Elderly Woman Facing Eviction Blessed by Community After Taking Custody of 3 Great-Grandchildren

By Amanda Thomason April 4, 2019 at 11:43am

Geneva Weeks of Washington, D.C., won custody of her great-grandchildren in February. At 68 years old, her child-rearing days should have been over, and she should have been basking in visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But it became clear that her granddaughter was not capable of caring for her three children, and it fell to Weeks to decide whether or not she’d take on the tykes.

“My granddaughter was on the street doing her little partying or whatever,” Weeks told WUSA 9. “Didn’t want to have the responsibility of a mother.”

The children needed more assistance, too, as a school social worker said.

“The mental health team has tried for over a year to have the students evaluated and given medication to help them manage their severe Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, unspecified,” the social worker wrote.

“However, Ms. Geneva Weeks has not been able to give consent for the students to receive the mental health support because she doesn’t have custody. Furthermore, the mother has not addressed this issue, and the students’ behaviors are getting worse.”

“She had no money to buy no clothes when they came the hospital, no bed, no none of that, so I took part of my rent money, and I bought what this baby needed, so that made me short on my rent,” Weeks continued.

“I was trying to catch up, but I couldn’t. And the girls needed school clothes.” Weeks ended up spending her rent money on much-needed supplies.

“Struggling with the rent, all by myself,” she said. “Don’t know how I’m going to get it.”

She faced a $2,200 fee to get through rent for February and March, but didn’t know where it was going to come from. She told a reporter that she could end up at a homeless shelter with the three children.

Thankfully, there were viewers who empathized with Weeks and sent their support in the form of money. Even local police officers donated toys and supplies to the kind great-grandmother.

On April 1, Jess Arnold with WUSA9 showed up at Weeks’ apartment to hand over a gift that was no joke: Over $5,000 donated rent money.

“Thank you Jesus!” Weeks said, crying and overcome with gratitude. “He answered my prayer. He answered my prayer … I’m so full with joy. I’m so full with joy. I thank God.”

“I’m just exhausted from the joy that people have done for me and these babies,” she added.

“I can breathe better. I can enjoy my babies more now…. There are some good people in this world, and I thank God for them.”

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