Facing Foreclosure! Please help us save our home!

My name is Connie Freitas, and I’m a 54-year-old woman facing one of the hardest battles of my life: saving the family home my mother and I have shared for 25 years, along with my father who died 9 years ago. Living with major depression, anxiety, and osteoarthritis has made it difficult for me to work, and after years of financial struggles, I am now at risk of losing our home.

Until September of last year, I was the sole caregiver for my elderly and ailing mother. For several years, I cared for her alone as she needed round-the-clock assistance, including personal care, and suffered multiple falls. Eventually, I was able to place her in a great long-term care facility, where I visit her often.

While the Public Trustee of BC now handles my mother’s legal and financial affairs, we are both co-owners of the home we’ve lived in since 1999. After she moved into care, all financial responsibility for the house fell to me, and I’ve been struggling ever since.

Why I Need Help

For several years, I was unable to pay our property taxes. Last year, the bank paid the taxes at auction and will soon take me to court for arrears totaling $ 13,519.74.

(Proof:)

Although the December deadline has passed, the bank has confirmed that the foreclosure process is lengthy, and I still have time to reinstate the mortgage if I can raise the required funds ASAP. With your help, I can stop the process before it's too late to save my home.

This amount includes:

• Outstanding property taxes

• Mortgage payments

• Property inspection fees

• Legal expenses

The full amount was due by noon on Friday, December 20, 2024. The only payment I could make was $400, which I scraped together by selling my beloved truck—my “ White Knight.” It broke my heart to let him go, and losing our family home would be even more devastating.

More recently, I've also sold my Yamaha Clavinova piano. It's yet another loss in an attempt to keep my home. The sorrow doesn't seem ever to end.

I want to be transparent about how I arrived at the $14,200 goal. GoFundMe charges a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per donation. With this in mind, I calculated the additional amount needed to cover those fees and included a small buffer for any unforeseen costs.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Amount to save my home: $13,519.74

• Estimated GoFundMe fees: $406.07 (2.9% + $0.30 per donation based on an estimate of 50 donations)

• Additional buffer: $200 (to ensure no shortfall due to unexpected costs)

• Total Goal: $14,200

Every dollar you contribute directly helps save my home, and even small amounts add up. If 1,420 people each donate just $10, we can reach this goal. If you’re unable to give, sharing my story with others who might help is just as valuable.

How Donations Will Be Used

Any funds raised will go directly toward:

• Paying the arrears for property taxes and mortgage payments

• Covering related legal expenses

Donations would allow me to reinstate our mortgage and keep our home. From now on, I am committed to making regular mortgage payments and saving a portion of my monthly disability income to cover property taxes.

My Situation

I am devastated and embarrassed that things have reached this point. The stress has been overwhelming—I barely sleep at night, and I feel nauseated and teary throughout the day.

I never imagined I’d be in a position where I’d need to ask for help like this, but I’m holding onto hope that we can keep our home with the support of friends, family, and my extended community.

Conclusion

Your generosity could make a difference and save the home my mother and I have shared for 25 years.

I know times are tough for so many people, and it’s hard to ask for anything, let alone this much. But every single dollar helps. Even small contributions—$5, $10—can add up to something life-changing.

My network is quite small and it would be helpful if you would please urge others you know to donate, whether you donate or not. I'm doing my best with what I've got but I feel like I'm making little progress.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading my story and considering lending a hand. Your support isn’t just about saving my home— but reminding me that I’m not alone in this fight.

With gratitude and hope,

Connie