A home for The Sisters

Join us in helping Gina and Marigail to never be homeless again.  They are devoted sisters in their 60’s and became homeless (for the second time) in mid-2018 when their apartment roommate asked them to leave because he wanted an all-male household.  They lived in their 1990  Chevy Astro van for 15 months.  They parked each night at different locations near Troutdale or Fairview.  We met them when they came for the hot dinners we serve each Friday to the homeless who live near the Sandy River Delta.  Known as “The Sisters” among the other homeless, they were always positive and hopeful that they would again escape homelessness. 
 
While homeless, Gina was mostly confined to the front passenger seat of their van because she is too weak to stand or walk without assistance.  Marigail cared for her, but also slept in the front drivers seat because her COPD makes it difficult to sleep lying down. This is no way to live.
In December East County Aid and Comfort gave them an loan to buy a trailer at a mobile home park near Gresham for $5000 plus $5500 to replace the badly leaking roof.  They moved in before Christmas.
They have enough income to make the loan payments but not for the costs of making it safe from accidents. Will you help us build a handicap ramp to the back door, install replacement stairs for the front door, fix dry rot inside, and make other repairs to make their new home safe?  Any extra donations will be used to repay their $10,500 loan and enable East County Aid and Comfort to find a home for someone else in need.
Marigail and Gina both worked in local nursing homes when they were healthy: Gina in the kitchen and Marigail as a certified nursing assistant.  There was a time when they could afford their own apartment with their minimum wage earnings. But as Portland rents continued to outpace their wages and their health declined, they slid into homelessness. Help us ensure that Gina and Marigail will never become homeless again.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Happold-Latham and Dale Latham, board member/volunteer with Northwest Pilot Project 

Mike and Frani Grover, board member/volunteer with East County Aid and Comfort 

Diona and Mike Wagoner, board member/volunteer with East County Aid and Comfort


About us: We got tired of feeling helpless about homelessness and decided to act. We are all volunteers and 100% of what we receive in food and donations goes directly to help homeless.  The long journey of solving the homeless crisis starts with just one act of kindness.  Join us!