Diahann JohnBaptiste

Today, March 13, 2026, was a difficult day for me. I logged into my Maymont Homes portal intending to pay my past due balance for February and March. My plan was to clear the rent along with the late fees. Over the past several weeks my life has been deeply affected by a tragedy. My son’s girlfriend, who was like a daughter to me, died by suicide in January. Since that time, many things have been difficult. I had to travel to Minnesota for her funeral and emotionally it has been hard to maintain my normal work schedule. As a self employed professional, reduced work hours quickly affect finances. Despite these challenges, today I finally had the funds ready to bring my account current. When I checked the portal, I saw an additional $792 in charges for two late fees and two eviction filing fees. It felt overwhelming. I understand that eviction filings may be required by policy or law, but it can feel discouraging when someone is trying to recover from hardship and additional fees continue to accumulate. I called Maymont Homes to ask if any of the fees could be removed. The first representative I spoke with, MARY from the collections department, was unfortunately very harsh in her tone. I called back hoping to speak with someone else. Danielle answered, and her kindness immediately made a difference. She explained that she could not remove the fees because it was already too late in the process, but her patience and respectful tone meant more than she probably realizes. Because of that conversation, I was able to gather myself and ask my mother to help with a small portion of the balance so I could clear the account immediately. Danielle, thank you for showing compassion. In distressing moments, people need to know someone cares even when the circumstances cannot be changed. As for Mary, I sincerely pray she never finds herself in a situation where she needs patience and kindness from someone else.