My family and I have to be out of our home by October 21st after our landlord refused to renew our lease. I have never been late on rent in 14 years, and this has left us scrambling at the worst possible time. I am doing everything I can to keep my children and family safe, housed, and healthy, but we are out of time.

We do have one path forward: a family home we can move into. The problem is that it has been sitting empty for 12 years and is not safe to live in yet. My youngest has mobility and medical needs (due to an AVM rupture of the brain and spine that she suffered over the summer) and needs a bathtub for her care, so this is not just about moving. It is about making sure the home is truly safe and usable for my child and for all of us.

What makes this even harder is that I cannot physically take on this kind of work myself. I have already been through surgery for a synovial cyst and spinal decompression, a hysterectomy with ovary removal, and a panniculectomy due to a 300lb weightloss (all of these surgeries have been within the past 12 weeks). I still need a facet ablation, and spinal fusion is likely ahead. Between my physical limits and my youngest child’s care needs, we simply cannot get this done alone before October 21st.

The house needs serious work before we can live there. Roof leaks have damaged parts of the home, much of the flooring and subfloor has rotted, and we need to replace a small shower with a tub for my youngest’s care. There are also other repairs needed to make the kitchen, plumbing, and entry areas safe and livable for my children.

We already have materials, tools, and supplies. What we do not have is the labor, the manpower, or the money to hire professionals to get this done in time. If more repair needs come up once work starts, funds may also need to cover extra supplies. And if we cannot finish before we have to be out, we may need help paying for temporary housing like an Airbnb, RV, or hotel while we keep working to make this home safe.

I am asking for help to get my children/family into a safe home before October 21st. If you can donate, share this fundraiser, or help us connect with people who can do the work, it would mean more than I can say. Thank you for helping my family through this urgent moment.