Holocaust survivor facing homelessness in Bondi Junction saved by heartwarming act
Tradies’ Heartwarming Act After A Holocaust Survivor With Dementia Was Left Homeless While Her Rental Apartment Was Renovated
- Two tradies help elderly woman as they are evicted from apartment
- Holocaust survivor has lived in the apartment for 50 years
- a GoFundMe raised over $20,000 in just five days
A landlord has offered to cover the cost of their tenant staying in temporary accommodation while they renovate a block of properties she has called home for 50 years.
Lilly faced homelessness after receiving notice that her building was due for renovation on Botany Street in Bondi Junction, Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Lilly, a Holocaust survivor who also suffers from dementia, has lived in the single-bedroom apartment for over 50 years and can barely afford to cover her $200-a-week rent with her Centrelink payments.
She sometimes goes without food to make ends meet.
Two tragicomedies, Jarrad Gordon and Gary Gild, have taken on the task of helping an elderly Holocaust survivor, Lilly (all pictured), as she is temporarily evicted from her building
Her situation was on the verge of worsening after her landlord told her she would have to move out while renovations were taking place at the property.
Lilly had nowhere else to stay, and it wasn’t until renovators came to the property that she was offered a helping hand.
J3G construction workers Jarrad Gordon and Gary Gild contacted her New York landlord, who agreed to move her into the Meriton apartments and cover her rent.
The pair helped Lilly move all of her belongings out of her apartment and even helped fix her record player when she couldn’t afford a $30 belt.
“I just felt heartbroken for her just seeing the state she was living in and not a single person in her life and no money,” Jarrad told Yahoo.
“She has no family, she has no friends, she’s just completely isolated. No one would even know she was alive or dead.’
The two tradies are currently helping to renovate the Bondi Junction apartment building (pictured) where Lilly has lived for more than 50 years
The traditions also started with one GoFundMe to help ease her future financial struggles.
“Lilly is extremely anxious and nervous about the move as she has lived in the same building for the past 50 years and is not good with change,” the page reads.
“We want to raise some money and give her the helping hand she deserves so she can try to live a normal life.
“It would be greatly appreciated if anyone has a few dollars to spare that they would like to donate.”
More than $20,000 of the $10,000 goal has been raised in the past five days.