the Smith Family needs a Christmas miracle

Hi, my name is Nyree Pinto and I'm raising money for my friend Holly Smith and her family after an arbitrator ruled in favor of a builder that took all their money, delivered a home that can't be occupied, and isn't going to fix the home so that it's livable. They are unhoused and making do in a loft over a machine shop. While they still have each other, the financial devastation is taking its toll on the family as they struggle to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

I firmly believe that this could happen to anyone. You have a dream of your forever home and you use your life savings, trust, effort and put all your heart into it ....only for the rug to be ripped out beneath your feet.

It takes a village to pick people up and let them know they are not alone in this world or with their situation. That's why I've created this fundraiser for the Smith Family on their third Christmas without their home.

Below is the story of what happened, in their own words. If you are able to give, no matter the amount, please do so. The family is forever grateful.

A Dream Unraveled

Entrusting our vision to [Colorado builder name withheld], we believed we were on the path to a steadfast realization of our dream. January 1st, 2021 marked the beginning of our journey, as we took out a mortgage and committed to a vision of living in our dream home within a year.

As of December 2023, our legal battle with [Colorado builder name withheld] concluded, leaving us in devastation. The builder walked away with our entire build budget, absolved of any obligation to complete, or repair the home. Homeless, we now reside in a tiny loft above an industrial workshop, our dreams shattered, and our family broken.

The four colossal sections of our home arrived in October 2021, pieced together with the excitement of a Christmas celebration lingering in the air. However, hope soon turned to despair as progress dwindled. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion became a living nightmare – the promise of a home slipping away.

The once-consistent construction site turned into a desolate reminder of broken promises and shattered dreams. Despite paying [Colorado builder name withheld] 95+% of the agreed seven-figure build price, the progress was almost nonexistent. Pleas for urgency fell on deaf ears as our rental home, reliant on the sale, was liquidated, leaving us stranded without a roof over our heads.

Regular site visits revealed an even grimmer truth: our dream home, filled with construction debris, harbored serious and substantial defects. We were notified by an outside crew that they discovered a 2" sink in the basement down the entire 60' length of the home. What ensued was a painstaking unraveling of defects, leading us down a path of unimaginable heartbreak.

The fight to reclaim our dreams has drained us physically, emotionally, and financially. We've spent our life savings on experts, inspections, and legal battles. The repair costs loom like an insurmountable mountain, estimated at $500-$700k, coupled with an additional $200k in legal bills. Our family is on the brink of collapse.

We ask you, our friends, family, and compassionate strangers, to join us in this battle for a home that was meant to be the heart of our family. Your support will aid us in covering repair costs and legal bills.

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to rebuilding our lives.

We thank you and are truly grateful for your support.

The Smith Family