Please Help with what you can #RentRelief

      Hi my name is Tamara and I am a single mother of 3 living in South Florida. Shortly prior to the COVID -19 pandemic I was notified that the property that we currently live in and only just paid rent on was foreclosured on. We came home 3 days later to find ourselves locked out of our home. I contacted the realtor and was able to regain access and was offered a cash for keys option that was not very helpful to our situation and not enough time to move. My landlord stoped answering my calls and ran off with my deposit and last months rent. I have lived here almost 2 years now with my kids ages 6,8 and 13. I needed more time to come up with moving money and expenses and to find a new home within my kids school zone. I was given the option to stay 90 days by a lawyer working for the bank and I took it gladly figuring I would be able to save enough money to move somewhere new.

Then COVID-19 happened everything shut down state mandated quarantine schools closed early for spring break and never reopened I was now a stay at home teacher of 3 and lost my job due to the pandemic. So here we are almost 3 months later I have spent all my savings on food and essentials that were needed at the time and find myself worse than I started. I have no date to return to work and I have applied for Florida unemployment 3 times with no hope of receiving anything soon. My stimulus check went mostly to account overdrafts, food, home school supplies and overdue bills. I have no car and had to rely on borrowing family vehicles once a week to go out shopping. I have nowhere to go and my 90 days will end next week. The Governor extended eviction suspension till July 1st but I have no idea if this applies to me nor do I want it to come to that. Evictions affect you negatively when moving. I’ve tried finding a new apartment but it has been very difficult with no income and most properties and landlords requiring that I pay 3 ways (1st, last and security) to move in. You do not know me but I’m a very giving and kind hearted person who also does not like to ask or take from others. I like to plan ahead to avoid uncertainty but now I cry at times over the fear of not knowing what will happen.

This will mean the difference between us being in a bad situation and becoming potentially homeless and who knows what else or getting out of this unfortunate situation and back on my feet being able to support myself and my family. Please help us by giving whatever you can to help. Thank you for spending the time to read my story and thank you for whatever you can give to help. Thanks and be safe.