Mother may lose children if she can't find housing

You may have seen the posts popping up around Facebook.

A mom in need.

In danger of losing her two children if she can't find housing for the three of them.

The husband who is making it impossible for her.

With a court-ordered deadline looming like a guillotine sawing rope, cutting through the days she has left, I can only imagine the fear in that mother's eyes.

When Rachel Olson first PM'd me about this tragic situation, my heart immediately went out to her friend, Amy. Having grown up in a very similar situation in which my own father successfully incinerated the family finances (while insulating himself), preventing my mom from buying a house, forcing her to go back to work—for not one but two jobs—just to keep us kids fed and a roof over our troubled brows. I sympathize with Amy and her situation.

Divorce is ugly. The reasons each of the spouses has is valid. I don't care who did what, I worry about those kids. They are the ones who will be made to suffer, and that's just unconscionable.

Rachel and I went back and forth about her friend in a private chat. I asked her questions. She replied. I asked more. At one point, Rachel said she wanted to keep Amy's identity secret; she was concerned for her safety. I agreed.

If you've ever known someone in an abusive relationship then you understand the constant threat of fear, punishment, the barrage of hurtful words and restrictions, the toxic environment that shuts down good people. The future is bleak, without intervention.

It's nearing the end of September and Amy could use some help. It's been nearly a month since the judge gave Amy her deadline and she's trying like heck to get her kids out of her ex-husband's house and into a peaceful, loving environment with her. You may be asking yourself right about now who am I to judge this guy, and you'd be right, but ask yourself this question: Would you trust your kids with a spouse who is trying to make you homeless?

Since then, Rachel has been trying to help her friend gather enough money to move out. So far it's been a difficult road. It shouldn't be, but it is. It's not easy asking people for money. We don't really know Amy. We're aren't friends. We aren't neighbors. We don't even go to church together.

The T-shirt drive Rachel hosted was a flop. The fundraising drive isn't going very well either. For whatever reason, Amy's situation isn't reaching enough hearts.

I have an idea. It may be a long shot, but I can almost bet that all of us have some gently used clothes, shoes, and toys and nicknacks that could find some new homes. Just like them, help Amy and her two children find a new home.

Have a tag sale. Have a yard sale. And send Amy these little angels to help her on her way.

Here's where to find more details about the fundraiser to help Amy and prevent her from having Christmas without them. God bless. http://www.gofundme.com/443mnk.