Hi, my name is Leigh Sauser, a retired 80-something year old Chocolatière. I’ve lived in the same house in Laguna Beach for over fifty years. In 2023, my house endured a landslide. Needless to say this has been an incredibly stressful time: a restoration/repair project that was estimated to be $165,000 has ballooned into a $300,000+ project. Let me tell you, this is not what I expected my “golden years” to be like.

Watching the land slip quietly and gently down the hill was a searing sight. The process to secure the hillside has been extremely complicated and is unfathomable to me!

I’m emotionally and financially dependent on my property and the income from two legal ADUs. Unfortunately I have not been able to rent these for three years due to the precarious nature of the hillside.

Finally, construction has begun. Last week, while documenting the progress, two of my neighbors were walking by and called to me from across the street inquiring what was going on. I invited them to see what was happening. As we chatted, they said “you need help, what about a GoFundMe account?” I was completely taken aback when complete strangers cared enough to offer assistance. Talk about having my confidence restored in the goodness of neighbors! I was left speechless with tears in my eyes.

Many thanks for your consideration of my situation.