Hello, my name is Nikki Brown. I have a ten-year-old little girl, and our home was taken from us by a so-called friend. I needed help upgrading my electric, and I let this girl move in with me. I told her if she helped me make repairs, we could turn my house into a duplex, and I'd give her half of the house for her help. We agreed. The city was going to condemn the house because of the lack of power due to needing upgrades. She waited until the house was condemned, and me and my child had to leave so CPS didn't get involved. As soon as we left, she began repairs. She had the power fixed and had the power put in my name. I was unaware I had it in my name. She never said she did that. I was going to give her a couple of months to fix her part of the house up. I did, until I started going into debt because I couldn't afford rent and bills. I told her I needed to come home. She refused and said I couldn't. So instead of arguing, I went and filed an eviction notice. In July, we signed a quitclaim deed she said we needed to help the home from being condemned. But the court said it wasn't any good, so I didn't think about it anymore. Instead of her responding to the eviction notice, she went and filed the quitclaim deed, and the courthouse let it slip through. It should never have been allowed through. The law was passed the day we signed it, saying quitclaim deeds didn't have to have both people present when changing property over. So she has taken mine and my child's home. She took everything—all our furniture and clothes. We only took a little bit of stuff when the home was condemned. She has all our legal documents: birth certificates, Social Security cards, tax papers, my husband's death certificate, and our marriage license. Everything to take our identity. I was unable to sign up my daughter for Christmas help this year due to no paperwork. So we are homeless (working on getting into housing), the power bill ran up so high I can't pay when we do get an apartment, and no family to ask for help. And no way to get her what she wants for Christmas. I need a lawyer to fight to get the house back and don't know what to do. I feel hopeless and used up and a failure for allowing someone to use me to the point of taking my child's home. So that's why I am here on GoFundMe. I need help. I've asked the wrong people to help and see where I am now. So maybe you guys will help us get our home and lives back and help provide Christmas to my child. For anyone who helps us, I will be extremely grateful, and I would make sure you guys know where and how I used the help. I am desperately asking for people to help me.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story. Hope you have a blessed day. Thank you. Nikki and Nyla.