Hello everyone,

On Tuesday, December 9th, around 6:30 PM, my family and I walked into our apartment expecting a normal evening. Instead, we were met with devastation. A large portion of our living room ceiling had completely collapsed onto our couch. As we moved through the apartment, our shock turned into heartbreak — the dining room ceiling had also fallen, and my daughter’s bedroom was severely damaged as well.

Water poured through the ceilings, flooding the apartment and soaking nearly everything we owned. Furniture, clothing, personal items, and especially my daughter’s belongings were destroyed. What should have been the place she felt safest was suddenly unlivable.

We were never notified by the landlord or maintenance about any issue before this happened. Because of the extent of the damage, we were forced to immediately vacate our home. Since then, we have been staying in a hotel — entirely out of pocket — as the landlord has refused to help cover the cost while repairs are underway.

As the days passed, the situation only worsened. Walls and ceilings began to be torn down without notice, leaving us unable to retrieve what little remained undamaged. At this point, we have effectively lost everything inside our apartment.

The hardest part of all of this has been watching my daughter go through it. Almost all of her belongings were ruined. Right now, she only has a few outfits to wear until I can afford to replace them. I also had to miss several days of work just to make sure my wife and daughter had somewhere safe to stay and to try to find help navigating this situation.

We were supposed to host Christmas dinner this year — something we were truly looking forward to — but instead, we’re facing the holidays without a home.

I am doing everything I can to get my family back on our feet, but we cannot do this alone. Funds raised will go toward:

• Temporary housing and moving costs

• Replacing my daughter’s clothing and essential belongings

• Replacing furniture and household items we lost

• Legal fees to protect our rights and hold those responsible accountable

I have even contacted Channel 9 News and allowed them into the apartment to help bring awareness to what we’re going through.

If you’re able to donate, share, or even just keep us in your thoughts, it would mean more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for helping my family rebuild after this unexpected disaster.