Justin and Haylee: Mold Remediation and Rebuild

After less than two years in their first home, Justin and Haylee have been displaced from their house as the result of a serious and extensive infestation of toxic mold.

It is not at all uncommon in this life to face financial hardship, especially as young newlyweds who are settling into a new home, new careers, and new rhythms as a couple. But sometimes these financial hardships occur at such a devastating scale that we simply cannot recover without the help of our families and our community. Such is the measure of hardship affecting Justin and Haylee, and I am creating this campaign with the hope of rallying a surpassing measure of support.

In early May, Justin and Haylee discovered that their water heater had been leaking directly under their house. As this leak was being addressed, a mold inspection found that mold was not only growing under the entire house but also that toxic levels of mold were in the air throughout the inside of their home. They were advised to move out of their home immediately and have been living with us these past two months (which, admittedly, has been the one unforeseen blessing for me and Paige during this difficult season).

Per state regulations, Justin and Haylee hired a licensed mold remediation company, and they have spent just under $30,000 to have the mold and all moldy materials removed from their house. The result? Their home now has no flooring (or even subfloors), no cabinets, no plumbing fixtures, several feet of missing sheetrock, etc. They are facing a significant amount of rebuilding, and the estimates for this work are just over $70,000.

Last week, they were informed that their insurance company is denying their claim due to seepage and slow leak exclusions in their homeowners’ policy. As a result, Justin and Haylee must come up with this $70,000 in cash to restore and return to their home.

As a parent, it has been amazing to watch the grace with which they are walking through this hardship. But it has also been heartbreaking to see them face a constant stream of difficult news concerning the scope of damage, the cost of rebuilding, and the lack of funding through their insurance company.

Please consider helping Justin and Haylee raise the funding they need to save their home. And please pray that that they continue to find that the joy of the Lord is their one true strength.