Homeless Family of 4 in Corey Merrill
Donation protected
FOR THE NEWEST NEEDS GO TO THE SIGN UP: Donate Household Items and Fill the Fridge
Hi Caring Neighbors!
I would like to ask for your help for the Trujillo-Little family of 4.
I had seen a family with a child outside with their suitcases around the T mobile on CO blvd + Kentucky for several days in the dead of the heat and also late at night. I finally was able to stop to speak with them at length yesterday afternoon.
They are very well spoken, completely drug and alcohol free, and do not beg for money with signs. They are just down on opportunities for work and have nowhere to go. They do not have a car or any mode of transportation. Their backpack with all their legal documents (birth certificates/ IDs/ SS cards) was stolen and they are working on accumulating all these documents again - which is expensive and time consuming and often requires in person appointments.
They have been homeless since March- when COVID began and when sadly, many of the support systems for at risk and homeless people dried up as things shut down or quickly became saturated.
The Father (Matthew) has worked in construction and been a manager at family dollar. He has several interviews set up with King Soopers, loaf N jug etc... he is walking asking for jobs daily and has had several interviews . He is in a bit of a holding pattern as he needs a new ID and the DMV's soonest appt was July 27. He is tired- and running himself ragged trying to keep his family fed and sheltered. He is a gentle giant and a teddy bear. He is also a tribal singer Tammy tells me!
The Mother (Tammy) has worked in fast food, housekeeping, and retail. She is the gentlest soul and is teaching her kids all about their Native American traditions. She is a wonderfully protective and caring mother. She is terribly embarrassed to be homeless and sadly has no relatives that are able to be of help to her or her family. She radiates positivity and love.
The 10 yr old boy has a blood disorder - and needs regular care at Children's Hospital. He is just beginning 6th grade this year. He is on the honor roll, very bright. Pretty shy... loves legos!
The 16 year old boy is mostly at friends houses to spend the night and is incredibly sweet, easy to talk to and soft spoken and loves music and skateboarding.
Matthew's Brother is also with them. He is also interviewing and applying for jobs. He sometimes stays at shelters or in the park to help protect the family and is very polite and eager to work. He is super polite and always has a smile on his face.
Last Night (7/13) They were short on the ~$100 Belcaro Motel charges them for their room with 2 beds. Myself and some of the AMAZING families on S. Garfield were able to get together money for the room for 2 nights and immediate need items including new clothes for them.
I am working with them to get them registered for their stimulus money and have appointments for MCHD and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to do intake assessments and get them a case worker.
Due to COVID-19 all the housing resources are saturated and unavailable - I spent most of today looking into resources for housing with Colorado Coalition for the homeless etc...after speaking with them their best bet right now is to get motel/hotels until at least one of them they can secure a paycheck.
On the topic of places to stay- I began googling the cheapest options nearby and found some which I brought up to the family- boy I am new to this! Here is why I did not pick the "cheapest option" = Home studios (as folks have asked or suggested it)
They explained why they have chosen Belcaro VS those other ones thus far... they are riddled with drugs and violence (people shooting up in hallways and stairwells, drug deals, and constant noise). As I drove past one of these such motels in Glendale on my way back from picking up some clothing for them at Goodwill today, I witnessed firsthand just what Tammy explained to me. I saw police cars and an ambulance outside of the option I had brought up to her! So I have shifted from the "cheapest" option to the most cost effective-safe and resource filled option. This brought me to the Residence Inn at City Set in Cherry Creek. Because of the amazing outpouring of donations and support they are booked here for 2 weeks now. Here they will provide breakfasts each morning, free basic toiletries, computer access in the office area, a pool for the kids, and above all, safety!
The Updated Asks:
* JOB Connections to help them get placed in W2-ed Jobs would be HUGE and the biggest help of all ! please let me know & shoot me a message!!!
They are very ready willing and able to work- including just odd jobs (construction/ housekeeping etc) for now until they do secure W2 employment .
*Prepaid phones X 3 - they have 1 phone now that is a govt issued one - when mom goes to Dr appts or Dad works or the Uncle works they have a hard time communicating. This will be very helpful
*More premanent affordable Housing options ... they are paying $100 a night currently to stay at the Belcaro Motel - which has zero amenities etc... that is more than a mortgage!!! All because they have to just think and plan and pay for just the survival basics of each day.
If anyone is open to letting them rent a basement area or room that would accommodate the 4 / 5 of them or have any connections to affordable housing options that might not require first/ last months rent at this time please let me know! Once they have 2 paychecks at W2 jobs they will qualify for official channels of affordable housing... but in the mean time they will have the cash from this and will be able to pay . Looking for something that would hopefully be near the area as the boys will be starting school in the fall nearby (Hill middle).
* Donating Money here to stay at the Residence Inn for now where it is safe and will cover 1 meal a day for them (breakfast) and provide the computer lab/office to help them apply to jobs etc.
My hope is to accumulate +10k ... hoping to secure the Residence inn for a month- in a room that will accommodate them all and has a kitchenette so they can cook and have a refrigerator to eat healthy meals as a family with dignity. It is near their current resources and busline...this will allow them the time and attention to focus on jobs/ interviews and allowing the children a safe place to sleep/play and be during the hot 100 degree days, as well as breakfast daily and lunch offered at Ellis Elementary or the kids.
Once they find jobs they will need 2 paychecks to qualify and prove they can be in affordable housing the case workers will help them with at that point... then the money will help them with rent/ furnishing/ transportation... etc.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND PAYING IT FORWARD!
if you have any questions or would like to help with housing/ jobs etc please feel free to message me !
Hi Caring Neighbors!
I would like to ask for your help for the Trujillo-Little family of 4.
I had seen a family with a child outside with their suitcases around the T mobile on CO blvd + Kentucky for several days in the dead of the heat and also late at night. I finally was able to stop to speak with them at length yesterday afternoon.
They are very well spoken, completely drug and alcohol free, and do not beg for money with signs. They are just down on opportunities for work and have nowhere to go. They do not have a car or any mode of transportation. Their backpack with all their legal documents (birth certificates/ IDs/ SS cards) was stolen and they are working on accumulating all these documents again - which is expensive and time consuming and often requires in person appointments.
They have been homeless since March- when COVID began and when sadly, many of the support systems for at risk and homeless people dried up as things shut down or quickly became saturated.
The Father (Matthew) has worked in construction and been a manager at family dollar. He has several interviews set up with King Soopers, loaf N jug etc... he is walking asking for jobs daily and has had several interviews . He is in a bit of a holding pattern as he needs a new ID and the DMV's soonest appt was July 27. He is tired- and running himself ragged trying to keep his family fed and sheltered. He is a gentle giant and a teddy bear. He is also a tribal singer Tammy tells me!
The Mother (Tammy) has worked in fast food, housekeeping, and retail. She is the gentlest soul and is teaching her kids all about their Native American traditions. She is a wonderfully protective and caring mother. She is terribly embarrassed to be homeless and sadly has no relatives that are able to be of help to her or her family. She radiates positivity and love.
The 10 yr old boy has a blood disorder - and needs regular care at Children's Hospital. He is just beginning 6th grade this year. He is on the honor roll, very bright. Pretty shy... loves legos!
The 16 year old boy is mostly at friends houses to spend the night and is incredibly sweet, easy to talk to and soft spoken and loves music and skateboarding.
Matthew's Brother is also with them. He is also interviewing and applying for jobs. He sometimes stays at shelters or in the park to help protect the family and is very polite and eager to work. He is super polite and always has a smile on his face.
Last Night (7/13) They were short on the ~$100 Belcaro Motel charges them for their room with 2 beds. Myself and some of the AMAZING families on S. Garfield were able to get together money for the room for 2 nights and immediate need items including new clothes for them.
I am working with them to get them registered for their stimulus money and have appointments for MCHD and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to do intake assessments and get them a case worker.
Due to COVID-19 all the housing resources are saturated and unavailable - I spent most of today looking into resources for housing with Colorado Coalition for the homeless etc...after speaking with them their best bet right now is to get motel/hotels until at least one of them they can secure a paycheck.
On the topic of places to stay- I began googling the cheapest options nearby and found some which I brought up to the family- boy I am new to this! Here is why I did not pick the "cheapest option" = Home studios (as folks have asked or suggested it)
They explained why they have chosen Belcaro VS those other ones thus far... they are riddled with drugs and violence (people shooting up in hallways and stairwells, drug deals, and constant noise). As I drove past one of these such motels in Glendale on my way back from picking up some clothing for them at Goodwill today, I witnessed firsthand just what Tammy explained to me. I saw police cars and an ambulance outside of the option I had brought up to her! So I have shifted from the "cheapest" option to the most cost effective-safe and resource filled option. This brought me to the Residence Inn at City Set in Cherry Creek. Because of the amazing outpouring of donations and support they are booked here for 2 weeks now. Here they will provide breakfasts each morning, free basic toiletries, computer access in the office area, a pool for the kids, and above all, safety!
The Updated Asks:
* JOB Connections to help them get placed in W2-ed Jobs would be HUGE and the biggest help of all ! please let me know & shoot me a message!!!
They are very ready willing and able to work- including just odd jobs (construction/ housekeeping etc) for now until they do secure W2 employment .
*Prepaid phones X 3 - they have 1 phone now that is a govt issued one - when mom goes to Dr appts or Dad works or the Uncle works they have a hard time communicating. This will be very helpful
*More premanent affordable Housing options ... they are paying $100 a night currently to stay at the Belcaro Motel - which has zero amenities etc... that is more than a mortgage!!! All because they have to just think and plan and pay for just the survival basics of each day.
If anyone is open to letting them rent a basement area or room that would accommodate the 4 / 5 of them or have any connections to affordable housing options that might not require first/ last months rent at this time please let me know! Once they have 2 paychecks at W2 jobs they will qualify for official channels of affordable housing... but in the mean time they will have the cash from this and will be able to pay . Looking for something that would hopefully be near the area as the boys will be starting school in the fall nearby (Hill middle).
* Donating Money here to stay at the Residence Inn for now where it is safe and will cover 1 meal a day for them (breakfast) and provide the computer lab/office to help them apply to jobs etc.
My hope is to accumulate +10k ... hoping to secure the Residence inn for a month- in a room that will accommodate them all and has a kitchenette so they can cook and have a refrigerator to eat healthy meals as a family with dignity. It is near their current resources and busline...this will allow them the time and attention to focus on jobs/ interviews and allowing the children a safe place to sleep/play and be during the hot 100 degree days, as well as breakfast daily and lunch offered at Ellis Elementary or the kids.
Once they find jobs they will need 2 paychecks to qualify and prove they can be in affordable housing the case workers will help them with at that point... then the money will help them with rent/ furnishing/ transportation... etc.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND PAYING IT FORWARD!
if you have any questions or would like to help with housing/ jobs etc please feel free to message me !
Organizer
Quiara Neam
Organizer
Denver, CO