Nationwide — Melody Clay, an African American mother of nine from Seattle, Washington, is seeking community support to move her family after her landlord declined to renew her lease. After adopting five of her nieces and nephews to keep them together, she now faces another challenge as a broken car threatens to delay the move to a home that could accommodate her large family.
Clay officially adopted her five nieces and nephews in May 2025. She was already raising four children of her own but stepped in after the younger children entered foster care. Their father had struggled with drug addiction following the death of his oldest child in gun violence. During the years Clay worked to bring the family together, she also lost her mother, while the children’s father died from health complications.
Despite these losses, Clay remained determined to provide a stable home for the children. She said their dependence on her gives her the strength to keep going. “When I look at them, that’s what keeps me going. I’m like, they depend on me, I don’t have the option of failing,” she told Fox 13 Seattle. She also reassured their father that the children would be safe and cared for in her home, promising that she would do everything she could to keep them together.
Her family now faces housing uncertainty after her landlord informed her on Sept. 11 that the lease would not be renewed after Oct. 1. The landlord needed to return to the property after finding that living elsewhere in Bonney Lake had become too expensive. Clay searched for affordable housing in Washington but struggled to find a suitable home for her household. She eventually secured approval for a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house in Georgia, giving the family a potential place to start over.
However, the move has stalled because the transmission in her Chevrolet Suburban has failed, leaving her without reliable transportation. She has continued working extra hours to save money and turned to a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the relocation costs. Although asking for financial assistance meant setting aside her pride, she said she is determined to find a way to provide for the children. It has so far raised more than $13,000.
Despite the obstacles, Clay remains hopeful and continues to rely on her faith while working toward a solution. “I have to continue to have faith and put my faith in God, honestly,” she said. She acknowledged that the situation looks difficult but said she is doing what she can while trusting that things will work out. She hopes additional community support will help resolve the transportation problem and allow her family to make the move to Georgia together.