Almost a month since my last entry? Not much excitement in the past weeks, but lots of labor. A couple of last year’s moms came into contact with us again. Both need help with housing; one needs help with rehab, the other needs help with rent payments. Our Alma, whose baby was born by caesarean a month ago, has also had housing problems. DET put a lock on the utilities for the house in which she lives. The total bill–only about a third of it Alma’s–is over $3,000. Even if Alma pays her share, the utilities for the house will not be restored until the full bill is paid. What do we do? Guadalupe Partners and students of Spiritus Sanctus Academy spent many hours preparing that apartment for Alma. Is there nothing to do but move her out? Meanwhile, she, her daughters and baby share a room at a relative’s house.
Another mom, Nel, was beat up by her live-in boyfriend. I believe this was the third time. We have offered to take her out of that house and move her far away. She can’t break loose.
We have been preparing the mobile home for its third occupant. A lot of water leaks appeared with the coming of spring. We have tackled them one by one, and we have replaced the hot water heater. The new mom in residence is actually a grandmother, whose daughter and granddaughter depend on her. She is being evicted from her present home, and is very grateful to take over our little mobile home.
