Hi everyone,

This is difficult to write, but my wife and I are going through an unexpected housing and health crisis and could use some help.

After living in the same apartment for 7 years, a serious plumbing failure in our unit led to the bathroom ceiling being opened. Once that happened, conditions inside the apartment worsened rapidly due to mold. A licensed plumber identified a major ongoing leak from above, and a mold professional who inspected the unit advised that the apartment was unsafe to occupy and recommended that we leave.

We vacated the apartment that same night with only essentials.

Since then, we’ve been displaced from our home and have been staying in temporary lodging while trying to figure out next steps. We were briefly offered another unit, but when we viewed it, it had active roach/bedbug issues and other conditions that made it unsafe for us to move into.

As a result, we’ve had significant unexpected expenses, including:

Emergency hotel stays

Replacing clothing and bedding that became contaminated

Lost work time due to displacement

Disposal of most personal belongings

Temporary storage and transportation costs

We are also planning to pursue independent mold and air-quality testing so we can better understand any potential health impacts and make informed decisions going forward legally.

This situation has been overwhelming, especially because it happened suddenly and through no fault of our own. We are doing everything we can to handle this responsibly — communicating calmly, documenting events, and exploring proper legal and housing options.

Any funds raised will go toward:

Housing and basic living costs

Independent mold / air-quality testing for medical records

Replacing essential personal items

Recovery from lost income during displacement

Even sharing this page means more than we can express. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for your kindness, and for helping us get through a very difficult moment.

With gratitude,

Lester & Julie