Don't Let The Bad Economy Get You Down!
Apr 8, 2009 12:00 am US/Eastern
Hori: Bad Economy Hits Close To Home For Families
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Gwendolyn Elliard and her four children ended up in one room at the shelter's transitional housing unit. It's a place for Gwen and her children to live at a reduced cost for as long as two years.
It's a sign of the economy you rarely see: entire families in South Florida forced into a homeless shelter. Some who had to take shelter were once middle-class working families hit by the economic crisis.
Gwendolyn Elliard and her four children ended up moving into the Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale. They now live in one room at the shelter's transitional housing unit. It's a place for Gwen and her children to live at a reduced cost for as long as two years, until they can get back on their feet.
Before moving into the shelter nine months ago, Gwen and her children were living with Gwen's sister. They split the $1,600 rent. But then her sister moved and Gwen lost her job as an after school counselor. She says she was left with few options.
"My kids started asking, 'what are we going to do.'" Gwen said, "and the only thing I could say about it is pray and it's gonna be ok."
Gwen's nine-year old daughter Zy'keria says she was afraid they would end up living in a park or on the streets. Gwen herself says for a time she feared that would happen. That's why her children aren't embarrassed to say they live in a shelter.
Ten-year old Koby says he tells his friends "we have a roof over our heads and a place to stay so that we can eat and I pray every night so that we can have our own house."
Their own house is likely more than a year away. Gwen knows first hand how bad the South Florida economy is because finding a job was almost impossible. "I went everywhere," she says. "I signed a lot of different applications. I went as far as Miami to Miramar and still couldn't find a job."
Gwen finally found work at a sub shop. She is saving everything she can right now. The Salvation Army says they've never before seen so many people in need, especially families.
Captain Tom Louden with the Salvation Army in Broward say for parents like Gwen, their children are their main concern. He says, "Their hearts break because they need a place for the kids to wake up in the morning, to give them a breakfast before they go off to school in the morning or at least a place to wash or go to the bathroom."
Capt. Louden says in the past six months, there's been a 104 percent increase in requests for rent mortgage assistance. There's been a 73 percent increase in requests for food assistance. He says it's a sign of the unfortunate times.
"I tell people it's a thin line between the folks that live with us and the ones that live outside this facility," Louden said. "Tomorrow, there will be a good number of people having to call the Salvation Army for the first time in their lives."
Gwen says she's grateful she called and, like so many people, is hopeful brighter days are ahead for her and her family. She says the shelter is providing a roof over her family's head so she's not ashamed. In fact, she says she's proud about where she is. Gwen is almost finished at Florida Career College and hopes to get a work as a medical office administrator.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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