Tofiq’s Tale – A Home Of His Own

This is the hardest thing I’ve written because it’s a huge but necessary & desperate ask. Tofiq is a neighbour of my family in northern Iraq, Kurdistan. He is 45, disabled and lives with his mum who has diabetes. He loves birds, especially pigeons, they are the joy in his life. As well as being disabled Tofiq has kidney failure and needs to travel to the hospital in another town three times weekly to have dialysis. For the last three years they have received no money from the government because the government are not paying any disability benefits, due to a row with the Baghdad govt over oil revenues. Even when they did pay benefits it wasn’t enough to cover their full living costs but did relieve the pressure for them slightly. They have relied on neighbours, friends & begging to raise the money needed for their other living expenses including Tofiq’s transport to the hospital and medical charges. This sometimes means that he can’t have the dialysis 3 times a week, which is his minimum need, and is dependent on whether he has enough money for the medical bills or not. Often he will have to go without a session. I have been helping to pay their rent, from my wages for the last 3 years, hence why I live in a modest house share and more often than not look like a scruff! However Tofiq’s landlord is now selling the house they rent and so they will be evicted and made homeless. There is no system currently in place to help them and they have no family able to help. There are no other houses in the area to rent, I have already checked. Tofiq’s mother is widowed but is not sad about that as they suffered horrific domestic violence from Tofiq’s father, who also spent the family money on drink and gambling, thus leaving the family, with no home of their own. So the big ask is I’m trying to raise enough money, £18k (18 thousand pounds) to purchase the house from the landlord so that they can continue living where they are, where the community helps feed them & provides help with medical expenses, and will not be homeless. I would like Tofiq and his mother to live in the house without worry for the rest of their natural lives, which for Tofiq will not be as long as many of the rest of us. After this time the house will be used for homeless disabled, or domestic violence sufferers. Whoever is most in need at that time. I know this is a big ask and I’ve really no idea wether I will achieve this or not but I must try for Tofiq and his Mum. £18k is not a lot, in comparison to the UK, for a house of their own but would make a world of difference to them. If you can donate, collect from friends, colleagues, neighbours, faith groups, work places, save pennies, please do. I am sending this to everyone I can think of, please do the same. I need your support in giving this my best shot for Tofiq. Even if I can only raise some money I’m willing to take a loan for the rest. In gratitude for the wonderful friends, colleagues, peers and community support I have always had, Hayley.