Christiansen Family Home
Donation protected
As some of you already know, the Christiansen family lost their home and belongings in Hurricane Harvey and have been staying with us ever since. While their Dad, Alex, was working, their Mom, Autumn, and their 3 girls evacuated to another friend's home before the floodwaters left them stranded. When the water receded 5 days later and they were able to return, their girls, Erica, Emmah and Ella began to cough and get very sick. Wondering if the house had taken on water in their absence, they pulled furniture away from walls and found mold. The insurance adjuster that was sent to survey their home confirmed it had flooded and deemed it uninhabitable.
Despite the majority of people in our area not having flood insurance, the Christiansen family did. They paid their premiums on time every month with their mortgage payment. Their homeowner’s insurance company has denied their claim, basically saying unless the storm had ripped the walls off the structure or a tree had fallen on it, they were not going to pay it. The Christiansen family filed with FEMA but with the widespread devastation that Harvey brought to the area, they seem to be on the brink of running out of money for disaster relief.
We've waited patiently for bids to come back from contractors to have some idea of how much their mobile home would cost to fix. Yesterday, they received a bid of $8,000 for the contractor to address all of the issues and complete the necessary renovations. This is an answered prayer because we feared the cost might exceed the original purchase price of the home but this wasn’t the case.
This family has been nothing but joy while they've been living with us. Despite the loss of their home and belongings, they’ve kept a positive outlook. They’ve faced difficult days with smiles still on their faces. These are great, hardworking people who give back to our community every chance they get. Alex works for a local water company and Autumn is a crossing guard at both of the schools my children attend. Autumn was honored as volunteer of the year last year for her contributions to Katy ISD and her love for the children that attend our schools is amazing. You can find Alex helping within the schools, in his time off, as well. Their daughters, Erica-9th grade, Emmah-5th grade and Ella-1st grade have etched themselves in our hearts forever and while I don't want them to leave, I know it's in their best interest to have their own home again. One of them asked Santa for a home and you can imagine how that made all of us feel.
While it would've been great if living with us would have created a situation that allowed them to save money, this was not the case due to their continued mortgage obligations and related bills. Therefore, they do not have the $8,000 to proceed with the repairs. In addition, the prior year was tough on them as they incurred high medical bills for their daughter with cerebral palsy and Alex was laid off from his job after the company downsized. This forced them to live on credit cards for 6 months until God blessed him with a great new job opportunity 2 months prior to the hurricane.
Many of you locally have given to help provide for their short-term clothing and essential needs, for which they are very grateful. A special thanks to the following for helping out in such profound ways:
-Katy’s First Baptist Church
-Bethke Elementary
-Katy Junior High
-Paetow High School
A special thanks to Stockick Junior High for graciously sending out a team of teachers and administrators to their house shortly after the flood to bring all of their belongings out of the house and to the side of the road for them. To this day, four months later, those piles remain sitting in the same place because trash pickup doesn't extend to where their home is located. It breaks your heart to drive by and see it all still there.
I've had the great privilege of bringing the 3 girls to church with me, week after week. This alone is a blessing straight from Heaven and I sincerely appreciate Alex and Autumn granting me this honor. God's hand is upon this situation and I can clearly see him moving in the lives impacted here. Maybe one day I can share some of this with you all.
Friends and family, these people are deserving of help. Many of you may not have financial ability to help and if that is the case, I task you with the most important request of praying over all of this. With the impending holidays, there have been some emotionally tough days to get through for all of us. We need your prayers most of all! If you do have the financial ability to help, please consider doing so. I appreciate your time and consideration immensely. Thank you! - Leigh
Despite the majority of people in our area not having flood insurance, the Christiansen family did. They paid their premiums on time every month with their mortgage payment. Their homeowner’s insurance company has denied their claim, basically saying unless the storm had ripped the walls off the structure or a tree had fallen on it, they were not going to pay it. The Christiansen family filed with FEMA but with the widespread devastation that Harvey brought to the area, they seem to be on the brink of running out of money for disaster relief.
We've waited patiently for bids to come back from contractors to have some idea of how much their mobile home would cost to fix. Yesterday, they received a bid of $8,000 for the contractor to address all of the issues and complete the necessary renovations. This is an answered prayer because we feared the cost might exceed the original purchase price of the home but this wasn’t the case.
This family has been nothing but joy while they've been living with us. Despite the loss of their home and belongings, they’ve kept a positive outlook. They’ve faced difficult days with smiles still on their faces. These are great, hardworking people who give back to our community every chance they get. Alex works for a local water company and Autumn is a crossing guard at both of the schools my children attend. Autumn was honored as volunteer of the year last year for her contributions to Katy ISD and her love for the children that attend our schools is amazing. You can find Alex helping within the schools, in his time off, as well. Their daughters, Erica-9th grade, Emmah-5th grade and Ella-1st grade have etched themselves in our hearts forever and while I don't want them to leave, I know it's in their best interest to have their own home again. One of them asked Santa for a home and you can imagine how that made all of us feel.
While it would've been great if living with us would have created a situation that allowed them to save money, this was not the case due to their continued mortgage obligations and related bills. Therefore, they do not have the $8,000 to proceed with the repairs. In addition, the prior year was tough on them as they incurred high medical bills for their daughter with cerebral palsy and Alex was laid off from his job after the company downsized. This forced them to live on credit cards for 6 months until God blessed him with a great new job opportunity 2 months prior to the hurricane.
Many of you locally have given to help provide for their short-term clothing and essential needs, for which they are very grateful. A special thanks to the following for helping out in such profound ways:
-Katy’s First Baptist Church
-Bethke Elementary
-Katy Junior High
-Paetow High School
A special thanks to Stockick Junior High for graciously sending out a team of teachers and administrators to their house shortly after the flood to bring all of their belongings out of the house and to the side of the road for them. To this day, four months later, those piles remain sitting in the same place because trash pickup doesn't extend to where their home is located. It breaks your heart to drive by and see it all still there.
I've had the great privilege of bringing the 3 girls to church with me, week after week. This alone is a blessing straight from Heaven and I sincerely appreciate Alex and Autumn granting me this honor. God's hand is upon this situation and I can clearly see him moving in the lives impacted here. Maybe one day I can share some of this with you all.
Friends and family, these people are deserving of help. Many of you may not have financial ability to help and if that is the case, I task you with the most important request of praying over all of this. With the impending holidays, there have been some emotionally tough days to get through for all of us. We need your prayers most of all! If you do have the financial ability to help, please consider doing so. I appreciate your time and consideration immensely. Thank you! - Leigh
Organizer and beneficiary
Leigh Jordan
Organizer
Katy, TX
Alex Christiansen
Beneficiary
