Emergency Relief Fund: Help Us Escape a Dangerous Living Situation

My name is Jesse Rush, and my partner Craig Rhinehardt and I are urgently seeking help to escape an apartment that has left us sick, surrounded by mold, and with nowhere safe to go. We live in a small unit in Kingston, Tennessee, which was advertised as "newly renovated." What we discovered after moving in has been nothing short of a nightmare: fire safety issues, rampant black mold, toxic living conditions, extreme humidity, and the destruction of nearly all our belongings; even what we believed to be salvageable have now been destroyed.

On top of this, the past few years have already taken a heavy toll. We’ve both been trying to rebuild since the loss of my mother to COVID-19 in August of 2021; a moment that changed everything and left a deep void. Despite the grief, we’ve pushed forward, doing everything we can to create some kind of normal life.

In 2023, I was involved in a serious car accident that left me with a broken spine. After two major surgeries, I was fortunate to recover without chronic pain. But since living in this apartment, the inflammatory effects from the mold exposure have triggered new pain and made it harder to function day to day. Please keep reading, we could sincerely use your help through these trying times!

________________________________________

What We're Facing

• Severe mold contamination has returned again and again, even after treating items with anti-fungal solutions. Both of us have become seriously ill, and I am immunocompromised. The health effects are becoming unbearable. We’re constantly battling respiratory issues, painful skin reactions, mental fatigue, and overwhelming anxiety. Every day in this environment worsens our condition.

• The smoke detector was inoperable. When we opened it to change the battery, we found rusted electronics caused by extreme indoor humidity. A new battery caused it to alarm uncontrollably. Inspectors deemed it a serious safety hazard. The Fire Chief of Kingston generously provided a replacement, and his lieutenant followed us home to install it. While that immediate danger is resolved, the situation should never have escalated to that point.

• Indoor humidity levels reach up to 99% and never drops below 80%, even with attempts to ventilate. We have taken daily logs of the humidity in the apartment. Mold has invaded every part of our lives; our computer, bedding, clothing, and personal heirlooms. We were forced to throw away an entire box of my late mother’s kitchen accessories (which held immense sentimental value) when black mold was discovered covering the outside and inside of the box. Mold has even spread to our sealed blankets, shoes, and clothing that had just been washed, turning our clean laundry into a health risk. The smell of mildew and mold now clings to nearly everything we own. We're often embarrassed to go out in public because of how our clothes smell, and no amount of washing removes it. Entire drawers of clothes had to be discarded. It's devastating to lose the basic things you depend on just to get through the day. The emotional toll is just as severe as the physical.

• County inspectors have confirmed multiple hazards, including mold presence, nonfunctioning ventilation, and a water heater that inspectors found to be completely sealed inside a plywood enclosure with no access panel, raising serious safety concerns. The inspectors also mentioned that these renovations were done without a permit, which not only violates local building codes but may have contributed to the dangerous conditions now present in our unit. They told us directly: "This place is unsafe; you need to leave ASAP."

________________________________________

What We've Documented

• Photos of mold and destroyed belongings

• A certified letter requesting repairs (delivered with USPS tracking, but no written response received, only a rude call from the managing agent, completely disregarding our instruction of "in writing only")

• County inspector reports and in-person findings, conversations with primary care provider, and witness testaments

• Multiple documented code issues, with conditions that may extend to other units in the building, not only exposing us to the toxic conditions, but others as well...

________________________________________

Why We’re Asking for Help

We’re trying to stay in a motel temporarily just to breathe safely and begin the long road to recovery out of that toxic environment. But we can’t afford long-term lodging or moving costs alone. Most of our remaining money has gone toward cleaning supplies and packing materials. We’re actively pursuing accountability through official channels, but that takes time, and we need help to stay safe in the meantime.

Your support would help us cover:

• Temporary housing

• Food and daily essentials

• Storage or moving expenses

• A safe buffer until we can relocate permanently

• Attempts to restore salvageable belongings

• Assistance with legal fees and court cost

________________________________________

❤️ Every Bit Helps!

We’ve done everything we can to make this livable, to get help the right way, and to protect our health—but we’ve run out of options. Inspectors have confirmed serious problems, but that won’t fix the air we’re breathing tonight.

We’ve lost cherished family items, all that was left from my mother's stuff. We’ve gotten sick. We’ve watched mold grow back just days after scrubbing it away and even finding it in our hair and skin when viewed under magnification. And we’ve tried to hold on, even when the damage felt invisible to everyone else.

This fundraiser is our lifeline. It’s what gives us a chance to sleep without coughing, to wear clean clothes without shame, and to take back some control while we try to rebuild our lives.

We will hold the responsible party accountable—but right now, we need help just to make it through the day.

Please consider donating, sharing, or just helping us be seen. Your support may literally give us the air we need to breathe safely again.

With sincere thanks and love to all that have been there for us,

— Jesse & Craig

Update - 5/30/2025

How the $9,000 Goal Will Be Used

We wanted to share how we plan to use the money we raise and have included a very rough breakdown below. The largest expense will be lodging until we find another apartment. We've broken down our estimated costs below to show exactly where your support will go and why this goal is necessary for us to get back on our feet. This is a very rough projection of cost:

Motel Stay (30 Days) – $3,000

$100/night average including taxes and fees

30 nights for two adults in a clean, safe, mold-free environment

️ Food and Basic Needs – $1,200

Groceries and prepared meals while staying in a motel

Daily hygiene items and laundry costs

Moving & Storage – $900

U-Haul or trailer rental and fuel

Temporary storage for items not destroyed by mold

Essential Replacements – $1,500

Clothing, bedding, shoes, essentials, and contaminated electronics

Replacement of essential items lost due to mold damage

⚖️ Legal and Filing Expenses – $500

Certified letters, copies of documents, legal consultation

Potential filing fees for complaints or claims

Deposit + First Month’s Rent – $1,900

Funds to secure a safe, clean apartment once we find one

Covers security deposit and first month to allow a fresh start

Any remaining funds after we’ve secured safe housing and replaced essentials will be handled with complete transparency. If we’re fortunate enough to recover any costs later through legal action or reimbursement, we’ll make sure every donor knows where that money goes—whether toward continued recovery, helping others in similar situations, or giving back to those who helped us when we needed it most!