Help Michelle find a home
Donation protected
My name is Kathy Meade and I am a quadriplegic. I am 100% dependent on others for the most basic functions of daily care. But that is not why I am asking for help.
One of my aides, Michelle, and her four daughters are homeless. Three years ago, her husband and their father died. Through a series of events they lost their home and the children were placed in a foster home. Michelle and her children reconciled about a year ago and are now living in a shelter, paid for by Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS). The accommodations are comprised of one room with five beds and a common kitchen and living room.
Shortly after working for me as a companion, Michelle went back to school and got her Certified Nurses Assistant’s license. She is now working for me 30 hours per week but is stuck in the public assistance cycle for which she is trying so desperately to get out of.
Here are some of the roadblocks she has hit every time it seems as if she’s getting a little bit ahead:
Department of Labor insists that she work a minimum of 30 hours per week. However, because of her income she is being forced to pay $1200 to cover shelter costs!
“House Rules” of this shelter forbid her to leave her children home under the care of her 16-year-old. How do you work a minimum of 30 hours if you cannot leave your residence until 8 AM and must be home by 2 PM and any days that the kids are home from school?
DSS will not provide financial assistance for childcare for a 16-year-old.
If she does not work 30 hours per week she must report to the Department of Labor for two hours per day until she finds work. The dollar amount she is earning does not matter, only the hours-but she cannot leave her children in the care of the 16-year-old (youngest one is eight).
Over the past six months we’ve called at least 50 rentals and none of them will accept DSS programs. During this period Michelle’s car was deemed unsafe to drive and she needed another vehicle immediately. So, she purchased what was supposed to be of great reliable car for $1200. Instead, she has needed one repair after another to a total of $2500 and it is still not reliable.
This vicious cycle goes on and on, but I will stop here.
I am asking for donations so Michelle and her girls can get out of the shelter and by an affordable car. Michelle can afford to rent an apartment or a small house but does not have the ability to save for the first months’ rent, security deposit, and realtors fee. And while DSS will help with this, we have not been able to find a landlord willing to take the DSS program. Our goal is $6000 for rent etc. and with an additional $3000 should be able to buy a reliable car.
Although they do have a clean safe place to live, the situation is not good. This would be the greatest gift for this family of five and they will be forever grateful as will I.
One of my aides, Michelle, and her four daughters are homeless. Three years ago, her husband and their father died. Through a series of events they lost their home and the children were placed in a foster home. Michelle and her children reconciled about a year ago and are now living in a shelter, paid for by Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS). The accommodations are comprised of one room with five beds and a common kitchen and living room.
Shortly after working for me as a companion, Michelle went back to school and got her Certified Nurses Assistant’s license. She is now working for me 30 hours per week but is stuck in the public assistance cycle for which she is trying so desperately to get out of.
Here are some of the roadblocks she has hit every time it seems as if she’s getting a little bit ahead:
Department of Labor insists that she work a minimum of 30 hours per week. However, because of her income she is being forced to pay $1200 to cover shelter costs!
“House Rules” of this shelter forbid her to leave her children home under the care of her 16-year-old. How do you work a minimum of 30 hours if you cannot leave your residence until 8 AM and must be home by 2 PM and any days that the kids are home from school?
DSS will not provide financial assistance for childcare for a 16-year-old.
If she does not work 30 hours per week she must report to the Department of Labor for two hours per day until she finds work. The dollar amount she is earning does not matter, only the hours-but she cannot leave her children in the care of the 16-year-old (youngest one is eight).
Over the past six months we’ve called at least 50 rentals and none of them will accept DSS programs. During this period Michelle’s car was deemed unsafe to drive and she needed another vehicle immediately. So, she purchased what was supposed to be of great reliable car for $1200. Instead, she has needed one repair after another to a total of $2500 and it is still not reliable.
This vicious cycle goes on and on, but I will stop here.
I am asking for donations so Michelle and her girls can get out of the shelter and by an affordable car. Michelle can afford to rent an apartment or a small house but does not have the ability to save for the first months’ rent, security deposit, and realtors fee. And while DSS will help with this, we have not been able to find a landlord willing to take the DSS program. Our goal is $6000 for rent etc. and with an additional $3000 should be able to buy a reliable car.
Although they do have a clean safe place to live, the situation is not good. This would be the greatest gift for this family of five and they will be forever grateful as will I.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kathy Goff Meade
Organizer
Coram, NY
James Meade
Beneficiary