Restore Hope for Bob Kiesau and His Grandson

You're about to see a story profiling a man from Ocean Springs Mississippi who needs your help. His situation evolves from no fault of his own. It has been forged by an unresponsive government and family tragedies that have taken a mental and financial toll. Please take a look and if you find it in your heart, help out in any way you can, big or small. Any gift would be a blessing. Thanks for watching and God bless you and yours.

Bob Kiesau has faced a series of devastating challenges. His troubles began in 2016 when the City of Ocean Springs widened a ditch near his home from 3 feet to 20 feet, removing 50-foot trees from his side easement and his French drain. This caused significant damage, leading to his house sinking. In 2017, tragedy struck when his 24-year-old daughter passed away from a brain aneurysm, leaving behind two young children. Not long after, Bob’s living room floor sank, likely due to the City’s excavation work. Then, Bob was diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer. Despite all this, Bob adopted his then 4-year-old grandson, who is pictured with him, and has remained hopeful.

In 2018, the City of Ocean Springs rejected Bob’s claim, citing state immunity and the statute of limitations. Bob then hired AFS, a foundation specialist, to assess the damage. They found that the house had sunk 2 inches and provided a plan to stabilize and level the floors, costing $73,000. This estimate also includes replacing his driveway, which was damaged by the heavy equipment used during the ditch widening. Unfortunately, the City has only offered to plant new trees and shrubs to improve the view of the widened ditch.

The AFS estimate does not cover the cost of restoring the floor tiles in the living area, which Bob has already replaced twice since the initial damage. We aim to raise enough funds to make Bob’s home safe and livable again. Bob’s latest home appraisal is $79,000 due to the extensive damage, while other homes on the street appraise around $179,000.

Although the exact cause of the damage is uncertain, the timing and circumstances strongly suggest a connection to the City’s actions. The City could have shown more respect and handled this situation better.

Please help support Bob in rebuilding his life and home. Any contribution, big or small, will be greatly appreciated.