Long-Term Greenville Resident Faces Sewer Crisis

***UPDATE*** The initial need has been MET, please scroll down to the "update" below to read the full story, what your funds are contributing to, and what any additional funds would assist (examples include concrete repair, fill dirt, and assisting Ms. Linda with paying off her HVAC and refrigerator). Thank you so much for your support!

Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

I'm writing on behalf of our neighbor and beloved member of our Downtown Greenville, SC community, Linda Hill. Linda is a remarkable 72-year-old woman who has opened her heart and home to over 500 foster children in our community, adopting 4 of them.

In addition to her immense contributions to our community, Linda is known for her lovely flower garden and her warm, nurturing spirit. Yet, she's been living a nightmare for the past 5 years due to an ongoing sewage problem caused by the negligent construction of townhomes behind her house.

The problem began when construction disturbed Linda's sewer line, causing her home to flood with sewage whenever she ran her dishwasher or did laundry. After hiring a plumber to investigate and camera her sewer line, we discovered that a large fence post was driven directly into her sewer line, cracking it and causing the sewage to flow freely into the ground. Additional fence posts were added on top of the line, which we expect have caused further damage, the scope of which we will not be able to discover until we have dug up the pipe.

Linda has spent years pleading for help from the city, the builders, the previous homeowner, and even hired a lawyer for assistance but her cries for help were dismissed and ignored. We are outraged that in 5 years no one was able to find the problem that my team and I discovered with one phone call in a single afternoon.

We were initially alerted to the problem when a sinkhole developed on a 3rd property, which is next door to one we manage. We were horrified to learn that this sinkhole was caused by years of sewage building beneath the ground. It was at this point we met Linda and heard her story. She told us we are the only people to truly listen to her the entire time this has been happening. Alarmed by the environmental hazard, we called the city for help, but unfortunately, this only made things worse.

Code enforcement responded by declaring her home an environmental hazard and gave her a notice - repair the sewer line within 7 days or face the potential condemnation of her home. The other alternative is for the city to repair it and place a tax lien on her home, an expense Linda, who is on a fixed income, cannot afford.

As we continue to fight for Linda's rights and try to hold those responsible accountable, we are racing against time. Legal proceedings will inevitably be lengthy, and we cannot wait for the outcome while Linda's living conditions continue to deteriorate and sewage drains untreated into nearby yards. We need immediate action.

We have consulted with a reliable contractor who estimates the repair cost to be a minimum of $15,000. This includes the removal and replacement of 3 fences, relocating posts, digging up, and replacing the damaged sewer line. This amount will fix Linda's house and prevent it from being condemned or held under a tax lien by the city.

If we are fortunate enough to raise more than our goal, any extra funds will be given directly to Linda. This will help reimburse her for the expenses she's incurred over the last 5 years for doing her laundry at laundromats and for the inconvenience and emotional distress she's had to bear.

Linda's plight is sadly a part of a larger issue. Our city has frequently overlooked long-time residents, focusing more on turning neighborhoods into luxury real estate hubs. The consequence of this is that our community members, like Linda, suffer. We don't want Linda or her family to be the next victim of gentrification.

By contributing to this campaign, you're not only helping Linda reclaim her home, but you're also taking a stand against the unjust displacement of long-standing community members. Your contribution is a powerful message to our city and our leaders, reminding them that every resident matters and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Please consider giving whatever you can and share this campaign far and wide. Let's band together to turn this tide of injustice into a wave of support for Linda and others in her position.

Again, thank you for your support and generosity. Together, we will help Linda reclaim her home and continue her invaluable contributions to our community.

#StandWithLinda