Help Helana's Family Survive the Winter

HOMELESS FAMILY IN NEED OF URGENT HELP TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.

Hello, My name is Manena Harper.

My daughter Helana and her family are in desperate survival mode and need help with funding for necessities. I only have minimal financial resources to give support, and I’m very concerned about their dire situation. Despite all the challenges they are going through, they have love and joy in their hearts as a family and do not complain about their situation. Neither parent is working, and they have two children, ages 1 and 4. They are wonderful parents and make the best of their situation with their children, who are happy and bubbly and unaware that life is a significant struggle.

Helana, and her husband, Warren, live 30 miles outside of Bend, Oregon at a campground. They live in a small 24-foot 5th-wheeler trailer and do not have the funds to be hooked up to basic utility services. Their only heat and electricity come from a generator that runs on gasoline when they have the funds to purchase, which is intermittent. Nighttime temperatures are down to 6 degrees this week. ! Their generator is constantly breaking down. They also don't have running water and have to haul water and go to a truck stop to take a shower, which costs $12.00 per person each time. They bought their old truck and fifth wheel, which needs constant repairs, by staying in a shelter when they were both working and able to save money.

Helana and Warren receive very little government assistance, and help from their extended family is not enough to cover their basic needs, especially now that winter has arrived. Warren has previously worked in construction but has physical disabilities and can no longer work. Lana is searching for work but has not succeeded in getting a job. She is a lovely person. However, she has some personal challenges with being on the autism spectrum. Her most recent position was working at WinCo, cleaning the store at night. Late in her last pregnancy, she came down with covid, and they let her go.

Most urgent needs:

#1. Immediate funding to pay for a campsite where they can be hooked up to utilities. They currently pay $15/day with no utilities, $105.00 a week/$ 420.00 a month. They are behind $200 this week on the rent.

#2. Funds for repairs to their truck, 5th wheeler, and generator.

#3. Funds for gas for their truck to get to Bend for needed supplies and potential work schedule for Lana. They have just started working with a social worker organization committed to helping Helana find a job, most likely cleaning houses. Most of her prior background has been working with horses: she managed and lived at a Tennessee Walker Horse training Ranch in Oregon for four years and was responsible for 10-15 horses that were boarded and trained there. Helana was born with a special talent for working with horses. They would also be interested in a ranch work/live situation where they could park their trailer and she could work with horses. They do need access to an elementary school next year for Kanaan.

Warren was in construction most of his life and can do repairs etc., but now has lots of injuries and is trying to get disability since his injuries are preventing him from working full time currently.

#4. Funds to move and get an apartment in Bend to enroll their 4-year-old into a school. They are on a waitlist for reduced housing costs, but that can take another year. Their trailer is tiny, 20 years old, not in great condition, and isolated from services and necessities.

We know that many people in the US are struggling with similar issues. Essential services for those in need are limited and hard to acquire. If my daughter’s plight calls out to your heart to lend a helping hand, we would all be so appreciative! It would be the best Christmas present ever for them and all of us who love and worry about them.

I know they would be hugely grateful and touched that others are concerned for their welfare and willing to help. Many blessings to you and your family during these struggling times!

Blessings,

Manena Harper