Some Great News and A Mountain That Needs To Move
The Great News
Hello friends, I have some great news! Felicia has been hired! She was able to get back in the cue with the home health company she applied to previously. This time we will be able to cover the cost of her TB test and CPR training.
I'm so glad we can help her with this small barrier that she couldn't overcome on her own a month ago. She will be working as a private duty caregiver and training is scheduled to start next week. She should receive her first paycheck within two weeks of starting work.
Some other good news is that she applied for CAPS subsidized childcare and has an intake appointment scheduled for the 30th.
One thing I didn't know is that you have to be employed (or in state-approved education or training) in order to qualify for CAPS, so I'm thankful she has this job offer in hand.
That's two big barriers down on the way to stability!
The Mountain that Needs to Move
I need all your prayers and ideas.
Previously I reported that we helped Felicia purchase a temporary tag to get her through until she has a job. Unfortunately it now appears that she was sold a fake temporary tag. We found this out because Felicia was pulled over, given a ticket for having "no valid tag" and the car was impounded. 😭😭😭
I've been trying to understand the situation but apparently sometimes a seller doesn't have the title for one of these possible reasons:
Legally, the dealer she purchased the vehicle from should have applied for the title in Felicia's name within 30 days of the sale. Instead they told her they would provide the title when she paid the car off in full and until then would sell her another temporary tag. If I understand correctly, legally they were supposed to provide a title in her name with the dealer listed as the leinholder, but they did not.
Felicia had purchased a car from this dealer in the past and gotten the title from them, so I guess she trusted that what they were telling her was true. The purchase of this vehicle, for only $1200, happened right before she lost her last job. She paid $700 and owed them $500.
After Felicia threatened to file a police report, the lady who sold Felicia the fake tag - probably to cover her own tail - agreed to send some paperwork to the tow yard so that Felicia could get the car out of impoundment.
She told Felicia that she would provide the papers she would need apply for a "bonded title." But as of this writing she is yet to provide that paper work. She claims that an associate in Texas has the paperwork and is trying to reach her. Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. Felicia has threatened and pleaded with her to send it and as of tonight does not have in hand what she needs to register the vehicle and drive the car legally.
I've waited to share this update because I hoped I could report that all major hurdles had been cleared and that Felicia would just need a couple more weeks of support until she gets paid. But this car situation is threatening to send her back to square one.
Without a car to drive, it's basically impossible do the job she's been hired to do. She has to have reliable transportation.
So, I'm here to ask:
- Does anyone have a car you could loan to Felicia until this situation is (hopefully) resolved?
- Does anyone have a vehicle you would be willing to donate as an in-kind gift to Clarkston Cares?
- Could anyone donate or loan some funds for purchasing a used car?
- Could you share this with anyone who might have a vehicle to donate?
If so, please reach out to me. One important detail - ideally she needs a vehicle that can seat 5 kids.
Maybe tomorrow will bring better news but we've been trying to solve this problem for a week now and I feel it's time to reach out for help.
I also asked Felicia to register for the Gwinnett County Coordinated Entry (via the Latin American Association) for homeless families. This puts her on the waitlist to get into the shelter system. It's possible something will open up there but I don't anticipate that until sometime in October at the earliest. The wait list is long.
For now, assuming Felicia gets a paycheck in two weeks, she will need help with her rent for the next two weeks. It's $441 per week for her extended stay hotel.
Not fun fact: the cost of her one room extended stay that's about the size of our bedroom, is more than our mortgage payment! At best, it's minimally adequate.
It's expensive to be poor! 😭
One note: Felicia has Medicaid and Food Stamps, and hopefully soon subsidized childcare. I'm thankful these resources are in place. She's never applied for TANF benefits because she's always been working. If she applied for those benefits today it would take 45 days to qualify. And if you're making more than about $700 per month you won't qualify. I'm not sure she could make it on whatever amount of assistance TANF would provide. We have also applied to several private charities that help with one time rent assistance. That is in process. Wait lists are long and help is generally not available quickly. Hence, my attempts to help her bridge this gap and get back on her feet.
Ways to Help:
Tax Deductible Option
• Clarkston Cares - please designate your donation for Felicia, and email me your donation amount at brearob @ gmail. com (a 10% transaction fee applies)
Fastest, Non Tax Deductible
•Zelle: Brea Robinson, 770 402 6087 or brearob @ gmail .com
•Venmo: @Brea-Robinson
Please join my GroupMe Group for updates as needs arise:
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