Hello, my name is Heath Jones. I'm the pastor at Northwood Christian Church at the corner of 46th and Central Ave. in Indianapolis. Recently, I met a woman from our community who needs help. Specifically, she needs to find a place to live.
Tamala moved to Indianapolis about a year ago to provide care for her brother who was sick. Upon moving to Indy, she moved into a house that she rented. In very short order it became clear that her home was unlivable. It leaked water every time it rained, and there were also leaks in the plumbing. Before long, nearly every room on the bottom floor had flooded leaving her possessions ruined. She asked her property manager to fix the leaks, and they did not. Consequently, the water kept rushing in every time it rained causing new problems and ruining still more of her possessions. She asked her landlord many times to repair her home. She even had the Department of Health come to inspect her home, and they determined the house to be uninhabitable.
Eventually, she decided it was sensible and fair to withhold her rent until these repairs were made. (I emphasize that she did not pay her rent as a response to her property manager’s unwillingness to do their job, not because she was unable to pay it. She had (still has) a stable job.) However, what Tamala did not know was that the laws in Indiana are written to advantage the landlords time and again, over and against all fairness. In response to her not paying rent, her landlord filed eviction papers. Her eviction was approved by the courts, and she was then turned out onto the streets without a place to live.
Later, Tamala was able to present to a judge evidence of the damage done to her property, as well as evidence of her property manager’s failure to respond to her requests. The judge decided in her favor and wrote her a letter that she might show to landlords when she applies for housing going forward. However, her eviction is still on her record. So, she has been turned down again and again for housing.
As a consequence of these events, Tamala has been homeless for most of the past year. She works for Indygo, driving a city bus Route 19. She has income to pay rent. She just needs a landlord who will rent to someone who has an eviction on their record. The good news is, she has found a condo that suits her!
Which is why I’m writing this down. She is required to pay a 2500 deposit before she can move into her new home. (The first reliable home she has had for over a year.) To raise this money, we’ve decided to lean on the goodwill of our community. It was suggested to me (her pastor) to start a GoFundMe drive to see what might happen. We’ve set the goal to $3750, which is the precise amount for her deposit plus the first month’s rent.
Her perspective condo is not being held for her, and its property manager was clear that she would rent it out to the first good offer. So, time is consequential. We’d like to have her in her home as soon as possible and preferably this home, as she has been looking for a long time. So, please give what you feel you can, and we’ll keep you posted.