survivor. Although the Alameda fire happened in Talent, Oregon in 2020 I am still lost and looking for direction. I have been an artist and photographer for 20+ years. (you can view my work here: fineartamerica.com/profiles/teri-schuster) I lost everything I owned and held dear in the Alameda fire! 20 years of my own photography and 30 years of my own artwork along with countless other precious irreplaceable items. Since the fire in 2020 I made many attempts to seek any amount of help from my community, nonprofit groups, the government and FEMA. No one could have prepared me for the nightmare that would follow after losing everything in the Alameda fire!!
Instead of being met with compassionate, patient and understanding by staff/employees of my community, the nonprofit groups, the government and FEMA I was faced with being bullied, harassed and threatened by FEMA employees. All because I was trying to stand up and defend myself. I reached out to everyone I thought would be willing to help stop all the abuse from FEMA employees and was met with silence! I contacted Senators Wyden and Merkley, The legislative chair for Jackson county Pam Marsh, several local attorneys, the local DA, FEMA itself, the local newspaper, other newspapers outside of Oregon that I thought would care enough to want to run a story, local police and sheriff. No one would help me get out of the dangerous situation I was in while living in a FEMA trailer park. NO ONE was willing to stand up against FEMA claiming they were untouchable!
After almost waiting two years for housing assistance and being constantly harassed by FEMA and its employees I gave up and moved in with my mom. During this time in the FEMA trailer park my dad had passed away leaving my mom to live alone. My 12 year old kitty, Cheetoe had to be put to sleep the following year! As much as I want to be here for my mom, I long to have my independence back. See…the townhome that burned down below the foundation in the Alameda fire was my home that I rented for 11 years. My entire life was wrapped up in that place! I just want to have a space I can call my own again where I am free to be me (if I even know who that is anymore?) where I can exhale and heal from all I have lost and been through! My own space where I can create new art again!
I am asking for assistance here because I also suffer from medical issues from a car accident back in 2001. I have not slept more than an hour every 3 days in 25 years. I also suffer from PTSD, severe Fibromyalgia, Dercum’s disease, an anxiety disorder, nerve damage and pain along with restless leg syndrome. I have tried so many different avenues to resolve my sleep with no success! for example; hypnotherapy, acupuncture, sleep meds both over the counter and prescribed. These medical issues make it difficult for me to find work let alone even get through the interview process so I could afford my own place again!
So my wish here is to have enough money to purchase a small piece of property and a tiny home where I can heal, create a new normal and just try to live again instead of survive! I have never begged or asked for money from anyone before! I have always been very independent, never relying on anyone else to help! I have always been the one to gladly help others, now I am in need of some help and thought it could not hurt to get on here and ask/beg for some! Really what do I have to lose at this point? If you have gotten this far, thank you for taking the time to read my story and thank you in advance should you decide to help me in some way achieve my wish! venmo.com/schustert