Hi, my name is Tabatha Barnes. I am a single mom who just over a year ago had to make yet another move. As rising cost of living just keeps making it harder and harder to meet the basic everyday necessities of life. The intention was to save money and downsize as I was paying 1850 plus utilities. Costing me about 2300 a month with heating. I made the move to an apartment in Belleville, which looked like an okay place for the money. Just after moving in I realize the place is infested with Pharoah ants. They were in everything. Beds ,bedding ,furniture ,food. They infested all appliances,clothing. Coming across walls, nesting in the toilet paper. They come out of the electrical sockets, lights, EVERYWHERE. Property management would not acknowledge the problem and other tenants, while they knew there was an infestation were hesitant to say anything. They were worried about where they would live if building was condemned. Sacrificing their health. I was sick, my daughter’s sick. So, I had to look for another place immediately. Costing me thousands more for first and last as the property management would not give me anything back and I had to leave most everything behind. We went through what we could but lost most of our furniture ,personal effects and saved things from when the kids were younger. School memories etc as the ants had nested in the boxes of stored papers. Find another very small place as not much available to move temporarily til I can find something more appropriate. In just under a month the landlord informed me he needs the place for family. So I start looking again. Each time I move I end up paying more as rents just keep going up. I find another place . Costing me thousands more. Not even a month after being there the basement floods where all of my storage was because of a faulty hot water tank which gave out and had my life, what was left of it floating in 4 feet of water. Again most everything personal I had left was destroyed. A few very important boxes which had been in perfect condition up until this point, were all of my sons memorial service papers, pictures , things from the funeral home and his stay at sick kids etc, non replaceable items were destroyed. Then there are on Canada Day the landlord informs me he needs the place and is moving back into the place and gives me one month to move.It happens again!! I scramble and to try again to find another place last minute. I do but taking me 45 mins away from work. I scramble to find money to make yet another move leaving me in dire straights. One month later my car motor blows through no fault and of my own. Car dealership will take NO responsibility for the lemon they sold me. Still 4 years left on the loan and no car. I have exhausted every avenue and am asking if anyone can please help. I work full time and have for years. I don’t buy things for myself. My kids are my priority. I have worked very hard as a single mom. Like we all do, just trying to keep things going, but this year has cost me so much and if I don’t have a car , I lose my job, and ultimately I lose everything I have worked so hard for. That being, to keep a roof over my kids heads and food on the table. As most everything else has been destroyed. I am now living in a tiny apartment with very little room for us to move around. I just need my car fixed so I can go to work.

Thank you

Tabatha