Downsizing the Haitian way

There’s a record number of foreclosures in the US forcing many to “downsize”. This usually means a family in the US has to move to a smaller house or apartment because of economic difficulties.

Our neighbors are also being forced to downsize. Before there were up to 15 people living in a three room block house with no toilet or bathroom and an outdoor kitchen.

Our neighbors were “guarding” the land for the property owner in exchange for the right to live there. Now the owner has sold the land and the new owners have given the family notice that they have to move. The Father of the family has no steady job and frankly, I don’t know how they feed everyone in their household on a daily basis. So in the past we have helped them by giving them food and buying miscellaneous things from them.

In the short-run, the owners of the adjacent property have allowed them to build a one room house, but even then they can only stay 6 months until May, 2008.

Unfortunately, these kinds of things happen all the time in Haiti (and in the US, too, where there are many who are homeless). The difference is that in the US there are shelters, Food stamps, job-placement centers that work because there is not 80% unemployment, and a host of other “Human Services”.

In Haiti there is no safety net, and unless God does a miracle, this family will be homeless. Even now, some of the 10 people who are living there are going to have to find another place to live. Among them are our houseboy’s brother, Jean, and his cousin who works for us part-time in the Cyber café. These two young men in their 20’s have found a 1 room apartment to share for about $500 US a year, but have no money to pay the rent since in Haiti you have to pay the rent all in advance.

We would like to help these young men get into this apartment and also help their family in general this Christmas. But we need your help!
If you feel led to help this family in need this Christmas, please mail your gift directly to us at Rich Mears; Unit 2109 – UEBH; 3170 Airman’s Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34946. This gift will not be tax-deductible, but in God’s economy, you’ll receive much more than a tax-break!

Because of the urgency of the situation, please e-mail us the amount of your gift so we can make it immediately available to the family. THANKS