Neglected property owned by retired army colonel and his brother who also owns a home improvement company led to ceilings collapsing in our home, followed by an UNBELIEVABLE series of events which make it hard to believe or see a light at the end of this dark tunnel...

I was forced to move in with my disabled sister because my husband abandoned me after inflicting physical, emotional, verbal, mental and financial abuse. He robbed me of the home I purchased prior to meeting him, the car I paid for in full, my bank accounts were emptied, and my credit was destroyed by this man who my attorney found out was a career con-artist.

Although I had been assisting my sister for the past 10 years since she became disabled, it wasn't until I came to live with her that I witnessed the horrid uninhabitable conditions of her apartment due to neglect by the previous and present landlords. Maintenance requests were ignored. On January 12, 2021 a plumber busted a pipe in the unit above my sister's which caused damage to my sister's newly repaired and decorated bathroom, which I paid for and did the work. On May 17, 2021 my sister's bedroom ceiling collapsed and when the landlords were contacted they made accusations that we did the damage.

After contacting various agencies in the District of Columbia for assistance with the situation as well as protection from the individuals responsible because they were refusing to make repairs and/or relocate us as well as refund the rent that was current for an uninhabitable home. Everyone we contacted denied us any assistance and claimed there was nothing they could do. On May 24, 2021 an inspector from DCRA tagged my sister's unit and condemned it. Still no one we contacted would assist. On June 3, 2021 the second bedroom and bathroom ceilings came down, but again no assistance.

My sister has been linked with a core service agency through the department of behavioral health, however the previous and current housing liaisons have not attempted or tried to assist, and they have been aware of the housing conditions since 2015. We were subjected to finding shelter any and everywhere on our own with no money or resources because the landlords sabotaged the insurance claim by saying the ceilings fell from old age/wear and tear, but there was clear evidence of water damage. Had they not lied and the insurance company honored the policy we would have been placed in accommodations that would have kept our family together as well as safe and healthy. However, things went from bad to worse because on June 18, 2021 we tested positive for coronavirus.

Currently my sister and I are still homeless waiting for assistance from the following agencies:

Department of Behavioral Health

Department Human Services

Department Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

District of Columbia Housing Authority

Office of Tenant Advocacy

Office of Attorney General

We are raising money to retain legal representation, housing, and replacement of items lost and damaged in this tragic disaster.