Share on FacebookFor 89-year-old Angie Tyma, the house in Hudson, Florida, had been home for more than 30 years. But when the property’s mortgage went unpaid by its overseas owner, the house went into foreclosure. Despite warnings, Angie never thought she would be forced out. “They threw me out,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe it.”
On her 89th birthday, Angie found herself staying in a motel after losing the home she had lived in for decades.
A Neighbor Steps In
The sight of Angie’s belongings being removed from her home moved her neighbors into action. Among them was Danielle Calder, who lived just a few houses away. At 65, Calder didn’t need another house — but she couldn’t bear to watch her neighbor go homeless.
She contacted the auction company, purchased the house for $167,500, and handed Angie the keys. “Quite honestly, I didn’t need another house,” Calder said. “But I needed her. I couldn’t see her living in a motel room.”
A Birthday Homecoming
When Angie returned home on her birthday, neighbors gathered to welcome her back. The moment was overwhelming. “Usually one of my neighbors bakes me a cake every year, but this time… I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I was speechless. I couldn’t even talk.”
Angie now rents the home from Calder and is slowly unpacking, cleaning, and repairing what was damaged during the move. For her, the gift of returning to her home was better than any birthday present.
A Community United
Calder describes Angie as “the fabric of the neighborhood.” Known for walking her two small dogs and for her lively spirit, Angie has long been a part of the community. “She’s an elderly woman, but she’s pretty feisty, and she has lots of energy,” Calder said.
For Angie, the act of kindness restored more than her home — it reaffirmed her belief in community. “She’s a very good friend and a good neighbor,” Angie said of Calder.
And for Calder, the choice was simple: “It was the right thing to do. We’re family — the whole neighborhood.”
