MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. ā A homeowner in Miami Gardens fears that her house could collapse right on top of her.
Itās been four years since a hurricane damaged 68-year-old Vanessa Wilcoxās roof, but now she is on the verge of homelessness.
āMy roof, it wasnāt good, and it just got worse and worse and worse,ā Wilcox said. āI have containers everywhere, in my bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, living room.ā
Photos of the homeās interior show warped ceilings in multiple rooms thanks to water intrusion, which happens every time it rains. Itās something the City of Miami Gardens noted as workers deemed the one-story home an unsafe structure.
āI was devastated because I felt like I had been bamboozled, manipulated,ā Wilcox said.
To be safe, she has been living in her car.
āNo AC in the house at all,ā Wilcox said. āSometimes I take my dogs and we go for a little spin.ā
Itās a tough situation for Wilcoxās neighbors to see unfolding.
āItās not easy seeing her not even able to take a shower or heat some food or living out her car, and I mean, thereās a house right here,ā said neighbor Joanne Vanderpool.
Wilcox has a contractor ready to repair her roof, thanks to a grant awarded through the stateās Rebuild Florida program.
But because of the condemn notice, that contractor legally canāt go inside the home to start the repair work.
āHow you gonna condemn my property and Iām in the process of having my property redone, from the roof to the inside?ā Wilcox said.
In a statement, the City of Miami Gardens said thereās a process that must be followed, but wheels were in motion to remedy the situation.
The full statement from The City of Miami Garden can be read below:
āSafety is a top priority for the City of Miami Gardens. Regrettably, Ms. Wilcoxās home was inspected and deemed unsafe after the City received expressions of concern for her safety due to state of the property and an impending storm, at the time. The City met with Ms. Wilcox and took all the necessary steps to provide assistance including hotel accommodations and connecting her with resources such as the Red Cross and Citrus Health. Once a building is deemed unsafe, a Design Professional and/or General Contractor must meet with the Cityās Building Official or designee to discuss a detailed structural plan addressing the issues to ensure compliance and obtain all the necessary permits.
āBased on the attached report and photos, the City acted in the best interest of the resident to have her relocated until itās safe to return to the home.
āNow that a Contractor is in place, the City will reach out to Ms. Wilcox to set up a meeting to have this rectified as quickly as possible. In addition to the grant she received from the State, the City also offers a Senior Beautification Program and recently announced a Weatherization program - both of which can be accessed and applied to Ms. Wilcoxās property once the structural plans have been presented for approval.ā