Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Habitat for Humanity gives evicted family another shot (Family with 14 KIDS!)
Scranton Times-Tribune ^ | 12/17/2003 | Andrew M. Seder

Posted on 12/17/2003 8:30:00 AM PST by Born Conservative

A family's second chance
By Andrew M. Seder 12/17/2003
Charles and Barbara Smith and 14 of their 18 children are moving back into their North Scranton home today, just in time for the holidays.

The Smith family was forced to leave the house after the city condemned it July 29 -- the first known Habitat for Humanity home in the country to be condemned.

On Tuesday, a team of city inspectors went through the house at 2517 N. Main Ave. and removed the "unfit for human habitation" label.

Mr. Smith says he regrets what happened because of "my neglect and lax supervision" and promises Habitat for Humanity things will be different this time.

Mr. Smith said he looks forward to spending Christmas back in his house. He's sorry Habitat was dragged through the mud.

"This was a hard lesson learned, but I've corrected the problem and it won't happen again," Mr. Smith said.

After the condemnation, Habitat for Humanity of Lackawanna County -- following the example of other area Habitat organization -- hired a family support counselor to assist the Smiths and other families.

Robin Decker immediately went to work interviewing the Smiths and educating them on budgeting, simple home maintenance and parenting skills.

"When I first met them, the kids would throw candy wrappers on the floor. That does not happen anymore. They know about discipline and responsibilities now," Ms. Decker said. "Things are different."

"They know that if this happens again we'll be out on the street," Mr. Smith said.

The Smiths and their children moved into the house three years ago. They have been staying with the couple's third oldest son since being evicted.

The home was condemned, according to city officials, because it had no heat, hot water or electricity. Inspectors also noted holes in walls, floors and ceilings; electrical circuitry problems, the lack of smoke detectors and other deficiencies.

Laura Gillette, the city's deputy director for permits, inspections and licensing, said it was mostly "unsanitary conditions that needed to be cleaned."

The Smith family, friends and volunteers from Habitat for Humanity worked to bring the house back into compliance.

"Habitat didn't spend one dime," said Robert "Ozzie" Quinn, executive director for the Lackawanna chapter of Habitat. He said donations and volunteers made the home livable again.

Mr. Smith said having 14 kids ages 3 to 14 under one roof would be a problem for anyone. But he acknowledged his lack of discipline made matters worse.

"If you have 14 kids at home and no place for them to play, I don't care who you are, you're going to have damage in your house," Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Smith said he will remain a stay-at-home father while his wife works as a housekeeping supervisor for a hotel in Dickson City. It's her paycheck that pays the bills, including the $115-a-month mortgage payment to Habitat.

Mr. Quinn said he's weary of people saying Habitat shouldn't have helped such a large family and shouldn't have stuck by them through the past four months.

"This is a crisis situation. We can't just turn our backs on them," Mr. Quinn said.

Mr. Smith said that by spending more than $4,000 of his own money to fix the house, his children's best holiday present will probably be getting to sleep in their own beds again.

"It's going to be a crappy Christmas for the kids, but we'll make the best of it," Mr. Smith said.

But Mr. Smith is thankful others have been so charitable.

Between volunteers, including those from local colleges, and donations from others, the Smiths said the repair work and materials and new appliances could have cost more than $10,000.

"I came here one day in October to do some work and there was a brand-new refrigerator and oven on the porch. I have no idea where they came from, but I thank whoever it was," Mr. Smith said.




TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: birthcontrol; habitat; habitatforhumanity; irresponsiblefather; malingerer; privatecharity; toomanykids; welfareabuse
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: daler
HEY I was watching the tube and along came a new program that GWB is fighting for I believe he got it, it is called THE AMERICAN DREAM PROGRAM OHHHHH the lights when on, I thought me and my husband might qualify for this one, HAHAHAHA the jokes on us we only get to pay for this program because, it is for minorties and oh yeah we still have our DD214, cant use it though cause we are paying on back taxes, seems we didnt pay enough oh well I suppose I SHOULD BE GLAD THAT WE HAVE ROOF OVER OR HEADS.
41 posted on 12/17/2003 10:20:18 AM PST by douglas1 (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: thoughtomator
Someone wants to have 50 kids - fine. Someone wants to make me pay for those kids - not fine.

I agree with you completely. The problem is what to do about our present system which has institutionalized plunder -- taking some to give to others without regard for equity or justice or responsibility -- at almost every level.

One way to try and limit the damage is to pass laws that enable more government intrusion and more government power (e.g. sterilizing families with more than x number of children in public school). The alternative is to fight to pass laws that result in less government intrusion (e.g. ending state control and funding of education).

It seems to me the only conservative choice is the second one.

42 posted on 12/17/2003 10:23:05 AM PST by Stop Legal Plunder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Catspaw
I think Michael Irvin is the youngest of 27.
43 posted on 12/17/2003 10:26:52 AM PST by Guillermo (Shoot me if you ever see me on a Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson or Scott Peterson thread)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
So, much for the idea that home ownership would instill pride, and motivate the "home owner" to keep the house maintained. Another Liberal ideal goes down in flames!
44 posted on 12/17/2003 10:32:37 AM PST by Destructor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jaded
OhMyGarwsh!!! I couldn't even imagine that. (shudder)

Well, they had a very large farm :-))

I just think of my Mom having trouble remembering which sister I was (there are five girls in our family), stuttering her way through the names before she hit on the right one. I just can't imagine what the mother of 26 would do.

45 posted on 12/17/2003 10:33:46 AM PST by Catspaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: GOP_Proud
There are 17 kids, 14 still at home. Two sets of twins included in the 14...

Hope they work it out.
46 posted on 12/17/2003 10:33:57 AM PST by SarahW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SarahW
Or is it 18 kids? Glad I'm not the one in charge of keeping count.
47 posted on 12/17/2003 10:34:41 AM PST by SarahW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Catspaw
Same thing here. Habitat also works with home owners to teach them minor home repair things such as caulking, filing drywall holes, etc.
48 posted on 12/17/2003 10:34:43 AM PST by rintense
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Destructor
So, much for the idea that home ownership would instill pride, and motivate the "home owner" to keep the house maintained.

Don't judge all that have received homes from Habitat for Humanity by this family. The ones that have been built in our old neighborhood are immacuate, and the pride in ownership shows.

49 posted on 12/17/2003 10:35:35 AM PST by Catspaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: rintense
Habitat also works with home owners to teach them minor home repair things such as caulking, filing drywall holes, , condom use, etc
50 posted on 12/17/2003 10:38:57 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Catspaw
I just think of my Mom having trouble remembering which sister I was (there are five girls in our family), stuttering her way through the names before she hit on the right one.

Funny my mom did that to us too. There were 2 boys and 2 girls. When it got to that point she'd be yelling first and middle names. It was a good time to hide.

51 posted on 12/17/2003 10:42:04 AM PST by Jaded (Personally, I think they should bring back flogging and burning at the stake.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Jaded
Funny my mom did that to us too. There were 2 boys and 2 girls. When it got to that point she'd be yelling first and middle names. It was a good time to hide.

LOL! We knew it was time for a quick getaway when she used our full names, cuz someone was in trouble.

52 posted on 12/17/2003 10:43:20 AM PST by Catspaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer
Because, when government holds the pursestrings, there often are (or will eventually be) some other strings attached. Forced sterilization of welfare recipients -- even certain Child Tax Credit recipients -- is easily within the realm of possibilities.

And it's surprisingly easy to get freepers to say they want it that way. All ya have to do is tell them about people with 8 kids who get a hefty child tax credit.

53 posted on 12/17/2003 10:45:35 AM PST by biblewonk (I must try to answer all bible questions.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
"It's going to be a crappy Christmas for the kids," Mr. Smith said.

Literally.

54 posted on 12/17/2003 10:45:51 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: laurav
The 14 at home are aged 3 to 14; this woman has been busy.
55 posted on 12/17/2003 10:53:23 AM PST by Old Professer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Stop Legal Plunder
If anyone wants to make a serious attempt at the second one, I'll be the first on board.

But what political party would champion it? There is none. It is borderline delusional to think that might occur.

So given the reality of the situation, the pragmatic solution is to sterilize people who put their children on the public dole. This limits government to the absolute minimum that can be done in the current situation by minimizing the amount that government spends on the problem.

Call it 'relatively conservative'. I've been a true conservative long enough to know that true conservatism hasn't a prayer in hell of becoming manifest in law. After all, we elected President Bush, didn't we? And he thanked his small-government conservative supporters with an unprecedented increase in the size of government, no?
56 posted on 12/17/2003 11:02:08 AM PST by thoughtomator (The Federal judiciary is a terrorist organization)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
"It's going to be a crappy Christmas for the kids, but we'll make the best of it," Mr. Smith said."

This Crap-head does not get it. Crappy Christmas is a family of 14 living with one's 2nd oldest kid because the family could not even clean up after themselves and got evicted from a HH house with a mortgage of $150. Take away the Big Screen TV and Direct with all the channels and maybe the sack will have some time to clean up. LOSERS ALL!
57 posted on 12/17/2003 11:05:47 AM PST by KansasConservative1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cinnamon Girl; All
"It's going to be a crappy Christmas for the kids," Mr. Smith said."

Oh, really? Gee, this wouldn't be a bid for even more charity, now would it?

I see from the link in #8 that this house has 10 bedrooms and a pool room with a pool table. Not bad for a family on the dole. I can't say that I blame Mr. Smith for trying to eek a little more charity out of a system that seems to have served him quite well.

58 posted on 12/17/2003 11:08:12 AM PST by freedox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
The woman has 14 kids in 15 years and SHE has to go to work? SHEESH...
59 posted on 12/17/2003 11:08:41 AM PST by Hildy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freedox
I MEANT literally, freedox. Think about it.
60 posted on 12/17/2003 11:09:08 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson