Family launch Indiegogo campaign to buy young woman with autism a home of her own

Alexandria, Virginia, United States – We love to meet and connect with people via twitter and recently we ‘met‘ Molly Herbst, who is mother to Karlie, a 24-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of seven. Karlie’s sister, Katherine Herbst has launched the Indiegogo campaign, Raise this House for a Young Woman with Autism on Jan 19 with the aim to raise $40,000 by February 18, 2015 when the campaign will close.

Below is a short video, Who is Karlie? — Raise this House Intro Video, that explains how Karlie’s friends and family are all supporting her in her quest to be able to buy a small condo that is for sale behind the pet store, where she works in the town. Thus is also not too far from the family home.

You can find the Indiegogo campaign; Raise this House for a Young Woman with Autism https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/raise-this-house-for-a-young-woman-with-autism

We got in touch with Molly, as we wanted to learn more about Karlie and the campaign.

She firstly told us that Karlie is extremely close to her sister, Katherine and brother Taylor, and that they live in a tight knit community. At present Karlie lives in her parents’ home, in a basement flat. Molly explained that this is so that she can help Karlie with her driving, food and any other basic needs. She further added:

“She is quite independent but will need me very very close. That is another reason we want her in the area.”

We asked Molly about how they came up with the idea for the campaign, she told us:

“The idea for the campaign came one day when I was reviewing a statement from social security that stated Karlie had received too much money from the state to qualify for services. They said her $700 a month was too much to earn. (well below the amount needed to live in our area, about $2000 a month) Anyway, Katie ran with it and that is how it began.”

The family have moved a total of six times in Karlie’s lifetime; have lived in six different states and six different cities. Therefore the family now feel settled and want Karlie to feel settled too. She loves her job at the pet store. The condo situated behind the store would be ideal for her living needs and her aim of achieving independence.

The Indiegogo page tells of Karlie’s love of animals and life in general. Molly told that Karlie has loved animals all her life.

“She talks to them and they talk to her. She is our very own Dr. Dolittle! Our home has always been full of animals because of Karlie. What a kind soul!”

Although Karlie lives a happy life she still needs and requires the support of her family and the road to where she is now has been a rocky one.

“She has had her fair share of troubles and now is an amazing woman. She will never be fully independent but this campaign will help.”

At present Karlie has to walk a mile to reach the pet store where she works, from her small rented basement flat. Molly voiced that as Karlie is a young woman “in the middle of the Autism spectrum, [she] is unable to work a full-time position where she would make a living wage. She is very fortunate to have her position at the pet store, which provides enough income for basic living, but is currently unable to live independently.”

Katherine tells on the Indiegogo page that she:

‘strongly believe that Karlie deserves her own life and her own place in this town that she cares so much about. She has given all of herself to this community, and we hope that our community will come together to give back to her.’

The condo that the Herbst family wish to buy for Karlie is on the market at $169,000.

‘With her own place to call home, Karlie would be given not only a sense of independence, but also an easier commute both to work and to the metro, which she uses to get all over the DC metro area. Your small donation can help to give this beautiful soul a space that is her own for the rest of her life.’

The Herbst family ultimately want Karlie to achieve her goal of complete independence.

You can find the Indiegogo campaign; Raise this House for a Young Woman with Autism https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/raise-this-house-for-a-young-woman-with-autism