Hi everyone, it’s Jaz again.

I want to update you on what’s happening right now because things have gotten even harder.

Recently, severe storms hit the East Coast. My tent - the only shelter I had - didn't make it and got completely destroyed. While I didn't capture the tent collapse on video - you can watch the very moments before it happened here: SEVERE WEATHER LIVESTREAM + UPDATES from my TENT

After the stream ended, rain started lashing around. Chloe really needed to go to the bathroom, so I took her outside. It was incredibly lucky I did, because within moments of leaving the tent, the table (as seen in the photo) was blown over by gale-force winds.

On top of the table were makeshift shelves made out of a shoe rack. There was a toaster, cookware - pots, pans - glassware, utensils, slide-out boxes with food, glass jars, and my lamp. Many things were damaged or lost in the storm. 

That table could have easily fallen on us.

When we got back to the tent, there was no space for me even to step inside to stay dry. I'm also on crutches, as a result of being injured due to having no choice but to live in these conditions. So I had to toss my crutches into the tent, then get Chloe to cross the pile of the mess that had fallen so she could shelter on my mattress at the back of the tent. I had to get her safely across broken items, and there had even been a pot of water simmering on the table that had gone everywhere too. 

Rain started coming in, the power board was still turned on with rain getting in everywhere. I stood out in the rain, it being so cluttered that I had to try and lift the table - again, with nobody around to help me. 

I did my best to grab all of my disability-related needs - my iPad (which I rely on when I’m non-verbal), the charger for my watch (which I use for medication reminders, alarms, and to check my heart rate because of my medication), and make sure I had all of Chloe’s things (her bed, blankets, food, assistance dog lead and MindDog vest) as well trying to get to Chloe to keep her dry.

A local community group on the coast helped rescue me in the middle of the night (thank you!!). It was dark, cold and still pouring down with rain. Two of the community members (also Autistic) braved the storm alongside me and helped me escape. I had to try to pack what I could and leave before it got any worse. A lot of my belongings were damaged, and now I don’t even have a safe place to sleep.

Going back to the tent site with my support worker on Monday to face the damage was incredibly tough.  The tent itself was not salvageable. I couldn't watch as it was put in the bin. I pushed on to clean out the tent despite a lot of pain in my foot.

There are a lot of items to replace, and I don't have the financial resources to do it. Local crisis services lack the funding to provide what I need; they only stock smaller-sized tents for people without disabilities. 

This loss has been devastating, and I don’t even have anywhere safe to process my emotions.

As a result of this, I’m experiencing autistic burnout - a profound exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwhelming sensory and emotional challenges. It’s making it even harder to cope with everyday life and fight for the support I need.

Despite everything, I’m still here, still fighting for fair, accessible, and compassionate changes to the NDIS so that no one else has to endure what I’m going through.

Thank you so much to everyone who has signed and shared this petition. Your support means everything to me.

Please keep sharing this petition - it truly helps.

If you can help me get a new tent that's big enough for me to live in with my assistance dog, please donate here:

GoFundMe: Homeless - Disabled and Nowhere to Go

Your help and support are greatly appreciated. 

I'm so grateful for those who have helped me get through this period of time, you all know who you are. Thank you.

I'm not giving up, but my brain and body have gone into overload and I'm operating at limited capacity right now. The best you can do to help me is to share my petition and support me with my GoFundMe. 

Together, we can create change. 

In solidarity and strength,

- Jaz

Ps. For those who have "chipped-in" to this petition, a huge thank you, but please note that that money goes to change.org - as a way of getting the petition shown to more people, in hopes for more signatures. Donations to my GoFundMe go directly to me. 

Thank you again.