Kae has been a dear friend to me for many years. We began as co-workers, then roommates, and now one of my longest friendships. I’ve watched her get married, raise a family and pursue her passions. What Kae and her family had faced is almost unimaginable. I wanted to start this GoFundMe as a way to give back to her for all the years she has given to me and my family. Read Kae’s message below about surviving countless floods and the financial devastation that ensued.

In her own words:

In 2023, my family of four purchased a home—a condo in a family-friendly community where we had always dreamed of living. It passed inspections and appeared to be a home that simply needed a few updates.

Three days after closing, we discovered black mold behind a kitchen cabinet. We hoped it was isolated to one wall. It was not. Over the next several months, we found mold in the kitchen, both bathrooms, the laundry room, and the dining room. Eventually, half of the walls in our home had to be removed, along with the cabinets, both tubs, and parts of the ceilings.

In the end, we learned the damage had been caused by neglect from the previous owner and a faulty drain maintained by the HOA. We fought and pleaded for help but never received a penny. Facing the possibility of homelessness, we chose to repair the home rather than become involved in a lengthy legal battle. A decade of savings disappeared in a matter of months.

Less than six months after the repairs were completed, our home flooded again. This time, the HOA finally investigated and discovered that a drain had been installed incorrectly during the original construction of the building. They never reimbursed us for the cost to fix prior floods.

Then, only a month after our kitchen had been reinstalled, the house flooded yet again. On a Sunday morning in April 2025, sewage flowed out of our shower and into our bathroom. The HOA had failed to cap the sewage cleanout properly, permitting a boulder to fall into the drain. The blockage caused sewage to flood our home.

Although the issue was eventually repaired, the repeated floods and original damage left us with $45,000 in debt from rebuilding costs and loans we took out just to stay afloat.

Concerned that future repairs will continue to be a battle with the HOA, we have decided to sell our home and rent instead. Due to the decline in home prices, we will not make enough from the sale to pay off the debt.

Our family needs a fresh start, along with help covering deposits and moving costs for a rental home.

Thank you for helping right a wrong of a system that does not protect people. This is a surprise to my husband and children, so if you know our family personally, please do not mention it.