Help Lydia's Family with Their Unexpected Renovation

Introduction:

Meet our friends, Lydia, Martin, Bea, and Tilly – a young family with big dreams and big hearts. Recently, they bought a home, hoping to create a haven for their children. However, they soon faced a major challenge: extensive nicotine damage, known as Thirdhand smoke, in their new house. Now, they must undertake significant renovations to make their home safe.

The Challenge:

Thirdhand smoke poses serious health risks, especially for young children. To protect their family, Lydia and Martin have temporarily moved into a cramped camper, which is far from ideal and presents its own challenges. Thirdhand smoke is the residue left by tobacco smoke, including nicotine and other hazardous chemicals that contaminate indoor surfaces. It can re-enter the air and remain in a building for months to decades if not properly removed. Deep cleaning and removing contaminated materials is necessary, and in severe cases like Lydia and Martin's, it requires gutting the house to the studs. The health risks are significant, particularly for children under six. For more information, see these resources:

The Dangers of Thirdhand Smoke

YouTube Video on Thirdhand Smoke

Thirdhand Smoke Information

"Our story" a note from Lydia:

In January 2021, Martin and I were searching for a home. The ideal space would have a large yard for our kiddos to roam and fit our modest budget. When we found the property we would later purchase, it fit most of these criteria, with the only downside being that it had been smoked in at some point. Sadly, as the story unraveled after the eventual purchase, we found that a whole family of smokers had lived in the space for nearly thirty years! Desperate for a home and with the real estate market in the grips of the pandemic, we concluded that we'd clean and paint this space to our standards and move in within a few months of purchase. We had worked on fixer-uppers before and felt confident in our practical abilities. The realtor agreed that the smell was a cosmetic issue and could be remediated with some elbow grease, and we moved ahead with the purchase in March 2022.

A few weeks after the closing date, I took the girls (2 and 4) for a short visit to the new house to take account of what we'd be needing to complete the project. A day into our visit, both of the girls developed red eyes and runny noses and began coughing. I noticed this only happened inside the house. This observation led me down a rabbit hole of online research where I realized we had made a grave mistake in our home purchase. I had been under the impression that the smoke smell was just an annoyance, but instead found, we had purchased a deeply toxic home.

Through research, I discovered that there are no legal avenues in the real estate world to fix this problem. No disclosure laws exist around indoor nicotine use or the dangers around it. The home inspector didn't even mention it; it passed with flying colors.

After the initial horror subsided, we evaluated the situation closely. If we sold the house, we would lose the large down payment we put into it and would still be without a long-term home. We were well aware it might be our last opportunity to purchase a home for some time, as we observed interest rates climbing. With heavy hearts, we decided to keep the house and renovate it ourselves on a very tight budget.

In the year that followed, we stayed in our rental apartment while simultaneously paying our new mortgage. We may have considered moving earlier, but about two months after the purchase of our new home, my mom sadly suffered a stroke and moved in with us to receive the medical care and support that she needed. She stayed with us for six months. Happily, she eventually returned to independent living and made a near-complete recovery.

During this year, we were able to save some funds for our project. We hoped that with help from family, we would be able to get the bare bones of the project done relatively quickly.

In July of 2023, we renovated an old camper, placed it on our new property and finally moved from our apartment several states away. After a summer of big transitions, me finding new work, Martin managing his business from a distance temporarily, and working on the house, it was clear the project was moving more slowly than hoped. Our plans for family to help with the project fell through due to illness and new job acquisition. We accepted that we would need to overwinter in the camper. We outfitted it with a highly efficient "tiny home" graded wood stove and plenty of insulation. It has since proven to be an adequate space. Cozy and suitable for our basic needs, though not easy living by any stretch and not a long-term solution.

Now a year later, we have completed the full gut removal of the drywall, insulation, and flooring. We are on track to having cellulose insulation installed with the help of low-income efficiency state rebates, and are currently working to prep the space for that project. This includes, among other things; framing out windows, painting the gutted structure with a heavy duty odor-blocking primer, and cleaning all of the non-porous surfaces of the nicotine that has accumulated on them, like electric wires and plumbing pipes.

Why We Need Your Help:

Lydia and Martin are hardworking, but they need support to tackle the financial burden of these renovations. Your generosity can make a significant difference, helping them achieve their dream of a safe and nurturing home. They aim to move back into their home by winter, avoiding another cold season in the camper. They hope to restore running water and create a safe environment for their family and visitors.

The Vision and Budget:

This family envisions a home filled with love, laughter, and safety. With your support, they can turn this challenge into an opportunity, creating a sanctuary where their daughters can thrive. To make their home livable, Lydia and Martin need flooring and windows, as well as other building supplies. They will do the installation work themselves, reducing costs. They need $18,000 to purchase materials: $11,000 for Mathews Brothers vinyl windows and $7,000 for flooring and miscellaneous expenses.

Join Us:

Together, we can help this family turn their hardship into hope. Every contribution brings them closer to a safe home for their daughters. Hope is a powerful force, and with your help, we can create a new chapter in their story – one filled with promise and new beginnings.