Help Us Save Our Home

Hello, my name is Dylan Z. I’m 18 years old and the middle of five children. As you can see from my cover photo (the 3 boys and 1 younger girl are my siblings. The other 2 women are my sister-in-Laws). My mom, younger siblings, and I are still living together in the only home we’ve ever known. My two older siblings have moved out, but we’re all still a close-knit family. Unfortunately, our home is now at risk of being taken away, and I’m reaching out for help to keep us from losing it.

Last year, everything changed for us. In July, my parents’ marriage came to an end after my dad left following a fight. At first, I thought he’d come back like he always had. But then we discovered the truth my dad had been hiding significant financial issues. Since March, he’d been involved in stupid things, including sending inappropriate photos online that led to blackmail. This, combined with other problems, led to my parents’ divorce and left us with a financial disaster.

Initially, I didn’t know how to feel. My mom and dad had always had their share of arguments, and I tried to stay neutral. But as time went on, I realized just how much my mom was trying to hold things together while my dad distanced himself from all of us. He stopped reaching out to my younger siblings entirely, and even my older siblings and I barely heard from him. Today, he’s living in Indianapolis, while we’re still in Cincinnati, struggling to make ends meet.

Here’s where things stand now: before leaving, my dad took out a loan from his employer. He didn’t keep up with the payments, and now his former employer is threatening to place a lien on our house. This would add a second mortgage payment on top of the one we’re already struggling to afford. My mom works incredibly hard, but her income alone can’t cover the current mortgage, utilities, and other expenses—not to mention the additional payments from the lien.

At 18, I’m doing everything I can to help. I work full-time, making under $20 an hour, and I’ve committed my income to support our family. But it’s not enough. If we lose this house, we’ll have nowhere else to go. My mom’s job is local, and moving out of the city would force her to leave her job, making it impossible for us to recover.

That’s why I’m asking for your help. We need to raise $20,000 to cover 12 months of mortgage payments and ensure we can stay in our home. Every dollar raised will go directly toward securing our family’s future and keeping a roof over our heads. This isn’t just about bricks and walls—it’s about protecting the only stability my younger siblings and I have left.

Your support, no matter the amount, will make a world of difference. Whether it’s a donation or sharing our story with others, anything you can do will help us hold on to our home and keep our family together.

Thank you so much for reading and for any help you can provide.