"Imagine facing the holidays without a place to call home—this is the reality for my family, and we need your help to change it.
Back in January 2024, my grandmother passed away. When I was younger, my mother couldn't take care of us, so my grandmother gained custody of my younger brother and me. She was more than a grandmother to me; she was my mom. I rarely called her "grandma"—she was always "mom" to me.
She owned two houses: one that belonged to her parents and another where she raised me. In 2010, she and my grandfather offered us the chance to move into my childhood home so they could see their great-grandchildren more often. Naturally, we accepted. My grandfather passed away in 2017, leaving my grandmother alone. Over the next year, I repeatedly asked her to move in with us so she wouldn't be by herself. This incredible woman raised me, taught me everything, and was always there for my family and me. It was my turn to be there for her. In mid-2021, she finally agreed, and we moved her in with us.
After she passed, I discovered that I was included in her will, along with my brother, two aunts, and a cousin, to receive a portion of her estate. Unfortunately, the will didn't specify that the house would be left to me. As her granddaughter, I wasn't given any decision-making power. One of my aunts was appointed as the head of my grandmother's estate, making all the decisions. Her choice regarding my home was shocking and caused immense pain and feelings of betrayal. She decided to sell both houses. I was served with a five-day notice to vacate and ended up in court. My aunts told me that the sooner we left, the sooner they could sell the houses and the sooner I would receive my share of the money. But I didn't want the money—I just wanted my home, the only place my kids knew as home.
We were forced to leave with only two months left in the school year. One day, my nine-year-old son asked me a question that shattered my already broken heart. He said, "Mom, why are they doing this to us? I thought we were family." The only answer I could give him was, "I don't know, baby, but this teaches us something... family doesn't do this to family." My son has ADHD, ODD, and MDD with high anxiety. Change really affects him. As a result, my family and I no longer speak to each other. As of now, they still have not sold either home or shown any attempt to.
For the past eight months, my two younger children (ages 6 and 9), my fiancé, and I have been homeless. We've been staying in hotels when we can afford them, but when we can't, our car is our only option. My fiancé suffered a back injury at work in late 2021. Despite visiting the doctor, taking nerve and pain medications, and undergoing months of physical therapy, he still experiences numbness in parts of his legs and struggles with mobility. In hopes of alleviating his condition, he underwent back surgery, but unfortunately, it didn't help.
Our kids shouldn't have to live like this. Last week, my 9-year-old son said something that not only brought me to tears but also broke me in a way I can't describe. He confided that he was scared. When I asked what he was scared of, he replied, "I'm scared that we won't be in a house for Christmas." I reassured him that his dad and I were doing our best to make it happen. He comforted me by saying he knew we were working very hard for this.
He went through a physical assessment to determine what type of work he could do, but the results were disappointing. Unable to perform traditional jobs, he began working as a DoorDash driver. After over a decade, I returned to work and have been employed at the same store for six months now. I'm set to become the night manager at the beginning of the year.
Thanks to both of us working, we've been able to stay in a hotel for the past three months. However, living in a small hotel room is far from ideal for a family of four. We've been searching for homes, apartments, townhouses, and duplexes because my children deserve a safe place to call home.
Any and all donations will be put towards the security deposit and first and/or last month's rent on a home, as well as any necessary furniture since we lost our storage unit a few months back. Your support is crucial in helping us give our kids the home and life that was taken from us. All donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to secure a home for my family this Christmas.
