My friends Sharon Gregory, her daughter Heather Fowler, and Heather's 4 year-old son Caleb are staying at a cheap motel tonight, thanks to St Vincent DePaul. But only for a night or two due to the lack of funds. They were evicted from their home in Boardman, Oregon because they were four months behind on their rent. Sharon is receiving aid from the state of Oregon, but it wasn't enough to pay all of their bills. She has a number of health-issues which is very costly. Her daugther Heather has been taking care of her mother and her son with no time for herself or no time to work outside the home. She is a single mother.
They signed-up for HUD to help them find an affordable home here in The Dalles, Oregon where I live. I helped them pack their things into a 26' U-Haul trailer to move into a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom manufactured home in The Dalles that was promised to them through HUD. When they arrived with the loaded moving van, they found out that there were people still living there. Due to some miscommunications between the manager Larry Black and the owner of the home, the people still living there were not given a 72-hour notice to move out until after the day he said it would be vacant Aug 3rd. The owner now says she wants $500 down before Sharon and Heather can move in. Meanwhile it's costing them $39.95 a day for each day they have the U-Haul truck unloaded. In desperation, Sharon requested help from CAP (an organization to help find homes for the homeless). They told Sharon that they were out of funds. So with the little money they have left, they have to find storage for their things, so they can return the U-Haul truck. I said they could stay with me no longer than a week because I only have a one-bedroom apt. Any longer than that, I would risk eviction.
I thought bringing their plight to this news team would shed some light on their urgency and need for emergency assistance. The state of Oregon has helped them to a limit, but do not have enough funds to place them in a home today. I hope and pray that their story will be aired and put some pressure under our congressman and other politicians who can make a difference in their well-being. This has taken a toll on Sharon's health.
Thank you for allowing me to summit my story. Sincerely, Ricky Elliott
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