Couple struggles to find housing

[Guest guest]

Family waits among pests for help

Many trapped in unlivable housing after hurricanes

By MARY WOZNIAK

MWOZNIAK@...

Published by news-press.com on May 14, 2005

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20050514/WEATHER01/505140515/1002/NEWS01

• Kids draw cartoon figures recently while playing at the playground

in the FEMA trailer park in Punta Gorda. CLINT KRAUSE/news-

press.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Couple struggles to find housing

ON THE WEB

Contact our investigative team: Are you having trouble getting fair

treatment and pay from FEMA?

Lynn fights a losing battle against mold, leaks and unwanted

pests crawling through gaps in a home she tried her best to protect.

The one-bedroom trailer she shares with her husband, , and

their three children — all under age 6 — is riddled with

cockroaches. Rats pop their heads through holes in the floor. An

opossum recently paid a visit.

, 25, and her family have fallen through the cracks of a system

meant to help people in need after a natural disaster.

Their North Fort Myers trailer, damaged by Hurricane Charley, has

been condemned by Lee County.

The s have decided to stay because they have no other place to

go.

Thousands like them across the state are either homeless or staying

in unlivable housing due to the four hurricanes that smashed into

the state last year.

Florida lacked sufficient affordable housing, and the hurricanes

multiplied the problem, said state official Jim Hampton, who worked

with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house storm victims.

The Legislature and Gov. Bush have allocated $250 million toward

solving the problem. Amounts going to counties hardest hit range

from $19 million for Charlotte to $3.3 million for Lee.

" What we are finding is that many people chose to stay in unlivable

conditions rather than leave, " Lee County official Howell

said.

" Renters who were removed are now being told that the rent is

doubled, and they have nowhere to go, " Howell said.

No one knows how many Floridians were displaced or made homeless,

Hampton said.

A clue to that number might lie in the amount of homes that were

damaged.

• The governor's Hurricane Housing Work Group estimates 708,361

housing units, or 10 percent, were damaged in Florida.

• More than half of the damaged housing units belong to households

making $30,000 a year or less.

People who make less money have a harder time paying for repairs or

new housing — where it exists.

The Lee County Property Appraiser's Office lists about 700 destroyed

homes owned by permanent residents. County building official Bob

estimates there are 1,732 uninhabitable or condemned

structures.

County residents are living in condemned trailers, said Corry,

director of the nonprofit Beacon of Hope, base of operations for the

Pine Island Long-Term Recovery Organization.

If county officials followed through on condemnation, the residents

would be homeless, Corry said.

" There simply aren't places to put them while we find replacement

housing, " she said. " Where are they supposed to go? "

County officials have provided tarps and other necessities to help

residents " until we can do something better, " Corry said.

Lynn and her family were assisted by the American Red Cross

before the Beacon of Hope stepped in, said Carmen , Beacon of

Hope case worker for .

Conditions at the s' trailer are hurricane-related, she said.

" She's horrified, " said of . They've used insect 'bombs'

to rid the trailer of roaches, but it hasn't worked, she said.

The s' situation wasn't always this bleak.

" They were perfectly fine. They had a happy life. They had that new

baby. They were putting in a garden. They weren't in a high tax

bracket, but they were doing OK, " said. Both parents are

employed.

received $2,600 from FEMA to fix her roof and other damages,

but more than $1,000 went to fix a light pole and meter damaged in

the storm, said. She had to fix them because they were on her

property, she said.

Mold is inside and outside the trailer. The ceiling is rotted.

applied for more money from FEMA and asked for another inspector to

come out. FEMA told her no — she had received enough. So she tried

to make do. Until the cockroaches came.

" I don't want my kids in this. My kids are sick all the time, "

said.

Corry has managed to get some rental help from FEMA for the s.

They could get temporary housing in another week.

refuses to point fingers.

" It's just the Catch-22 that has happened with some particular

families, " she said.

When a resident comes to Corry's organization for help, her staff

builds a file with basic information, including FEMA and other

agency aid data to show what assistance is available and how the

case should be prioritized.

They then search to try to find a spot to place the person. In

emergency situations, the Salvation Army can take in a family for a

few days, the Red Cross can provide emergency assistance, or some

hotels offer weekly rates, Corry said.

" It's difficult, " Corry said. " It's costly, and it adds up. "

Corry is working with a modular home dealer, Dynasty Homes in Punta

Gorda, to try to bring in modular homes. The 1,000-square foot homes

cost $50,000 to $65,000, she said.

They hope the family will be the first recipient.

« Return to previous page

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TOP HEADLINES FROM HURRICANE

• Family waits among pests for help

• Leaders stress preparations

• Couple struggles to find housing

• Rate increase sought by at least 3 insurers

• Hurricane forecast may inch higher

ALSO ON NEWS-PRESS.COM

• Everblades return to Cup

• Heck yeah!

• Lee tourism poised for growth in '05

• Lawmakers cheat SWFL on judges

[Guest guest]

Thank You KC,

Elvira

[] Couple struggles to find housing

Family waits among pests for help

Many trapped in unlivable housing after hurricanes

By MARY WOZNIAK

MWOZNIAK@...

Published by news-press.com on May 14, 2005

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20050514/WEATHER01/505140515/1002/NEWS01

. Kids draw cartoon figures recently while playing at the playground

in the FEMA trailer park in Punta Gorda. CLINT KRAUSE/news-

press.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Couple struggles to find housing

ON THE WEB

Contact our investigative team: Are you having trouble getting fair

treatment and pay from FEMA?

Lynn fights a losing battle against mold, leaks and unwanted

pests crawling through gaps in a home she tried her best to protect.

The one-bedroom trailer she shares with her husband, , and

their three children - all under age 6 - is riddled with

cockroaches. Rats pop their heads through holes in the floor. An

opossum recently paid a visit.

, 25, and her family have fallen through the cracks of a system

meant to help people in need after a natural disaster.

Their North Fort Myers trailer, damaged by Hurricane Charley, has

been condemned by Lee County.

The s have decided to stay because they have no other place to

go.

Thousands like them across the state are either homeless or staying

in unlivable housing due to the four hurricanes that smashed into

the state last year.

Florida lacked sufficient affordable housing, and the hurricanes

multiplied the problem, said state official Jim Hampton, who worked

with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house storm victims.

The Legislature and Gov. Bush have allocated $250 million toward

solving the problem. Amounts going to counties hardest hit range

from $19 million for Charlotte to $3.3 million for Lee.

" What we are finding is that many people chose to stay in unlivable

conditions rather than leave, " Lee County official Howell

said.

" Renters who were removed are now being told that the rent is

doubled, and they have nowhere to go, " Howell said.

No one knows how many Floridians were displaced or made homeless,

Hampton said.

A clue to that number might lie in the amount of homes that were

damaged.

. The governor's Hurricane Housing Work Group estimates 708,361

housing units, or 10 percent, were damaged in Florida.

. More than half of the damaged housing units belong to households

making $30,000 a year or less.

People who make less money have a harder time paying for repairs or

new housing - where it exists.

The Lee County Property Appraiser's Office lists about 700 destroyed

homes owned by permanent residents. County building official Bob

estimates there are 1,732 uninhabitable or condemned

structures.

County residents are living in condemned trailers, said Corry,

director of the nonprofit Beacon of Hope, base of operations for the

Pine Island Long-Term Recovery Organization.

If county officials followed through on condemnation, the residents

would be homeless, Corry said.

" There simply aren't places to put them while we find replacement

housing, " she said. " Where are they supposed to go? "

County officials have provided tarps and other necessities to help

residents " until we can do something better, " Corry said.

Lynn and her family were assisted by the American Red Cross

before the Beacon of Hope stepped in, said Carmen , Beacon of

Hope case worker for .

Conditions at the s' trailer are hurricane-related, she said.

" She's horrified, " said of . They've used insect 'bombs'

to rid the trailer of roaches, but it hasn't worked, she said.

The s' situation wasn't always this bleak.

" They were perfectly fine. They had a happy life. They had that new

baby. They were putting in a garden. They weren't in a high tax

bracket, but they were doing OK, " said. Both parents are

employed.

received $2,600 from FEMA to fix her roof and other damages,

but more than $1,000 went to fix a light pole and meter damaged in

the storm, said. She had to fix them because they were on her

property, she said.

Mold is inside and outside the trailer. The ceiling is rotted.

applied for more money from FEMA and asked for another inspector to

come out. FEMA told her no - she had received enough. So she tried

to make do. Until the cockroaches came.

" I don't want my kids in this. My kids are sick all the time, "

said.

Corry has managed to get some rental help from FEMA for the s.

They could get temporary housing in another week.

refuses to point fingers.

" It's just the Catch-22 that has happened with some particular

families, " she said.

When a resident comes to Corry's organization for help, her staff

builds a file with basic information, including FEMA and other

agency aid data to show what assistance is available and how the

case should be prioritized.

They then search to try to find a spot to place the person. In

emergency situations, the Salvation Army can take in a family for a

few days, the Red Cross can provide emergency assistance, or some

hotels offer weekly rates, Corry said.

" It's difficult, " Corry said. " It's costly, and it adds up. "

Corry is working with a modular home dealer, Dynasty Homes in Punta

Gorda, to try to bring in modular homes. The 1,000-square foot homes

cost $50,000 to $65,000, she said.

They hope the family will be the first recipient.

« Return to previous page

---------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

For similar stories search our paid archives dating back to 1999.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

TOP HEADLINES FROM HURRICANE

. Family waits among pests for help

. Leaders stress preparations

. Couple struggles to find housing

. Rate increase sought by at least 3 insurers

. Hurricane forecast may inch higher

ALSO ON NEWS-PRESS.COM

. Everblades return to Cup

. Heck yeah!

. Lee tourism poised for growth in '05

. Lawmakers cheat SWFL on judges

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