Help the O'Brien's from being evicted

Hello we are the O'Brien family. Normally we would not be reaching out for help in this way or in this capacity, however recent events have hit our family hard and created a nearly impossible situation for our family to overcome without help.

It started in September when our son was born. My wife was placed on FMLA (maternity leave) due to the birth of our son, Connor. She was first told it was to be paid leave and later found out it was unpaid leave. We adjusted accordingly. I took on side jobs and worked my normal 50 hour+ weeks. Tess was told her leave would end the last week of November and she would be expected to return to work the first week of December. She reached out to her supervisor at the end of November to verify she would be placed on the schedule. Her supervisor would not respond. Tess then began reaching out to other managers, who told her she would be on the next schedule. Mid December, she still had not been placed on the schedule and was reached out to by corporate stating that she needed to get a release from her doctor sent to corporate so that she may return to work. Tess went to the doctor and turned in her paperwork necessary to return to work. Her supervisors said they had it in their schedule she had been approved for vacation when she was hired, that due to the new baby we had already planned to be flown to Chicago for the holidays by our inlaws, and that she would be put on the schedule the first week of January.

We took this in stride and planned ahead so Tess had started applying at other places just before we returned from Chicago as she still hadn't heard from her employer to return to work.

We returned from Christmas with the family and Tess had a letter in the mail that said she was terminated without any reason. She hadn't even returned to work from maternity leave.

Thankfully Tess had been hired somewhere else and was trying to get put on a schedule. However she was not told until the day she was to start that she had to get a fingerprint security clearance prior to starting. (Which is backed up 3-6 weeks.) So, again delayed, and unable to start back to work. They pushed for her fingerprint clearance and it was passed just before the last week of January. She started working the final week of January, where her, Connor and myself got sick. Mine was not as severe but as I'm typing this, Tess is still sick and Connor is slowly getting better.

I let our complex know what had been going on, as they had been understanding before, but this time they were not.

The office sent an email out saying they were short staffed due to covid. I went into the office and asked if I could apply to work maintenance as there is only 1 guy for the entire complex. They immediately told me that due to covid they couldn't hire anyone at this time.

We have made every attempt at paying our rent on time, but the office was closed the last week of December and first 2½ weeks of January due to a rise in COVID as they had sent an email out to the residents. We were told that we could not make payments for rent online since we had been late before and that the only way for us to pay rent was through money order or cashier's check.

The problem wasn't how we have to pay, it was moreso the office hours and availability of staff. When I leave to work they are closed, when I get home they are closed, there is NO drop box for payments and they are not open on the weekends. So I've asked them when and where can I pay rent if I can't pay online, only to be told, "leave it under the mat at the office." In which that is not professional nor is it reasonable considering it could be stolen since the office is not gated. I am not worried about someone attempting to cash them as much as I'm worried about both myself and the office being out money that is due for our rent.

So as I had spoke to the property manager last week, she told me to bring it by on Friday February 4th as long as I was not COVID positive. That they would sanitize my money order or cashier's check but to place it under the mat as I was not allowed in the office due to covid regulations.

I intended on doing so until my son was taken to the hospital sick and having a difficult time breathing Friday afternoon, while I was at work. The doctors and nurses mentioned that Connor's oxygen saturation was falling and they feared it may be rsv.

Tess was told by her employer that she could not return to work sick and that Connor could not be brought into daycare with a temperature of 100 or higher. Which he has been hovering around for a week mainly due to teething. And since we don't have anyone who could watch him that left Tess at home with Connor until his follow up.

I let our property manager know with no response from them.

We were served Tuesday February 8th with and eviction notice and a court date for February 15th.

Normally I wouldn't ask for help like this as I usually can get it squared away. But this entire situation is beyond me. I've contacted churches, the salvation army, and several other assistance places for rental assistance as we cannot seem to get any help.

If it were not for our son, Connor, I would not even consider doing this. But he doesn't deserve to be without a home, nor does my wife.

So, I'm asking for any help possible to keep us from losing our home. If I have to beg then so be it, as I will do anything to keep my family safe with a roof over their head and food on the table.

We have 3 months left on this lease and the amount we are seeking is just to cover what we owe, a little help towards next months rent, plus the eviction costs.

Whether you can donate 1 dollar or 100 dollars my family will be more than appreciative of it. I can't thank you enough for reading nor helping us out.

We thank you, love all of you and God bless y'all.