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Our dear friends Paola and Greg had work done to replace the flooring in their small kitchen — a simple home improvement project that should have only taken a handful of days.
Instead, asbestos was mishandled and contaminated their entire home. Suddenly, they were forced to leave for an unknown amount of time, and everything inside their casita became unsafe.
The contamination meant losing about 70% of their belongings — all of their home appliances, electronics, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, everything porous like clothes, sofas, dining chairs, pillows, and blankets, plus sentimental items like Greg’s guitar collection and even Paola’s beloved home library.
Paola and Greg spent about 4 months displaced, living out of bags, moving between friend's homes and three Airbnbs, all while trying to work and stay afloat. The financial strain has been enormous and completely unexpected.
The expenses are now over $85,350 and growing, including:
- $41,000 abatement (clean up) process
- $14,470 inventory process (required for clean up)
- $13,700 airbnb rentals
- $6,000 (& growing ) ceiling, HVAC and other repairs
- $9,230 replacing essentials
- $950 clearance test
Right now, Paola and Greg (& Howie their dog) could use our support. The two are generous, hardworking, community-minded people who rarely ask for anything.
Paola is a community leader and organizer with LA Compost, and Greg works in the film industry as a Best Boy. They've carried this crisis with patience and grace for months. Although friends opened their homes the first month, the debt and losses have reached a point no couple should face alone.
Your support will help them:
- Replace essential belongings like their fridge, stove, washer and dryer, garbage disposal, HVAC ducting, lighting fixtures, and other essential home items and clothes.
- Reduce the heavy credit card debt created by this crisis. Credit cards have been used to cover necessary testing services and abatement-related costs.
- Recover from emergency housing expenses.
- Begin rebuilding their home and stability.
We're aiming to raise $20,000 to help them get back on their feet. While the overall costs exceed this amount, we believe this could provide significant relief as they work toward stability.
This season reminds us that community is a kind of magic. If you’re able to give, donations at any level will help Paola and Greg rebuild what was taken from them. If you can’t donate, sharing their story is just as powerful. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support!
Photo description: The entire ceiling in the dining area and living room had to be removed.
Photo description: Contaminated home goods, clothes, books, sentimental materials, furniture items.
Photo description: Paola and Howie chilling in their home before the asbestos disaster.
Photo description: Greg & Howie laying down together in their home before the asbestos disaster.