HOUSING SEARCH CONTINUES FOR FAMILY OF 10 FACING EVICTION

THERE'S STILL NO NEW HOME ON THE HORIZON FOR A FAMILY OF TEN PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN ASKED TO VACATE THEIR RESIDENCE IN THE IDA APARTMENTS ON PIERCE STREET.

CHRISTINE MCAVOY HAS BEEN HELPING THE FAMILY AND SAYS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE A LACK OF LOCAL HOUSING THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE A FAMILY OF THAT SIZE:



THE FATHER WORKS FOR TYSON AND NEITHER PARENT SPEAKS ENGLISH. THEIR CHILDREN'S AGES RANGE FROM A FEW MONTHS TO 14.

OVER TWO DOZEN LOCAL AGENCIES, BUSINESSES AND OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR HELP.  THE FAMILY'S BEEN APPROVED FOR SECTION 8 LOW INCOME HOUSING, BUT MCAVOY SAYS NO UNITS EXIST LOCALLY THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH TO HOUSE THEM.

THE FACEBOOK PAGE SHE CREATED WITH LOU ANN LINDBLADE HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL DONATIONS:



THE IDA BUILDING IS BEING RENOVATED, WHICH IS WHY THE FAMILY OF CHRISTIAN AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS FROM ERITREA HAVE BEEN ASKED, WITH OTHER RESIDENTS, TO MOVE OUT.

THEY'VE NEVER MISSED A MONTHLY RENT PAYMENT.

CITY MANAGER PAUL ECKERT SAYS HOUSING OFFICIALS ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION:



MCAVOY SAYS THE FAMILY IS LIVING DAY TO DAY IN THEIR RESIDENCE, AND THEIR CHILDREN ASK EACH DAY IF THEY HAVE A NEW HOME YET.

AN ACCOUNT CALLED FAMILY CRISIS FUND HAS ALSO BEEN SET UP AT FIRST NATIONAL BANK.