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Motel family: Schoolchildren living in area's old motels are considered homeless by Department of Education Date published: 2/10/2008
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Shayla Rutherford can picture her dream room: wall-to-wall Hannah Montana. The 9-year-old would cover every inch of her space with images of the pop princess--wallpaper, sheets, lamp, radio, shelf, canopy. "Hannah Montana everything," she said with a nod as she ran out of breath and merchandise ideas. For now, Shayla sleeps in mismatched striped and floral sheets--donated by Stafford County public schools--on the top bunk of a red metal bed. Underneath, her mom, dad and baby sister share a pull-out futon. Older brother Hunter, 12, sleeps on an air mattress on the floor of the single motel room that serves as home to Shayla and her family. The five live at the Thomas Jefferson Motor Lodge, not far from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Driving down U.S. 1, motorists could easily miss the past-its-prime motor court with about a dozen rooms. Drivers would probably not notice Shayla, Hunter or any of the motel's other children playing football on a grassy patch in front of the Dumpster, riding skateboards in the parking lot or eating Popsicles on the front stoop. National homeless advocate Jeremy Rosen in Washington calls kids like Shayla "the hidden homeless." Shayla doesn't consider herself homeless. The school system counts her as such, though. She and Hunter are among nearly 400 schoolchildren tallied in a recent one-day count of the homeless. Lisa Von Dohlen, director of social work for Stafford County schools, warns that such counts do not paint an accurate picture and that there are more homeless children in the area. It's impossible to know just how many of the children live in motels. But Barbara Duffield, policy director of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth in Washington, said that nationally, of all students counted as homeless, 56 percent are living with family members or friends and 7 percent are in motels. If schools find these kids, Duffield said, they can offer services: allowing students to stay in one school even when families move, free breakfasts and lunches, academic help, counseling and more.
Date published: 2/10/2008
I'll look into it. There was actually an article in the FLS not long ago that had those sorts of figures. They looked pretty impressive to me, whether or not the "officials" will find it so is debatable.
There must be data somewhere in the local archives detailing the socio-economic data for the region. Politicians don't move unless you have statistics and they see a benefit to them personally (like votes). If we have less than x % of local families that need help then nothing can be made to happen on a grand scale except collect some money and help the few. If there is data that can be used for a convincing argument to make something happen, then you need to get the backing of local advocates 4 the needy
btrflykys, sorry that it was a 'bum of a husband' (can I call him that?) who cuased you so many problems. I hope you can someday have the courts go after him and get some sort of compensation (child support, maybe).
I still do live in a trailer park, and it is not as bad as people think, plus I can afford it while my wife stays home with our 2 young children. I may try to buy a house in a few months, but it won't be a mini-mansion nor something that will make me 'house poor'. Good luck to you.
It was not easy but I had to make due with what I had, all while somehow managing to keep a smile on my face. I did not “qualify” for public assistance because I made too much money but there were plenty of days/nights that I went without eating just so my kids could. It’s really hard to get back up after you fall only because there is so little help out there. I didn’t think that I would ever see the “light at the end of the tunnel” but I made tremendous sacrifices just so I could get back on my feet.
All of the Bills that I had paid bounced. I eventually lost my house and my car. I can’t even begin to tell you how much money I had to pay the bank in just fee’s alone. I was living paycheck to paycheck, paying around $200 a week for daycare just so I could work, in addition to the $250 a week for a nasty hotel room which I thought we would never get out of. We’ve lived in trailer parks, hotels, friend’s houses, etc and yes I still drive the same old POS car that a family member helped me buy for $400.
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