Donation-Funded Home Nears Completion for Memphis Woman Who Lived in Her Car for Years

A year-long rebuilding effort moves toward a March move-in

A donation-funded effort to provide stable housing for an elderly Memphis homeowner is nearing completion, with builders projecting a move-in sometime in March. The project centers on Christine Marshall, 81, known to many neighbors and volunteers as “Momma,” whose longtime residence on South Parkway West became uninhabitable after years of deterioration and structural damage.

Marshall’s situation drew renewed attention in mid-2025 when she was found sleeping in a car parked in her driveway during periods of intense summer heat. She said she had not lived inside the house for roughly four years because it had fallen into disrepair, and family members said she periodically stayed elsewhere but often returned to the property to watch over it.

From emergency repairs to full replacement

Early plans focused on restoring the existing structure. As the scope and condition of the property became clearer, the approach shifted toward replacing the house altogether. In October 2025, the dilapidated structure was demolished and the rebuild began, marking a turning point from short-term stabilization to a longer-term housing solution.

The construction effort has been marked by delays and administrative complexity, including issues tied to code requirements, utility coordination and weather-related setbacks. Builders involved in the project have described the process as unusually challenging for a single-site residential build, reflecting how permitting, inspections, and service connections can extend timelines even when funding and labor are available.

How the project is being financed

The home has been built through donations, with community fundraising playing a central role. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $80,000 as the project moved forward, following earlier fundraising totals reported at more than $70,000. Organizers and builders have said the work has been completed without charging Marshall for construction, with donations and in-kind support covering key costs.

What the case highlights about housing vulnerability

Marshall’s experience underscores how quickly housing can become precarious for homeowners when repairs compound over time. Even for people who own property, severe damage, limited savings, and the absence of a clear repair pathway can lead to extended periods without safe indoor shelter. In this case, the combination of structural failure, heat exposure risk, and the length of time the home remained uninhabitable created a prolonged crisis that required outside coordination to resolve.

• Home deterioration can accelerate after major damage, particularly when roofs fail and utilities become unreliable.
• Rebuilding timelines are often shaped by inspections, code compliance, and utility hookups in addition to labor and funding.
• Community fundraising can bridge urgent gaps, but it can also introduce uncertainty as project needs evolve.

“It lets me know that there is still people that care… I am blessed,” Marshall said during a recent walkthrough of the nearly finished home.

If the project stays on schedule, Marshall’s March move-in would close a chapter that began with a collapsing, unsafe structure and months spent seeking safety in a parked vehicle—ending with a newly built, donation-funded home intended to restore long-term stability.