Posted on 09/25/2009 7:20:16 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
(CBS) Tammy and Troy Renault Look like any middle class couple, but someone else is living what used to be their home.
Almost everything they own is in storage, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.
Now, home for the Renaults and their four kids is a campsite - a tent and a borrowed trailer.
Troy said that how they ended up there is Economics 101. When he lost his job with a construction company and had trouble finding work on his own, the bills piled up, and everything else came crashing down.
"You go from 'do you pay your lights and water' or 'do you pay the house payment and sit in the dark'", Troy explained.
"You had a house. How strange does this feel?" Doane asked.
"The first week, when we first moved out, I conditioned my mind that I'm on vacation," Tammy said.
That was four months ago.
It costs about $85 a week to rent a space here. It includes electricity, water and sewage, but some cannot afford even that. So far, the management has been flexible, telling us they believe that they'll get what they're owed once people get back on their feet.
There's a sense of community here - a community bound by loss that's growing by the day. There are 116 campsites and 85 percent of those filled are not folks here on holiday. For them, this has become a permanent home.
Cindy Nunley lost her home when her husband lost his job.
"People don't understand, unless they been in this situation, you know, people don't really understand," Nunley said.
"There's days that make you feel very guilty," Troy said. "Because you want your kids to have better than what you had growing up."
But like so many here, the Renaults haven't lost their faith.
"We trust in the Lord, he's got a plan for our lives," Troy said.
For now, their plan is to stick together and hope things get better before the weather gets worse.
Tennessee ping
My heart goes out to them and to all who are facing similar fates in this country after being jobless for so long.
And, very sad to say, millions more will likely be joining them next year as Obamanomics rages on.
I hope they get to vote.
Sad. It’s a scary thing to lose your job. Been there a couple of times myself.
I’ve never stayed in one (God willing), but $85 a week seems a bit steep when you’re providing the roof over your own head. I guess your electricity being included makes up for some of it, but it still seems kind of high.
Been there too. It’s more difficult now if you have a family to support.
My camper is almost nicer than my house.
When the ‘s’ hits the fan, we are boarding up the house and moving to TX.
I saw a story on something similar to this several months ago. It’s heart wrenching, but also a better story than watching folks just give up and drink themselves to death or worse. It’s about people doing what they need to do to get by - pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and NOT asking the government for help! Tennessee is a very down to earth place...and most people there are willing to lend a hand in times of need. The lessons their children will learn from this will make those kids strong! They’ll never take a job or an opportunity for granted.
"Elections do have consequences."
Wonder how the Muslims in Tennessee are doing?????
Yeah. You won't find ACORN organizing there, would you? Wouldn't see any "Rock The Vote" flyers on their mailboxes.
Godspeed, folks.
“I conditioned my mind that I’m on vacation,” Tammy said. “
I like her attitude and hope and pray she’ll get back on her feet.
Well that’s true. Being poor is not the worst fate in the world....good lessons and motivation can be learned during those times.
But what is bad is that the hated middle class (hated by commies the world over) is what makes this nation “tick”. And it saddens me to see so many thrown into dire circumstances primarily because of out of control government taxing, spending, regulating machines which value, say, a two inch fish, more than a human being! (that is not what is going on specifically in TN, but it is just another instance of government gone insane - which is KILLING our economy, killing jobs, and throwing people out of their homes and into these types of living circumstances.
Or worse.
We had story on here this week about the “tunnel people” of Las Vegas.
And the story of the tent people somewhere else.
These stories are just going to mushroom next year....and, sorry, but it’s heartbreaking to me....and there but for the grace of God....
Camp Obama.
I have been on hard times in my life and it isn’t good. My family pulled me through. With this economic environment and a socialist at the wheel it will be very hard for these folks to turn soon.
Many RV camps charge nearly that much per night. The daily or weekly fare probably relates to the local real estate values. The trailer or RV camp owner has a mortgage to meet, too.
I hope the self-absorbed SOB’s that thought it would be so cool to vote for Barack Obama are real proud of themselves. B*stards.
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