02 June 2023 , 14:22
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A man is crowdfunding to escape a drug-ridden "zombie apocalypse" neighbourhood - after "constantly tripping over bodies."
Darren Stallcup, 26, has decided to leave San Francisco, US, and is seeking to raise $6,000 to relocate after lamenting how his community has completely changed.
He said he no longer feels safe in his flat after it was broken into multiple times, and stepping over bodies and needles has left him "traumatised."
Mr Stallcup wrote on his GoFundMe page: “It is with heavy heart that I’m saying goodbye to my apartment in the Tenderloin. I can no longer live in a neighbourhood where I’m constantly tripping over bodies, faecal (matter) and needles.
He has raised half of his target (GoFundMe)"Our community has become uninhabitable. This is a humanitarian crisis. My apartment has been broken into multiple times. All of the stores have been ransacked. Living in the Tenderloin has been a traumatizing experience and it is time to move,” he continued.
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Mr Stallcup said his neighbourhood has been riddled with the use of fentanyl,” adding that the dire situation is “taking a serious toll on my mental, physical, and spiritual health."
People are being warned about the dangers of the drug (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)“Tents block the sidewalk. I go to sleep to the sounds of emergency sirens and awake to the sounds of people screaming. It’s not just the constant reminders of drug use and violence, but also the fear and anxiety of being in this environment", he added.
He believes if he stays any longer in the community his life could be in danger, adding: “My life is in immediate danger living in The Tenderloin."
So far, he has raised $3,865 out of a target of $6,000 after receiving donations from over 70 kind-hearted strangers.
The "zombie drug" is spreading across the US (KTLA)The 26-year-old said he needs the money in order to be able to afford to move, adding: "Times are tough. Moving is very difficult in San Francisco. Unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to move out on my own.
"That's why I'm reaching out to the community for help. I am asking for any support you can offer to help me move out of the Tenderloin and into a safer environment. I respectfully raise $6,000 which I believe is an achievable and modest goal that will allow me to relocate immediately."
He said the money will go towards the costs of moving, the first and last month's rent, and any additional expenses associated with the move.
Tenderloin has been labelled the epicentre of the region's fentanyl crisis after the San Francisco mayor London Breed declared an emergency in 2021.
The city has seen 647 drug overdose deaths in 2022, which is a slight increase from the year before and is on track to beat last year's record.
According to the Medical Examiner's Office, a fifth of the deaths have occurred in Mr Stallcup's community.
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