My name is Lucia and I am reaching out for help for my brother, Mario Chaves, his wife Nicole Miller-Chaves, 3-year old daughter, dog and Lucy(cat) to re-build their home in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Their Dream Turned Into a Nightmare:

In 2025, they decided to turn their 1972 fixer-upper into a forever home for their 3-year-old daughter, Tillie. They did everything "right"—saved, refinanced, and hired a contractor with a seemingly transparent bid.

The Current Crisis:

They are now left homeless. The house is a gutted, unlivable shell. A structural engineer recently confirmed that the work done was not only incomplete but structurally unsound and must be torn out and redone.

-Frozen & Burst Pipes: The contractor failed to protect the utilities in the home, causing the water heater to burst in -10° Colorado weather.

-Under Investigation: After receiving payment, the contractor stopped work. A police report has been filed and the matter is currently under investigation.

Life in a Fifth Wheel:

For months, their family—including a toddler, dog and cat—have been living in a fifth-wheel trailer in the Colorado winter. They have not had running water due to freezing weather. They carry one-gallon jugs from the neighbor’s spigot to flush the toilet waste and shower at a local gym.

It breaks their hearts to hear Tillie cry at night because she just wants to be in a real home and take a bath.

The Path Forward:

They are hard-working people. My sister-in-law, Nicole, works two jobs as an Occupational Therapist often working 12 or 19 days without a day off, and my brother, Mario, works 12-hour shifts in a physically demanding job doing semiconductor chip production. They aren't looking for a "dream home" anymore; they just need a safe, dry, and heated shell so they can move inside and finish the work, one room at a time.

Your donations will go directly toward:

Structural Repairs-fixing the unsafe work so the house can pass inspection.

Sealing the Envelope-getting windows, doors, crawl space, and a roof secure to prevent further winter damage.

Restoring Heat/Water-replacing the burst systems so they can move out of the trailer.

Legal Fees-protecting their family from liens caused by the contractor’s non-payment to crews.

We would be so grateful for any amount you can give. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing their story. Your kindness helps to restore their faith in humanity.

This is also about raising awareness about vetting reputable contractors.

With love and hope for Mario, Nicole, Tillie

Thank you for your time.

Lucia