MYRTLE BEACH, SC- 10 year-old Shanautica Tisdale was all smiles Thursday at Daisy Elementary’s field day. Her teacher Sabrina Benton described Tisdale as a hard worker that loves school and loves to impress her teacher. However, Benton said she struggled academically and behaviorally.
“Shanautica was becoming clingy and she would cry a lot, which is not like her,” said Benton. “She’s usually very bubbly and laughs.
When Benton found out where Tisdale lived, her behavior issues made sense.
According to Tisdale’s Grandmother Johnnie McCray a tree had fallen on the roof of their house after an ice storm in 2013. McCray said she tried patching it, but the roof and cracks still leaked.
“The house began to get a lot of mold and mildew. The back was rotten out,” said McCray.
She even started seeing snakes in the house. McCray remembered Tisdale telling her it was time to leave.
“She said I don’t want to live here anymore and I said honey neither do I,” stated McCray.
After three months, McCray and Tisdale moved in with a family member. McCray said she applied for a low income grant through Horry County’s Community Development Office to help with repairs.
The Community Development office gets $2.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development annually. Director Diana Seydlorsky said $ 1 million goes toward rehabilitation projects for low income housing.
“When they came out to look at the house they said it wasn’t worth repairing,” said McCray.
The only option was to re-build. McCray and Tisdale got a new two bedroom, two bathroom house. As the walls started to go up, McCray said Tisdale’s spirit lifted also.
“It’s going to be pink and my grandma is having pink curtains for me and I cannot wait till I get back to my house,” said Tisdale.
McCray said she’s looking forward to relaxing. She plans to move in sometime in June.
To apply for a CDBG grant call (843) 915-7033 or visit http://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/CDBG.aspx