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Area has few low-cost housing alternatives
Motel family: The way out of temporary housing is difficult for many
SLIDE SHOW: Click here to view more photos from this story.
RELATED STORY: Read Part 1 of this series. Date published: 2/11/2008 By Flowers Umble BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE If she moves into a house, Melissa Rutherford-Gipson plans to spend the first week in the kitchen. Her 9 and 12 year old children have already requested their first meals. Hunter Rutherford, the oldest, would love chicken enchiladas. His younger sister Shayla wants roast with mashed potatoes. Those home-cooked dinners aren't on the near horizon. The family, which also includes dad Jarrett Gipson and baby Desiree, lives in the Thomas Jefferson Motor Lodge off U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg. The five have lived in four area motels in the past year, and Rutherford-Gipson said this is the best one: It has fresh paint, room for the kids to play outside and a full-sized fridge. It does not, however, have a working stove. Rutherford-Gipson sometimes walks to Bottom Dollar, trekking down and across U.S. 1 with all three children. She buys pork chops and green beans to cook on hot plates. Many evenings, the family eats dinners dropped off by local churches. Or they go out for fast food, when Rutherford-Gipson comes home too exhausted to cook or even think about dinner. There's not a lot of money left over for food. Rutherford-Gipson works long shifts at a restaurant in Dumfries. Three nights a week, she works overnight. "I'm going to work brainboggled, thinking, 'Am I going to make enough or not?'" she said. Her husband, Jarrett, works part-time as a handyman and is looking for jobs. The couple pays about $1,000 a month in rent at the motel--more than the cost of an apartment. But they have no money for security deposits and have bad credit. When they first got evicted from their apartment just days before Christmas 2006, the family tried to get into the region's homeless shelter, hoping to save money for a down payment on another place. But the Thurman Brisben Center was full. And there is no other shelter for families in the area. The problem, say those who work with the homeless, is the lack of lower cost housing. The area's government-funded Section 8 housing developments have long waiting lists and there are few transitional housing programs in the area. Three local task forces have been created, but so far, no affordable housing projects have come about.
Date published: 2/11/2008
Shayla
(posted by
, Feb. 27, 2008 9:01 pm)
Shayla is one of the most amazing children I have ever met. I was lucky enough to teach her during her 3rd grade year. Regardless of her situation, she was often the child who was quickest to make sure others had what they needed. She is by far one of the sweetest children I know. My heart broke the day she moved away, although I hope it opened more opportunities for her family.
Freedom
(posted by
lifeisbeautiful
, Feb. 14, 2008 7:37 pm)
Not one month but maybe six. I think all the crazy spending
is out of hand. What happens to the leftover money after
the election? Maybe we can ask them to be truthful. For
every truthful word they speak we can match with dollars.
Ha, they'd all be broke!! Other thing would be to hook
them up to lie detectors at debates. Now that would be
fun.
Minx
(posted by
lifeisbeautiful
, Feb. 14, 2008 7:29 pm)
Not everyone is sowing a lack of passion. Some of us are
very compassionate. My point about "extra" money was that
all of us have to make do with what we have at the
moment. If I have another child should my employer
automatically give me more money? No That's no lack of
compassion. It's common sense.
Heck Yeah!
(posted by
Al
, Feb. 14, 2008 3:34 pm)
I'm behind that idea 100% Freedomfirst!
I just heard Bill Clinton say
(posted by
freedomfirst
, Feb. 14, 2008 8:09 am)
that they have been running Hill's campaign on a "shoestring" having spent "only" 150 million dollars, and that is why she is behind. (no pun intended). I am sure Obama has spent a similar amount, and I am not sure about the others, probably not as much. We should limit campaigning to 1 month before elections, and then ask the contributors to contribute to the fund for homeless families, to be used to educate and provide occupational training, affordable housing etc.. Campaigns are limited to1 mo in the UK
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