A 70-year-old woman who was about to be evicted from her home said that she knew that her neighbors loved her, but she didn’t know they loved her so much.
The lady, Linda Taylor, was heartbroken after her landlord informed her that she had two months before being evicted from the home in Minneapolis where she resided for the last two decades.
This felt like the world pulled from under her. Her home was everything to her.
Taylor Was Faced with an Eviction
According to Taylor, she originally purchased the house back in 2004. She signed it back over to the previous owner after she was late with the payments.
She became the prey in a real estate deal that she didn’t understand enough. Since then, she’s been renting the home for 15 years.
Her landlord, Greg Berendt, bought the white stucco home in Powderhorn Park in 2006 after the previous landlord was caught in a mortgage fraud that affected 45 homes, including the home of Taylor.
Berendt sent her a notice and asked her to move out by April 1st, 2022. He had plans to sell the property and asked for $299,000.
However, this sum was something that Taylor was unable to afford. She said she felt defeated and couldn’t eat or sleep.
She lives alone in the two-bedroom house. She had previously worked at a local nonprofit for three years before they laid her off during the pandemic.
She also claims that Berendt had raised her rent twice and left the problems in need of repairs and maintenance unresolved.
Although she lost her paycheck, Taylor managed to pay the rent, some $1400 per month. She used her savings, money from her family, and government subsidies.
Taylor says she was decisive to fight for her home and knew she had to do something about it.
Taylor Turns to One of Her Neighbors for Help
Taylor told one of her neighbors, Andrew Fahlstrom, about her problem. He’s a housing rights organizer.
The two were close after he moved to her neighborhood six years ago with his partner. He said she’s always one of those neighbors who greets everyone.
The 41-year-old knew that Taylor wasn’t the only one having this problem. Many individuals are losing their housing due to the market prices skyrocketing.
He emphasized that if housing is a right, we have to act toward it because we would otherwise be faced with homelessness.
Fahlstrom contacted other neighbors in an effort to find a solution for Taylor. Soon, the news of their campaign to help their neighbor spread around the block.
Other people offered to help. They listened to Taylor and wanted to do something for her. She had paid for her home for the last 18 years. Her rent was used to pay property taxes, mortgages of others, insurance, and repairs.
Her neighbors came together and emphasized that this woman deserves to remain in her home, not be evicted from it. So, the community was mobilized to help Taylor not get evicted.
In February, they sent a letter to Berendt, signed by 400 neighbors of Taylor, urging him to postpone the eviction and begin negotiations with Taylor so that she can buy her house.
The Community’s Efforts Fruit Results
Berendt, after receiving the letter, allowed Taylor to keep renting the home and gave her a chance to buy the home by June 30th.
He decreased the price to $250,000; however, this was still something Taylor couldn’t afford. So, the neighbors’ next effort was to raise the needed money.
One of the community members who took part is Julia Eagles. She was the lead in raising funds to help Taylor pay for the house.
She says they collectively believed that they were going to do what was necessary to keep their beloved neighbor in her home.
Many people in their community know and value Taylor.
Neighborhood Comes Together to Help Taylor Buy Her Home
From organizing block parties to selling art at an art show, community members did everything in their power to gather money for Taylor’s home.
They also launched online fundraising pages and made social media campaigns. They also had a large donation from a local church, an amazing $200,000.
This donation is what helped Taylor keep pushing forward. Within a period of four months, the community collected $275,000 for Taylor.
This was enough to help her purchase the home, pay for the necessary repairs, and even use some to settle the utilities. Taylor said she knew that she had amazing neighbors, but she didn’t know that they loved her so much.
Taylor is known for her little, free library on her front lawn and regular volunteering in the neighborhood.
By May 31st this year, she closed on her home. She says when it’s finally yours, you feel differently. She’s now safe and secure.
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