The Orem Charity House
Donation protected
The Orem Charity House is a rent-free place where people in need can stay temporarily while they get back on their feet.
It is the house that my siblings and I grew up in. My parents were poor, but happy, and we knew what it was like to be helped by family and friends. We also knew what it was like to help others. Helping others in their need was a value highly prized by my Father, and I have met many people who have told me stories about the help my Father gave them. A loan to start a business, or a temporary place to live (I remember one of my Dad's coworkers living in our tent trailer, parked in our driveway, for a several months).
Well, my Father passed away a few years ago, and the time had come to sell the house and split the proceeds between my siblings. This was about to happen when I had moment of clarity (you could even say a revelation) and realized that the house (and I owned a portion of it) would be best used to help others in need. It would make my Father proud. So, I took out a loan with the credit union, bought my siblings out of their shares (some in a lump sum, and some of them are giving me loans as well), and set aside the property as a Charity House!
So far there have been five single mothers who have lived (or are currently living) at this house, along with their children, since it opened in October of 2016. Some of them have escaped violent, or otherwise abusive, situations. They are allowed to live there month-to-month, as needed, on an individual basis. Tenants are found by word of mouth.
The house is well built and mostly sound, but in a state of some disrepair. There are a lot of cosmetic things that need to be done both in the house and in the yard. Although I have put a lot of my own time and money into this project (I am there most weekends working on projects), it would not be possible without donations from many of our friends. People have donated money, time, know-how, and materials.
At present, the Orem Charity House is operating on a month-to-month basis with a budget of $1075 per month. Donations are used to cover the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, all utilities, and other associated expenses. There is nothing left over. The idea is to take the burden and stress (of housing themselves) off of the tenants, so that they can focus on dealing with their lives, and figuring out what to do next. The help we have received to date has been generous; however, we can never be certain that there will be funds sufficient to continue for another month.
This GoFundMe drive is to help the Orem Charity House get on a firm financial footing. This will give long term stability to the project, which will, in turn, give more stability to the tenants – who already have a lack of stability in their lives. The funds requested are going to go towards the loans on the house, and the repairs to the house and yard.
Thank you for your generosity.
- Joshua Erickson
It is the house that my siblings and I grew up in. My parents were poor, but happy, and we knew what it was like to be helped by family and friends. We also knew what it was like to help others. Helping others in their need was a value highly prized by my Father, and I have met many people who have told me stories about the help my Father gave them. A loan to start a business, or a temporary place to live (I remember one of my Dad's coworkers living in our tent trailer, parked in our driveway, for a several months).
Well, my Father passed away a few years ago, and the time had come to sell the house and split the proceeds between my siblings. This was about to happen when I had moment of clarity (you could even say a revelation) and realized that the house (and I owned a portion of it) would be best used to help others in need. It would make my Father proud. So, I took out a loan with the credit union, bought my siblings out of their shares (some in a lump sum, and some of them are giving me loans as well), and set aside the property as a Charity House!
So far there have been five single mothers who have lived (or are currently living) at this house, along with their children, since it opened in October of 2016. Some of them have escaped violent, or otherwise abusive, situations. They are allowed to live there month-to-month, as needed, on an individual basis. Tenants are found by word of mouth.
The house is well built and mostly sound, but in a state of some disrepair. There are a lot of cosmetic things that need to be done both in the house and in the yard. Although I have put a lot of my own time and money into this project (I am there most weekends working on projects), it would not be possible without donations from many of our friends. People have donated money, time, know-how, and materials.
At present, the Orem Charity House is operating on a month-to-month basis with a budget of $1075 per month. Donations are used to cover the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, all utilities, and other associated expenses. There is nothing left over. The idea is to take the burden and stress (of housing themselves) off of the tenants, so that they can focus on dealing with their lives, and figuring out what to do next. The help we have received to date has been generous; however, we can never be certain that there will be funds sufficient to continue for another month.
This GoFundMe drive is to help the Orem Charity House get on a firm financial footing. This will give long term stability to the project, which will, in turn, give more stability to the tenants – who already have a lack of stability in their lives. The funds requested are going to go towards the loans on the house, and the repairs to the house and yard.
Thank you for your generosity.
- Joshua Erickson
Organizer
Joshua Erickson
Organizer
Orem, UT
Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know
