MARKHAM, Ill. — Filmmaker and philanthropist Tyler Perry has paid a nearly $18,000 mechanic’s lien on the home of 81-year-old Brenda Daurham, clearing a major financial obstacle after the longtime homeowner was displaced for more than six months amid an unresolved insurance dispute.
Daurham has lived in her Markham house for more than four decades. On Valentine’s Day, a pipe burst beneath her kitchen sink and flooded the property. Restoration crews began mitigation work, but Allstate later denied the claim, citing policy exclusions related to wear and tear, deterioration, and seepage.
Tyler Perry Pays Nearly $18,000 Lien for 81-Year-Old Homeowner
The restoration company then recorded a lien of $17,827.96, plus potential interest and fees, against the property. Daurham said she did not have the money to pay it and has been unable to return home.
The story reached a wide audience after FOX 32 Chicago reported on her situation. Viewers tagged Perry, who responded on Instagram by calling out the insurer: “Hey Allstate, step to the front real quick. This woman is 81 years old. You call this being in good hands?” He added a direct message to Daurham: “Don’t worry Ms. Daurham, help is on the way.”
Perry followed through by paying the lien. Reports also indicate he has offered additional assistance—reported in some accounts as $25,000—to help her get back on her feet and make the house livable again. Daurham expressed astonishment and gratitude. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. She added that she was not entirely surprised, noting Perry’s history of helping others, especially older people.
The payment lifts a concrete burden. A lien on a home can stall repairs, complicate ownership, and deepen the stress of displacement, especially for an elderly homeowner living on a fixed income. One private act of generosity has removed that immediate threat.
Daurham and her family have made clear that gratitude toward Perry does not close the larger issue. They say she has continued paying premiums and that the original claim remains unresolved. “Tyler Perry paid the lien and we appreciate it, but we do not feel like Allstate should get away free,” Daurham said. The restoration company has argued the damage stemmed from a sudden plumbing failure that should have been covered. Allstate has said it is reviewing the matter.
Perry’s intervention does not substitute for a fair insurance resolution. It does, however, give Daurham a chance to move forward while that dispute continues. For an 81-year-old woman who spent decades maintaining her home and paying for coverage, the remaining questions—why the claim was denied and whether the policy will still be honored—deserve a clear and timely answer.
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