Help James Go Home After Irma!
Donation protected
Meet James
He's a cute kid, right? He's a mostly happy two-year-old who lives with his parents, Jennie and Phil, and their dog Tucker!
They make a pretty cute little family.
Unfortunately, they had a pretty nasty surprise in store for them last fall.
On September 11, 2017 Disaster struck!
When Hurricane Irma passed through Central Florida, it caused a massive pine tree to fall onto James's home. While this might not look like much, the tree caused serious damage to both the roof and the structural integrity of one of the primary walls of the house, rendering it unlivable - especially for a two-year-old who refuses to stay out of the places he shouldn't go!
This caused a lot of expenses for James's parents. These included the costs of removing the tree, getting a tarp to protect the inside of the house from the elements, hotel expenses, and - when they realized they weren't going home anytime soon - rental expenses as well.
Despite putting up the new tarp right away, some of the elements made it into the house, causing water damage. This resulted in the need to remove all the carpeting and tear up pieces of the ceiling and walls. In addition, to protect the contents of their home, all their belongings had to be removed and put into a secure storage unit.
Seven months after the hurricane, the family still hasn't gone home. This has resulted in even more expenses - especially when it comes to paying for both rent and mortgage costs.
And since the house hasn't been repaired in so long, now even the slight repairs the family could afford are starting to not hold water (pun intended).
To make matters worse, the insurance company and James's family lawyer haven't been able to agree on how much the repairs cost, and so the need to pay both rent AND mortgage will continue well into the next hurricane season!
This means the house will not be repaired by the time the new hurricane season begins, making the house much more vulnerable to future damage.
While the insurance gave James and his family some money for rent, that money is pretty much gone. In addition, James's parents used up all of their savings and liquidated a 401K in order to stay afloat. Eventually, the insurance company should give them the money they need to help cover the cost of repairs, but even then, they are totally under water with costs they won’t be reimbursed for.
If you help James and his family, where will your money go?
Depending on how much money James is able to raise, these are the expenses that your funds would help cover:
1. Additional rent payments.
This will keep the family from having to either move back into an unsafe living environment or default on their mortgage.
Currently, they have a lease until the end of July, but even if repairs started today, the house would not be fixed until after this time. As such, the family has to either go to a month-to-month rent that is double the cost of what they are paying now (over $3000 a month!) or they will need to find a new apartment at a new complex - where they will have to pay to break the lease early once the house is ready for them to move back in.
2. Removal of additional house-threatening trees.
There are four other extremely tall pine trees on the family's property, that probably can't handle another hurricane season. If they aren't removed before the fall (hurricane season in Florida), James could find himself without a home much longer.
This is a cost the insurance company will not pay for, so without your help, these trees aren't going anywhere! Except maybe into James's house (although they really hope not).
3. Money towards initial repairs.
In a perfect world, the family would love to be able to start repairs, even before the insurance company pays them. However, there are some pretty hefty up-front costs that have to be incurred before the work can begin.
James doesn't have access to that kind of money. He's only two years old. And his parents don't have that kind of money either.
James can't do it alone!
James and his family have really tried to pull through this disastrous situation on their own for as long as they could. But things aren't getting better faster enough, and they really need the love and support of others.
The whole family will be forever in your debt.
He's a cute kid, right? He's a mostly happy two-year-old who lives with his parents, Jennie and Phil, and their dog Tucker!
They make a pretty cute little family.
Unfortunately, they had a pretty nasty surprise in store for them last fall.
On September 11, 2017 Disaster struck!
When Hurricane Irma passed through Central Florida, it caused a massive pine tree to fall onto James's home. While this might not look like much, the tree caused serious damage to both the roof and the structural integrity of one of the primary walls of the house, rendering it unlivable - especially for a two-year-old who refuses to stay out of the places he shouldn't go!
This caused a lot of expenses for James's parents. These included the costs of removing the tree, getting a tarp to protect the inside of the house from the elements, hotel expenses, and - when they realized they weren't going home anytime soon - rental expenses as well.
Despite putting up the new tarp right away, some of the elements made it into the house, causing water damage. This resulted in the need to remove all the carpeting and tear up pieces of the ceiling and walls. In addition, to protect the contents of their home, all their belongings had to be removed and put into a secure storage unit.
Seven months after the hurricane, the family still hasn't gone home. This has resulted in even more expenses - especially when it comes to paying for both rent and mortgage costs.
And since the house hasn't been repaired in so long, now even the slight repairs the family could afford are starting to not hold water (pun intended).
To make matters worse, the insurance company and James's family lawyer haven't been able to agree on how much the repairs cost, and so the need to pay both rent AND mortgage will continue well into the next hurricane season!
This means the house will not be repaired by the time the new hurricane season begins, making the house much more vulnerable to future damage.
While the insurance gave James and his family some money for rent, that money is pretty much gone. In addition, James's parents used up all of their savings and liquidated a 401K in order to stay afloat. Eventually, the insurance company should give them the money they need to help cover the cost of repairs, but even then, they are totally under water with costs they won’t be reimbursed for.
If you help James and his family, where will your money go?
Depending on how much money James is able to raise, these are the expenses that your funds would help cover:
1. Additional rent payments.
This will keep the family from having to either move back into an unsafe living environment or default on their mortgage.
Currently, they have a lease until the end of July, but even if repairs started today, the house would not be fixed until after this time. As such, the family has to either go to a month-to-month rent that is double the cost of what they are paying now (over $3000 a month!) or they will need to find a new apartment at a new complex - where they will have to pay to break the lease early once the house is ready for them to move back in.
2. Removal of additional house-threatening trees.
There are four other extremely tall pine trees on the family's property, that probably can't handle another hurricane season. If they aren't removed before the fall (hurricane season in Florida), James could find himself without a home much longer.
This is a cost the insurance company will not pay for, so without your help, these trees aren't going anywhere! Except maybe into James's house (although they really hope not).
3. Money towards initial repairs.
In a perfect world, the family would love to be able to start repairs, even before the insurance company pays them. However, there are some pretty hefty up-front costs that have to be incurred before the work can begin.
James doesn't have access to that kind of money. He's only two years old. And his parents don't have that kind of money either.
James can't do it alone!
James and his family have really tried to pull through this disastrous situation on their own for as long as they could. But things aren't getting better faster enough, and they really need the love and support of others.
The whole family will be forever in your debt.
Organizer
Jennie Jarvis
Organizer
Winter Park, FL
