Some friends of ours have had to leave their rental-house because the owner is selling it. The family is a married couple with sons 15 and 12 years old, and a daughter who is ten. Wife is out of work and husband brings home about $1600/month. Being fairly resourceful, they packed away most of their belongings in a storage unit and have been camping (legally!) in local parks and campgrounds. They’re outdoors-people and can do quite well that way for some time. (we’re on the east coast of Florida, so cold-weather is not that much of an issue) They obviously need a place to live, but first month/last month/security deposit can easily be $3000.00USD.
How can we help these folks? Having them move in with us is not an option, I’m afraid. My wife suggested that we can have them over for a night once weekly so that they can do laundry, relax indoors, have showers, etc.
Can you help me out with some innovative ideas as to how we can help this family?
Having them over for showers and laundry is so kind of you!
Often what people really need is stuff you don’t necessarily think of, like toiletries. Feminine care products are hard to come by at food banks and shelters.
Storage units can be quite pricey, any way you could store their stuff (or foot the storage bill)? On his salary it will be difficult to put much money aside if they have to make a ~$100 storage payment every month.
My understanding is that in most areas, there’s a long waiting list for Section 8 or other subsidized housing. But perhaps the family can contact the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity to see if they can help.
In most areas, Section 8 housing has wait lists a couple years long. In even more areas, the lists are closed --you can’t apply. NYC, which has a relatively well developed social safety net, hasn’t accepted any Section 8 applications since 2009. If there’s no family shelter, I don’t blame them for preferring to stay together.
OP, do the kids need a quiet place to do their homework? It must be miserable trying to write out homework in a tent in the rain. Can they stop by for an hour or two after school? Even if you can’t help by providing a homework space, maybe you can help them identify an afterschool or community center or library or church that would have something like that.
I’m sure they would absolutely appreciate a chance to do laundry. They would probably appreciate the fellowship of a group meal as well. Sometimes just feeling “normal” for an hour can keep you grounded and focused.
Sacramento has also closed the Section 8 application process.
Shelters may take the wife and kids, but many will not allow adult males.
Storing their stuff is probably the most direct help short of cash.
Any chance of letting them use your address when applying for AFDC or whatever is available?
Maybe throw a few sleeping bags around the living room in case somebody comes snooping.
They need to get their applications in NOW - and they have to put something in “Address”. “General Delivery” is not a good thing to put unless you want your kids taken.
I sometimes see rent-to-own ads on Craig’s List and the like. Perhaps check these out. Some of them probably have catches that make it not a wise idea but others appear to be private owners who have a spare house and want to help someone out.
Also, try contacting some area churches. I had a friend who was down on her luck and was offered cheap rent on a cabin that a parishioner no longer used but wanted occupied. I’m not sure how she found out about it but I do know it was through a church she didn’t attend.
I also knew a fellow who loaned out a house of his just because he was super nice and couldn’t say no. He did this through his church too.
Since your friends are camping and could do so for some time, they might see if they could volunteer as campground hosts. According to this site, the chances they’d get to do it are slim on short notice but it might be worth checking it out in case a there’s a sudden opening. They’d get their campsite for free and wouldn’t have to worry about packing up and moving every few weeks. There’s a 20 hour a week commitment but since Mom isn’t working, this shouldn’t be a problem. Here in Washington, I believe you have to be at the site most of the day.
Your location is listed as Palm Coast. If that’s correct, they can contact is Catholic Charities of Central Florida, the local Jewish family services organization or the equivalent for other religions. These groups usually help people regardless of faith.
I believe they are on the “east coast of Florida” and NOT in NYC, which is where I happen to live. The availability of affordable housing in that area is not even close to being comparable to NYC. Affordable housing can be income based as well as accepting Section 8.
If they do nothing and don’t get on lists, then they won’t ever move up on the lists. If they get to the top and don’t need it by then, they don’t have to take it. I had a friend who was number seven hundred something on a NYC housing lottery list and was number one in a matter of months. People don’t normally take themselves off the list, they just don’t show up for their appointment. If she had talked herself out of trying, she wouldn’t be there.
Food stamps, if they receive them, don’t cover health and hygiene items. So, they would likely appreciate shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, dish soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, cups, plastic cutlery, garbage bags, wipes,over the counter meds, lotion, batteries, etc. Extra socks and undies to make the laundry go farther.
The YMCA and Boys and Girls Club offer scholarships and sliding scale services. The kids could get afterschool and daycamps. The family could get access to showers, pools, lobbies with wi-fi.
They might need quarters for laundry machines or showers.
Where on the East Coast of Florida are they? I’m in Broward County, and have been somewhat involved in homeless outreach for a while. I have a few decent contacts, and would be happy to pass on anything I know.
Most of the charities that I could suggest are somewhat religious based - would that be a problem for them?
Things that help - and many of these have been mentioned above:
Keeping clean
Storage of stuff - clothes, computers, etc - may not matter in this case since they have a storage locker
Transportation - do they have a car? Would a monthly bus pass help? Bikes?
If they aren’t showering and changing clothes daily, they’ll need a steady supply of clean socks and underwear.
Is the issue really just first/last/security? Do you believe they would be able to make monthly payments on a place if they could get past the entry criteria? (Granted they were doing this until recently, but the numbers make it difficult to understand how)
Hi I am really sorry your friends have hardships. I am curious what type of friendship you have with the family. Are you in a position where honest evaluation would be accepted without hostility on their end. Are they willing to communicate honestly friend to friend. If so you can just talk with them honestly about the issues, solutions, prevention, and game plan. There is certainly a need for the adults to take action. You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves. And what I mean by that, persistently setting reachable goals on a daily basis to overcome their current situation. I am curious why the wife isn’t working or looking for work while her children are in school. That would be helpful, sometime making sure you are presentable and going door to door to ask if anyone needs housework. Maybe even you could use her to help you with some old projects you have been meaning to tackle. Spring cleaning anyone? You may be surprised that middle class neighbourhoods are generally working, and have not been able to find someone to help with maintaining property or housekeeping, and can afford to pay for good services. I need someone like this to help me on occasion. Also when going door to door for things like this it’s best to be honest about the urgency and willingness to work to prevent or overcome situations. Appearance is very important here. Also using this kind of tactic it is a good idea to research income levels of the area you will try to work on. It’s important to check if they are homeowners, renters, income levels. Be realistic when you use time and energy to venture out like this. It will save you discouragement and give you the best possible results when you plan. It will also be a good example for the teen to see both parents are committed to pulling themselves out of bad circumstances. Public housing is a terrible place to raise kids, the mentality in most impoverished areas is destructive to kids mentality. The above solutions are good, but most of them will only be band aids, and real help comes from guidance, but lots of people do not like constructive criticism even in the best of people. But in order to step out, and take a good look at the real problems that lead to issues that arise in life you need to be realistic with yourself, for yourself. :):)
