What do we do now?

Make sure and take a good look at this home -- one of our newest and upcoming challenges!

You might want to click on each photo to enlarge it and get the full effect!

This family lost their mobile home in the storm. They decided to purchase this home here in Pascagoula. The then homeowners assured this family that the home was fine where it is and it would NOT need to be raised! NOT being the key word!

The new homeowners went through with the purchase, put in all new sheetrock (yes, the home had been flooded and needed rebuilt) and when they called to have the electric box moved they were informed that the house had to be raised!

It took all they had to have it raised. You can see the condition it was left in! It only sits on palletts with the I beams used to do the raising still in the home! Not too permanent you say? You are right!

Now the homeowner has an even bigger problem, they have now been told it must be torn down!

If you look closely you will see that every single thing they own is now located underneath the home with black plastic on the front to try and not only protect it from the weather but also to make it not quite so visible from the street and susceptible to theft. The mother was washing clothes with a washer located sort of under the house and exposed to whatever weather comes our way.

You might look at this and not be able to even imagine living in such conditions? Welcome to "it's not done yet"!!! They aren't the only ones living like this! They are becoming fewer but they are still there, they still need a home to live in, one that is "safe, sanitary and secure". And how are they going to get such a thing, someplace where children can take a bath at night, sleep in a bed, put on clean clothes the next morning and eat hot meals around a kitchen table? There is only ONE way, through the volunteers who come south!

Yes, we are able to get "some"funding for people but funding in and of itself will not build a home for a family! Hands, arms, legs, backs and hearts are the only things that will get the job done!

You've seen it, you've had to look again to get the details, you've read about it and you will hopefully pray about it! Is there anything else you can do??

Ask yourself that last question again! Then let me know if you come up with an answer!

When you go to bed tonight and when you wake up in the morning and all during the day --- count your blessings! You (we all) have it better than what we think!

Until next time . . . Susan and Monty