85-Year-Old Springfield Mom, Family Facing Eviction Need Help

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A "brother" of 85-year-old Springfield mom, Marie Platt, has started a fundraiser to help her and her two adult children as they are facing eviction next month.

"Marie is not my biological sister, but we were raised by the same parents when my mother died. I was 4 and Marie was 16 when I came to live with her and her parents," said Emanuel Polizzi of Florida.

Polizzi has always helped Platt when he could but now he is reaching out to others for help.

Platt lives in Springfield with two of her adult children, Joe and Nina, yet both of them have disabilities and neither can work. She is on social security and has exhausted two reverse mortgages.

Platt now has until Nov. 18 when her family will be evicted.

"She has nowhere to go. She has not driven in over a year because she can't afford the repairs her car needs. She often has to go to Springfield Hope for food vouchers," Polizzi said.

Platt's life has been "a series of disasters," according to Polizzi.

Her husband suddenly died in 1967 from a heart attack while playing with their children, leaving her with four young kids to raise. A second house she lived in burned to the ground before she and her family moved in with her mom in Springfield. In 2014 her youngest daughter died while awaiting surgery.

Polizzi is hoping to raise enough money to get Platt and her family back on their feet.

"I’ve created this fundraiser in the hope of raising about $40,000; enough for Marie and Joe and Nina to move into a rental and pay for about two years rent and food. Marie is on lists for affordable housing, but the lists are two to three years long," Polizzi said.

Click here to learn more or to donate.

(Image via GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch)

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