Suddenly, on the brink of homelessness

[Liberal_in_LA]

Another example of medical bills throwing people into poverty. I don't mean to kick them when they are down but isn't that an odd choice? Moving 11 people because 3 are going off to college? They have been better off letting the older kids go into the dorms on student loans. IMHO


The Reynolds family, from left, Shawn, 20, Lacey, 18, Becky, 12, Steven, 20, Scott, 23, their mother, Christine with Mallory, 4, and their father, Russ, with Justin, 3, and Jake, 12, in front, pose in their Las Vegas home on Thursday, June 18, 2009.

By Abigail Goldman (contact)

Sun, Jun 21, 2009 (2 a.m.)

The homeless shelter is as near as next month’s rent for Christine Reynolds, who has enough money to clear one more payment and after that — no clue.

-------------------------

Like many middle-class families facing homelessness, the Reynoldses were hit with problems that came at them quickly, one after another. The family moved to Las Vegas from California just over a year ago. The three eldest children received grants to attend UNLV and switching states was cheaper than paying for dorms. Besides, the family wanted to stay together.

In November, Christine was diagnosed. She doesn’t have health insurance. Nobody in the family has health insurance, in fact, except for Mallory, who is on Medicaid.

Despite this, Christine and her husband, Russ, say they’ve had to pay tens of thousands of dollars for Mallory’s health care — huge bills that racked up and weren’t always paid on time, destroying their credit.

In Nevada, they found a rent-to-own home big enough to fit the 10-person family. Their rent is $3,000, and their other monthly expenses total about $2,000. This wasn’t a problem until Russ’ job, finding actors extra work in Hollywood, took a hit after the writers strike slowed or stopped production on movies and TV shows. And Christine, who had worked with her husband, wrangling extras on studio sets, was no longer able to help because of her illness.

Russ’ business is starting to come back, but not fast enough. So now the family is stuck between a rock and their rent. Christine figures if the family can just somehow come up with enough money to stay in the home for three more months, they will be through the rough patch and on the rebound.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/21/suddenly-brink-homelessness/

[Journeyman]

1. Eight kids. . .

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. 4 kids and 4 adults! 4 of the kids are 18 to 23. And no one has medical insurance.

[northernlights]

8. um, they had 8 kids

just because 4 of them are grown doesn't mean there are only 4. They're all trying to live together. They don't mention any of the "adult" kids having jobs.

[INdemo]

15. I see a problem here with the kids All children below the age of 18 has

insurance..(or should have) Its just a matter of applying...Obama just signed that bill not long ago and raised the cigarette tax...
And most states do have a low income insurance program and premiums are based on ones income along with other minor requirements..Another Obama legislative victory..

[rocktivity]

11. The adults in the household are simply going to have to just say no to college for a while

and get jobs.

If the grants they got weren't enough to cover campus living expenses, they should been working at least part-time anyway.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[cornermouse]

13. Illogical.

This is short term thinking not unlike the current corporate philosophy which is how we got into our current national financial straits. They had grants to go to college. In this day and time, only a idiot would turn their back on a college grant.

[rocktivity]

14. It wouldn't kill them to take a semester or two off, or become part-time students

so they can work. And like I said, if money is tight even though they're not living on campus, those grants COULDN'T have been big enough to begin with.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[cornermouse]

16. Did you see Friday's NOW show about the current state of

student loans? Given the chance to go to school on a grant, they would have been stupid to turn down the grants. As far as not working and concentrating on their GPA which has an effect on their initial job chances, its called long term planning and I don't know that I see it as something to beat them up over. Quitting and trying to get a grant at a later date is taking a chance and short term thinking.

What I see is a family that moved to stay together for the last few years that they are likely to have with their kids all in one location/town/state. They had a child with serious health issues so I suspect the parents knew the value of time spent with and put a premium on time with their kids. They moved into a house that was rent to buy which is not something I would probably do, but if your finances are already ruined due to the sick child may be the only hope they had of having a roof over their heads. Mom was diagnosed with cancer and probably lost time due to chemo or radiation therapy and they had even more medical bills that they were unable to pay.

"Could the older children quit school for jobs? They’re thinking about it, but they don’t have cars and don’t know, even if they could find work, whether those jobs would bring in enough to keep the family afloat. In July, the older boys are leaving to work summer jobs in California — setting up equipment at county fairs and doing odd jobs on the midway."

A valid point; current employment opportunities are not good anywhere. They're trying. Don't kick people when they're down but trying to get up anyway.

[northernlights]

28. I know plenty of young people in school

on Pell Grants and working at least part, if not full, time. Their grades suffer, but that wasn't stopping my microbiology lab partner. She is pushing through making at least the minimum requirements. And 3 students from my A&P working fulltime as CNAs, one of them a young single mother, had 4.0s. Last time I saw the mother, she said the 4.0 had fallen by the wayside...but she was pushing through.

You can get a CNA fairly quickly -- 1 summer will do it I think.

[cornermouse]

32. That's fine for your microbiology lab partner and the students from your A&P.

These are an entirely different set of people who are approaching their problem from a different angle. If you want to go into anecdotes, my sibling worked full time, went to school full time, got about 3 hours of sleep a night, maintained a 4.0 GPA and even dropped out a year to work 2 full time jobs to pay down his student loan, before returning to school to complete his education and become a statistician. Point is, I could never have done it that way. Just because your friend did it that way doesn't mean this family can either.

When did democrats become an intolerant one-size-fits-all party?

[northernlights]

71. when people who "had it all" made poor choice

after poor choice, after poor choice...and offer up excuse after excuse after excuse...it gets hard to offer a lot of sympathy.

I don't blame them for not having insurance because I know from 1st hand experience that if you get a major illness, insured or not, you will lose everything.

I do blame them for the long series of poor choices they made. If they'd stopped at 2 kids and adopted half a dozen needy children, I'd feel a *lot* more compassion for them than I do right now.

I do feel some empathy for them. I got in over my head when times were good, had the rug pulled fully out from under me and have yet to find my way out. But even with the benefit of hindsight, I know I made good choices every step of the way based on the available options. And I have a plan for if my latest attempt to re-set my life goes down.

[lunatica]

25. Where will they work? Both parents' jobs have dropped way off

It's Las Vegas where times are probably worse than in other cities because it's a party and entertainment town that depends on people spending money with the goal of losing it. There are probably pitifully few jobs there now.

[JerseygirlCT]

75. No reason they can't work some while going to school, though nt

[Horse with no Name]

64. I don't know about you

but I worked full-time and went to school full-time while raising a 3-year old and a 5-year old.
It was not easy, but these kids could feasibly take the 12 hours of classes (some of them internet) to fulfill their full-time status so that they could work. I don't think they should turn their back on the grants. They are just going to have to work a little harder than they want to.

[dysfunctional press]

67. the 3 that are in unlv should be able to get student coverage...

that isn't too pricey.

[JerseygirlCT]

74. I would think the college kids could get some insurance

through the school - it's usually not too expensive.

And jobs. Unfortunate, maybe, but plenty of people have worked their way through school. If those that can work could get some work and contribute...

That's a lot of family. I'd be nervous about this sort of situation all the time. And I'd have had one of the parents looking for a job with health insurance way back when.

[timeforpeace]

3. Well, from the image, at least they aren't starving.

$3000 rent? And they have money problems? Gosh, what a mystery.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. ouch! Regarding the rent... housing for 11 people is pricey.

[themoreuknow]

78. Actually, it depends where you choose to live...

If you are talking a metro area in one of the major cities, then yeah, it's steep. But if people decide to live in small towns, you can sometimes get huge Victorians (with beautiful woodwork) for around $100,000! Sometimes even less. I know someone who bought an old house in IA for about $35k in 1990 and the prices haven't really risen in all these years. I know that people may buy houses for investments, but if you just need a roof over your head, you can get a great deal and lots of space. Also rentals!

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Such compassion!

:sarcasm:

[Deja Q]

50. Quite. John Lennon would be proud.

Probably.

[Deja Q]

49. Change your avatar

Or maybe not; John Lennon was a known womanizer and wife beater.

Google it. It's true. He was a phony, though some claimed he did try to change his life before his untimely end.


(Seems kinda silly to promote peace and love while pummeling your wife...)

[MrMickeysMom]

63. Jesus Christ... how old are you?

John Lennon's earlier days (in fact, all Beatles) of womanizing was a factor, but no more so than saying that I was an asshole in my 20s and 30s at times to certain people (I was, and I'm willing to bet other people have the same story).

You need to find a better way of talking about Lennon as a peace activist, as someone who tried to mend the past (at least to his son) and cared enough about the future, as well as slaying personal dragons.

[walldude]

69. I believe the song says:

I used to be cruel to my woman
I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene
And I'm doing the best that I can."

John was as human as the rest of us. Perhaps more. :toast:

[MrMickeysMom]

77. I say he was more evolved than I am...

... and, hey.... I'm getting better all the time!

:P

[northernlights]

6. I think it was more than lack of insurance

that put them in this position. Seems like a series of irresponsible choices dressed as responsible. I'll let it go at that...

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. Family size? I'm assume if a couple has 8 kids over a 20 yr period, religion is

involved. I may be wrong though.

[northernlights]

9. that's exactly what I'm thinking

Several kids more than they, or the earth, can afford. They also don't mention what Mallory's health problems are that cost them 10s of thousands of dollars on top of Medicaid.

Oops, I sit corrected. I checked the article and they *do* describe Mallory's health issues. As I expected, it's chromosonal. Did they do an amnio? I feel like I've heard of it before, but it's not in my Hole's.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. Article explains Mallory's condition - chromosomal condition called Turner syndrome

[northernlights]

12. I realized after I posted

I hadn't read the whole article. I can't help but wonder if it wouldn't have turned up on an amnio. Somewhere I have a table of the diseases that result from the most common meiosis errors, and it sounds very familiar...

Ah, and I've found some info on it. Instead of XY, she's XO. Most conceptions spontaneously abort early on.

[KamaAina]

39. You're assuming that, if it had turned up on an amnio, they would have chosen to abort

this is becoming a huge issue in the disability community. Large numbers of eugenic abortions are being performed, particularly when the amnio shows Down's.

One of my dearest friends joined an anti-choice group over this. :( I reject that approach, of course. I believe we need to deal with the eugenics issue head-on, for instance, by reforming our health care system so that having a child like Mallory doesn't help push a family to the brink of homelessness.

[northernlights]

54. no, I'm guessing that they did have an amnio

given the likely age of the mother. And that they chose not to abort for religious reasons.

Interestingly, my biology text describes the physical abnormalities associated with Turner's as "moderate." I can easily imagine a situation where a pro-life ob/gyn could have downplayed the realities of what they -- and Mallory -- were facing. I wonder if any of them gave any thought not only to the ongoing cost of caring for her, but to who would care for her once they're gone.

And I can't help but wonder what they feel, deep down, now that they witness the lifetime of deep suffering she faces. With Turner's, mental ability is not affected. So she will be fully aware of her diminished life, and the cause of her pain and siezures. And, no matter what her parents tell her, I can't help but wonder if she'll feel, deep down, responsible for their family's financial ruin. Kids tend to do that even in normal circumstances...

[kestrel91316]

20. Some sort of bizarre reproductive beliefs and practices, it seems.

I guess we should be glad they don't have as many as the Duggars......

[Hekate]

17. Las Vegas has a huge foreclosure and vacancy problem right now. I hope they look around ...

... for smaller, cheaper housing. This snippet doesn't say if the kids are doubling or tripling up in their bedrooms, but they should be able to do that without trauma. I shared a bedroom my whole life until I moved out of home -- and then of course I had roommates.

I do agree that living at home while in college can certainly save a ton of money in a thrifty family, but for the life of me I can't see moving the entire family to another state.

Best of luck to them, though.

Hekate

[tabasco]

18. Dumbasses.

Part time jobs and eight fucking kids.

[blueamy66]

27. 8 "kids"

Why aren't the adult kids working?

[Deja Q]

51. With this economy and people being told they're "lucky to have jobs",

how do you know the full story?

Seems a damn nice house for one thing... so my guess is, they had proper jobs and then due to whatever reasons (of which plenty are discussed on DU), they may have had to get new ones.

[tabasco]

55. Well, I start by reading the article.

The idiots got a "rent to own" $3000/month house AFTER losing their bullshit Hollywood jobs.

These people have zero sense.

It almost seems like right-wing agitprop, like the welfare Cadillac queen, except for real.

[midnight]

80. I know rent and mortgage rates are through the roof in california.

That said, this might be the cheapest best deal they could scoop up for the family.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Wow - what a ginormous family. Hope things work out for them.

[konnichi wa]

21. Them people ain't right.

I say T.S.

[boppers]

22. 10 people, 2 incomes.

Recipe for disaster, and yet, they did it to themselves anyways.

Should the state step in and remove the children, for their safety?

[vadawg]

23. wow what about families with say 4 kids and no incomes, or on welfare

think about what you are advocating.

[choie]

29. I think it's advocating that people should not have

more kids than they can afford. Period.

[Ghost in the Machine]

40. 4 of those "kids" are adults and should be working, pulling their share...

and it seems that they could "afford" them up until recently, when she got sick and his work dried up...

I can't believe that anyone would pay $3000/mo for RENT, though... that's friggin' outrageous!

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. No, poverty doesn't equate with child abuse. But I hope the 4 older kids

can get summer jobs....2.5 months until the fall semester starts.

[babythunder]

24. How can the adult children

see their parents struggling and not get a job? Even it's part-time job or something because they could easily work and goto school. Most of the people I went to school with worked and attended school.

[lunatica]

26. And if there are no jobs? Are you still so demanding?

Las Vegas is being hit very hard. The adults have lost their jobs. And you think a part time job for the older kids should be a breeze to find?

[babythunder]

38. Okay then they should

just continue doing what they're doing. So you think it's probable that four adults could find absolutely no type of jobs? I don't care if it's retail, flipping burgers, cutting lawns, work-study, something, telemarketing something. We aren't talking about a person whose unemployed and has a family to support but young adults should be contributing more towards the household. I find it very unbelievable that in all this time none of these kids could find any type of job.

[Missy Vixen]

41. I'll speak slowly

>So you think it's probable that four adults could find absolutely no type of jobs?<

Let's see here.

Retail: Laying off people all over the country. Ask TwixVoy if you don't believe me.
Flipping burgers: Laying off people all over the country. Take a look at the article that was in GD not even a week ago re: what's happening right now in the restaurant industry, for instance. People don't have discretionary funds. They aren't eating out, even fast food is feeling it, and they're laying people off.
Cutting lawns: Who's paying to have this done nowadays?
Work-study: The competition for work-study jobs has got to be unbelievable at best and impossible at worst. There are also colleges all over the country that are cutting their budgets; it would be hard to believe that these jobs aren't falling to that axe as well.
Something: What do you suggest? What industry is currently hiring, besides collection agencies?
Telemarketing something: One will not have a job unless one can sell something. People have NO MONEY RIGHT NOW. I don't know how many more times I'll have to repeat it before it sinks in.

>I find it very unbelievable that in all this time none of these kids could find any type of job.<

My husband's been looking for the past seven months. I started looking, too. Hundreds of resumes, followups, etcetera, over the past seven months: No job.

When you've walked in our shoes for a few days, you can tell me what's "out there" and what's not.

I'm wondering what distinguishes this place from FR, frankly.

[babythunder]

42. With all due respect

but I think you're personal experiences and emotions are clouding your opinion. What you missed in my post was that I am not at all comparing the situation of 4 single adults to people who are trying to support a family.

Let me make a few things clear:

I fully am aware that the economy is horrible
I am also aware that it is extremely hard to find employment

Just so we're clear however I find it very hard to believe that none of these adult children can find any type of work. Granted it would be nice to just focus on studies and not to have to worry about money; but that isn't the reality. So all these children even if it was minimum wage jobs could help their parents significantly in maintaining the household.



I swear I am so sick and tired of people blowing a gasket because someone dared to criticize an unemployed person.

[Gormy Cuss]

47. All four of the kids could have fulltime jobs and the family finances may still have been derailed

because the mother has a serious illness and the family has no insurance. That's the point -- it's the uninsured illness that threw the family train off the rails. Positing on whether the adult children should drop out of school and find jobs in the current economy is valid but even if all four had full time jobs there's no guarantee that the family finances would improve to the point where paying for cancer care out-of-pocket would be within reach. It's a really tough situation principally because of the lack of health insurance.

[northernlights]

56. except if you read through the article...

then you get to the point where the mother says they just need help to tide them over the next 2-3 months. And they pretty much come out and just ask people to donate to them.

If they only need help to tide them over 2-3 months then, yes, one or two of the kids finding some minimum wage work could make the difference.

And, as hard as it is out there, it's actually easier for kids to find work than adults. Most places I've applied at hire less experienced, younger people over older, seasoned workers every time.

[Gormy Cuss]

62. I read that, but I think that she's been optimistic.

That "tiding them over" idea probably doesn't take into account buying health insurance for the family nor the possibility that she'll need further rounds of treatment. It read to me like the parents are trying to put up a good front for the kids. The father's earnings seem a bit tentative.

That said, it's just a guess like many of the other armchair opinions given on this thread.

[northernlights]

72. you're probably right

and that excess optimism could go a long way to explain how they got into this mess.

2 kids are great? lets just keep going. more kids is better.

bad results on amnio? we'll work through the problems. our love for our child and reverence for life will carry us through.

lost a home and ruined our credit? we'll just buy another one...we can always "rent to own." then when the real estate market comes back, we'll be ahead of the game.

I also think people in DU, or at least in this thread, put waaaaay too much faith in health insurance. Realistically, even with health insurance, cancer can wipe you out.

[Missy Vixen]

48. With all due respect

>but I think you're personal experiences and emotions are clouding your opinion.<

My husband and I are living it. Right now. Are you? It's sure as hell easy to sit back and tell others what they could or should be doing when you have no earthly idea what it is like right now to look for a job. Any job.

>I swear I am so sick and tired of people blowing a gasket because someone dared to criticize an unemployed person.<

I swear I am so sick and tired of those who think it's appropriate to tee off on others because of their misfortune. You have no idea what this family is going through, or any other person who's staring bankruptcy and homelessness in the face, but you know better than they do how to conduct their lives. It must feel GOOD to mock them in the midst of their personal nightmare.

Aren't you the lucky one?

[northernlights]

57. it's not just the job situation, though...

they are paying $3,000/month to live in a rent-to-own house.

Why would somebody who has lost their home and their cushy job, in a market where housing is crashing, choose an expensive rent-to-own. It's got to be the most expensive way to buy anything, you're paying premium and getting zero equity.

They can rent a good-sized house for *half* that money. That frees of $1500/month -- more than the take-home of a fulltime minimum wage job.

[Missy Vixen]

58. Maybe you should contact them and offer your expertise

instead of taking shots at a family with a cancer-stricken child and no health insurance on a message board.

I might also mention that one can't take tax deductions for a dwelling while renting; I don't know what the law is for rent-to-own.

In the meantime, you've already said you have "no compassion" for this family, so please stop trying to cloak your disdain in concern. After all, nobody should have a "cushy job", huh?

[northernlights]

73. maybe you should try reading the article before posting

The child is not cancer stricken. She has a disease based on a missing chromosome, which most often happens in pregnancies in older woman with decades-old eggs. Embryos missing that particular chromosome are most often spontaneously aborted early in the pregnancy. It appears that either the parents took a gamble and didn't bother to get an amniocentesis, or they got one and took a gamble that the girl wouldn't have too severe of effects. The mother is the one with cancer.

Given their situation, they probably don't have enough income to worry about needing additional tax deductions. Furthermore, no matter what the tax deduction is for a mortgage (or rent to own if it applies) it still does not match the savings of not buying in the first place.

I have absolutely no idea what you mean about "nobody should have a cushy job." I think everybody should have a decent job. But the fact is they lost their "cushy jobs" (and their home and their credit) in a crappy job market. So realistically, instead of trying to bypass their now poor credit with expensive rent-to-own schemes, they need to get real and rent something less expensive. Of which there is plenty in the area where they've moved.

And I think their 4 adult children should each find themselves something, anything.

And as it happens, I *do* fully understand what it is to be losing everything. I had the rug pulled completely out from me 7 years ago. Only when my industry tanked, it wasn't temporary, nor was it publicized, so I lost some time waiting for it to return before realizing it wasn't coming back ever. I've been in a slow slide ever since.

And I guess that's my point. There are a *lot* of people out there in as bad, or worse shape, than this sad family. People who even in hindsight can be said to have made good choices every step of the way. I find it hard to feel compassion for people who made a long series of not great choices...starting with too freakin many kids.

[Deja Q]

52. Well said.

[Jennicut]

65. I went looking for a part time job in CT and there are none here

I stayed home with my kids for awhile and went back to school to get a teaching certificate but there are NO retail type part time jobs anywhere, for thirtysomethings, twentysomethings and teens. There is nothing.

[pitohui]

43. there are NO fucking jobs in vegas, none, zero, NONE

yah the family is unsympathetic, they should have figured out what was causing it way before they popped out 8 babies but 4 of them are adults now, and 3 of them are trying to educate themselves at a college level in fucking VEGAS

to say the college kids should give up their chance and just add to the rolls of white trash/religious hysteric nutcases when they have a chance to make a serious change in their lives and get educated is NOT part of the solution

anyhoo even if they wanted to, there are NO jobs in vegas, even the fucking whores and strippers are bitching

there are no jobs in retail, there are no jobs dealing, there are no jobs delivering cocktails, there are NO fucking jobs for unskilled labor, NONE, zero, NONE, yah if you are willing to work for $1 an hour as an illegal immigrant handing out flyers for "escorts," ok, but $1 an hr won't solve this family's issue, christ

have you been to vegas in the past year? because if you haven't, you are talking out of your ass and need to stand down until you have

there are no jobs

you can blow me and all i would pay you would be twenty bucks...seriously...

[northernlights]

30. and I just took a peek at Craigslist

And right near the top there is a 4 b-room, 2600 square foot new house for rent...for $1400/month. So parents can have a room, brothers a room, sisters a room, and Mallory a private room for her and her night watcher. Or does each kid also require a private room?

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/apa/1232829431.html

So another in their series of mistakes is to "rent to own" instead of recognizing their situation, slowing down, and just plain renting until they're both healthy and working, and their grown kids are working and contributing, their debts paid off and some savings rebuilt.

The more I look at it, the less sympathy they get from me.

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. I have questions about this family's situation: 1. the move, did they sell a house in CA to move to

Las Vegas? I can't imagine a family of 11 not being homeowners. Renting isn't easy for large families.

2. They have a child younger than Mallory, so they continued having kids after a very sick one was born.

3. The entire family has no health insurance? For how long. Like i said, they have had babies recently.

4. The family business is organizing extras for movies. Wouldn't a move to LV make that harder?

[pitohui]

45. look they can just stay in the fucking homewood suites for $200 a week--way 2 miss the point

i know people who share a hotel/motel room and sleep in shifts, and it's fine (so OK i know poker players) but come on...the cost of the rent is not the issue, it's the fact that they have no fucking income and tons of medical bills which is going to destroy them...no amt of sleeping in shifts will save enough money to fend off the medical vultures

the rent is not what's killing them, it's the disabled kid that's killing them

there is no amount of money you can save that will make up for the tens/hundreds of thousands it costs to have a sick kid without medical insurance

you are picking up pennies where they need dollars

vegas is way cheaper than cali and i understand why they made the move, they would be suffering even more and prob. already be on the street in cali

[northernlights]

59. the sick kid is the one who is insured...way to miss the point

The kid is on medicaid. The mother with cancer is the one who is uninsured. And it seems entirely possible that the reason the kid isn't entirely covered by medicaid is because they are afraid she'll be taken away from them, but she needs round-the-clock care for her seizures and screaming migraines. They don't say what they expect to become of her when they're not around to care for her any more.

If you read the article, at the bottom the mother says they just need help to tide them over for the next few months, while hubbies work picks back up again. And that the *only* reason they need a house is because of the sick kid. And that they're afraid the state will take her away from them because they can no longer properly care for her.

So, yes, the difference in rent would make a critical difference to them.

And, as far as the sick kid goes, an amniocentesis would have shown them she has Turner's. Assuming the mother, who likely was over 40 at time of pregnancy, had an amnio, they apparently made the choice to go ahead with a pregnancy *knowing* the child would have potentially serious health issues.

All the health insurance in the world won't help people who believe that their god makes all life perfect.

They should have stopped having babies several children ago. *That* is the real point.

[pitohui]

60. oh ffs yes of course there are TWO sick family members so...i'm still not getting your point here?

you are a little bit correct it's true that the sick kid is merely costing them thousands, it's the adult mom being sick that is wiping them out to the really big money

in either case, a small saving of a few hundred to $1500 a month on rent is MEANINGLESS after the cost of moving and losing what they put in the rent to own place and putting down more deposits and so on...

you are picking up pennies, they need dollars

i'm sorry that i am too stupid to understand how mom can go back in time and not have had 8 kids -- i am just not getting where this is relative to the discussion -- yah you and i knew that shit and we didn't have 8 kids -- my grandma (smart but literally illiterate) did not have the same choice and yah she had 8 kids so i guess she was a terrible person too -- we can only go forward in time we can't go backward -- the parents who already had the 8 kids can't go back and undo having them they can only move FORWARD from now based on what they have learned that made them move to vegas NOW -- has it ever crossed your mind that they have "woken up" and got away from the bullshit brainwashing but it's too late to send the kids back to their maker??? they moved to vegas after all...


3 kids have a chance at a new life -- they have grants/waiver of state fees today -- and they should grab it today

a dream deferred is a dream denied...is not just a cool saying, it's something you can see for yourself if you actually look around

a young kid should not give up anything, she should grab her college grant because it seems to be use it or lose it -- how many out of work older folk do you know who would be in college right now providing employment for teachers etc. IF they did not have to take out a loan that they know they might not be able to repay -- the young get grants and if they blow this chance it's probably gone forever

besides there are NO fucking jobs in vegas and again i challenge you, if you have not been in vegas since sept. you do NOT know the situation and you really have no business telling them to get a job that doesn't exist

look, i see the same photo you're looking at, and true they look like uncool unsympathetic fucktards but you know...they work in the movie industry and apparently they were able to actually get cast people in jobs for a very tough industry...so maybe just maybe they're not total fuckwits and a picture in this case is just playing to our prejudice???

but at the end of the day there are no jobs...the college-bound kids would be lucky to be able to give head for $20 a pop...there are too many jaw droppingly beautiful escorts etc. out there that are hurting

there are NO fucking jobs

[northernlights]

76. um, *they're* the ones saying that just a little money

to tide them over the next few months would make the difference, not me. So the $18,000/year they could save by moving to a straight rental should be enough to make a difference. Assuming that they're not, what was it you said? Total Fuckwits? (your words, not mine)

No, they can't go back in time and undo a few of the kids. But if you read the article, again, the reason they need a house is because of the sick child. The mother says she is afraid the state will take the sick child -- who requires 24x7 care. But that if not for her, they could live in their cars (um, the cars she claims in another part of the article that they don't have?)

I didn't say anything about how they look in the picture. Nor did I say the kids should give up their college grants. So I have no idea what the rest of your rant is about.

But there is a *lot* about this story, if you actually read the article, that makes zero sense. It just doesn't add up.

[Riley18]

31. This family would not have so many financial problems if they had health insurance..

Even though I personally would not want to raise so many children, this couple clearly made a different choice. They did not need help until this economy crashed. Hopefully, they can get enough help so that the kids can stay in school and they can stay together in a home.

[Hekate]

35. And that's the whole point, I think. nt

[Dappleganger]

46. Exactly!

[Skittles]

36. definitely they should put any plans for further kids on hold

I mean, really

[Joe the Liberal]

44. My thoughts exactly.....

I never understood why people decide to have that many kids when they can't even afford to take care of half.

[mitchum]

37. Too many offspring...take up painting or some other pastime

[SoCalDem]

53. Macro v Micro.. and not "suddenly"

A family with that many children is always "on the brink" of some disaster. It sounds as if the occupations of both parents has been somewhat unusual and cyclical. A 23 yr old, two 20 yr olds and an 18 yr old, could have (should have?) been contributing to the family finances for a while now, during times of hardship. I know that parents try to shield their children , but they could not hve been oblivious to the family struggles.

They may have4 to do what many large families before them have done, "loan" some kids out to relatives while they get back on their feet.

It sucks, but they are not alone..

[earth mom]

61. Time for those adult students to get part time jobs. I always worked when I went to college.

:wtf:

[shugah]

66. i hope they find a way

i've read through too much of this thread - most of it makes me sick.

3k rent is reasonable for a home large enough for the whole family, and if they are keeping "other monthly expenses" at 2k they are doing a helluva job! mom and dad want their kids to go to college - isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

it is the shrinking job market and lack of health care that have made life difficult for this family. i wish them well. i wish them jobs. i wish them an education. i wish them health care.

i fervently hope they find more compassion in the real world than they would on DU.

[Doremus]

68. Your job is in California, you move to Nevada and wonder why your income goes down?

Just another poor decision in a long list.

I'm not completely devoid of any sympathy but I'll save the bulk of my concern for folks who didn't give fate a one-fingered salute.

[SmileyRose]

70. Oh come on people !!!

I have no kids, I have a full time job, my house is paid for. And if I were hit with $25,000 in medical bills at the very time I was too sick to work (no income) - it would trash the crap out of my financial life too.

Yes, these folks made some life choices that give us all an opportunity to nitpik their bones but the DU community can't tell me if the shit hit the fan medically at your house then everything would be all roses and sweetness with your finances.

[themoreuknow]

79. What is weird about this story is that they have the money to make one more payment

So they are not on the BRINK of homelessness, but are one month away from it. Well, join the club! Many people can relate to not knowing if/when they will be able to pay the rent. The way they make it seem, these people are some sort of rarity.

I wonder if either adult has a BA degree. You can become a substitute teacher if so. Also, maybe they could take the 3K and move to a small town in another state? Maybe the job prospects would be better there. Like NM, for example. Look on Craigslist for some podunk town where you can rent a house for $600 a month. That would buy a few months' time.