Help My Family Escape A Toxic Living Environment

My name is Alisha Walker. I'm 29 years old, currently residing in Jacksonville, Florida with my boyfriend Denzel and two children, Elijah and Malachi. We are in dire need of help after reporting mold contamination and being written out of our lease.

In September, I noticed mold coming through the air vents and notified maintenance about it. They came, inspected it, said there was no mold, and spray-painted over it. It eventually spread everywhere: in mine and my children's closets, clothes, shoes, on the couch, bedframe, TV, dresser, food, my children's toys, and carpet.

Soon after, I broke out with a rash on my finger, and no doctor could explain the cause of it. I suffered from an asthma attack; my throat was closing, and I had to take Singulair for a few days to get relief from the mold exposure.

My boyfriend Denzel, my soon-to-be 8-year-old son, Elijah, and soon-to-be 1-year-old son, Malachi, got sick with flu-like and upper respiratory symptoms.

Two weeks ago, after reporting this to the Better Business Bureau, the property manager sent someone to test for mold. They confirmed that there is mold in the A/C ventilation system and that was the root of the mold contamination.

The property manager wrote us out of our lease for October 31, 2024, and stated that our security deposit will be returned four to six weeks after we vacate the apartment.

At this time, I was unemployed because I got laid off from Vocational Rehabilitation due to postpartum-related illness.

I began working as a teacher on September 16, 2024, and got my first paycheck of $334 on October 4, 2024. Denzel used the rest of his paycheck to pay for application and processing fees to move. We were approved on October 4, 2024, with a first-month deposit of $1884, which we will not have by the move-in date of October 26, 2024.

If we do not secure that deposit, we will be homeless.

My goal is to raise money to put towards my 1st month's deposit, to get out of this toxic living environment, and to replace some important items such as beds for myself and my partner, and my two children, a dinner table, and chairs. We are a family of 4. I have a son who is turning 1 on October 18, and my oldest son is turning 8 on November 18. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to read our story and grateful for any and all donations.