"You're a blessing."

So I guess I'm "in charge" down here. I was supposed to be splitting these duties with another LSS board member, Pat. Unfortunately, Pat came down with infectious mono so I am flying solo. It's a good thing I look so great driving a 15 passenger van.

I'm going to post twice. My first post is about what I have seen down here.

Its funny how things change, but things stay the same. When I was here last year, we surveyed residences to see if they were rebuilding and if they needed help accessing the government money to rebuild. We also worked to keep the FEMA trailer parks from closing because the land the trailer park was sitting on was obviously not zoned for a FEMA trailer park. Some of the legal issues the area was facing last year were claims against insurance companies and FEMA recouping funds that were distributed incorrectly. This year, there aren't any fewer issues, just different ones. Trailers have dangerously high levels of formaldehyde, FEMA trailer park residents have misinformation about the parks closing, and Landlords are rejecting applicants who are utilizing FEMA rental assistance.

On Wednesday I met with a man, we'll call him Rick. Rick is living in a trailer with his daughter and her two children. I got to meet one of the children, who we'll call Cassie. Cassie is 3 years old and she sat in my lap, while I spoke with her grandpa. Cassie explained to me that she liked to be called "Whisper" and she had a baby brother that came out of her mommy's tummy. Rick explained to me that he had a bad accident about 15 years ago where pilings fell on him and he had nerve related injuries. Recently, Rick went to run an errand and was found 8 days later in another state. Apparently, when he starts driving something is causing him to black out. Rick doesn't know why the trailer park is being shut down but he thinks he can only go to a hotel for one month. Rick has seen on the news that young children have been molested at a hotel and he refuses to take his grandchildren to that environment. Rick can't go look at rental properties because he can't drive. I explain to him what I know about the trailer parks closing, I offer to help him get a pro bono attorney, and I offer a number of someone who can drive him to look at rental properties. Rick tells me he spoke to his sister earlier that morning and she said she spent the whole night praying for him. He told me that I was the answer to the prayers and that I was a blessing. Cassie told me she loved me.

Rick and everyone here needs someone to advocate for them. They need someone to talk to them and explain their options. They need someone to protect them from a very contemplated system. As one of the other students on the trip said, if we only help one person on this whole trip, we have succeeded.

Christina Burfeindt