Family on long road back from homelessness

The Great Recession took a heavy toll on these parents of two young children.

When the construction industry went bust a few years ago, the father was laid off from his job with a building contractor, and he couldn't find similar work.

"We couldn't quite make the mortgage payment and electric bill and buy groceries on what he got from unemployment," the wife said.

The dad began taking every job he could find, no matter how menial or low-paying. The wife started waiting tables a few hours a week.

"For about four months, he was working three part-time jobs, all hours of the day and night, doing some day labor here and there," she said. "He was working so hard."

It wasn't enough.

Despite their efforts, they fell behind on their bills and eventually lost their two-bedroom rancher to foreclosure. Facing homelessness, they sold as many of their belongings as they could and moved into an RV parked on her mother's property. The older woman's small home was already full of other family members facing similar challenges.

"A buddy of my husband's was over working in the oilfields and he was doing pretty good, so we started thinking about it," she said.

Eventually, the father landed a job in North Dakota, driving an oil truck, and left his family to go to work 800 miles away. He sent money home to his wife and by last spring, they banked enough for her to move, with their children, now ages 4 and 7, into a two-bedroom apartment.

They didn't like being apart, the wife said, but she and her husband had hoped he could continue for a while longer, until they had more savings and he could find a reliable job with decent pay closer to home. They also thought about eventually moving the whole family to live in North Dakota.

Those plans didn't pan out.

Without warning, in September, the small oil-hauling business the husband worked for suddenly went out of business and shut its doors. The wife said they think the company was edged out by larger trucking firms.

Her husband returned to Idaho. It took nearly two months until he found a temporary job driving a truck for a North Idaho company.

The wife said they went through their savings from the North Dakota job during her husband's recent jobless period, and they haven't seen any North Dakota unemployment payments yet.

"We need to put whatever he makes now toward the rent, and his own truck needs some work," she said.

She said she applied to Press Christmas for All because she wants to make their first Christmas together again in their own home a little special for her kids, but there's no money for it.

"They believe in Santa, and they've been through a lot. This has been stressful for them too," she said.

With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, the homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.

Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.

Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 27th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, with assistance from North Idaho College employee volunteers, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from Shopko or Super 1 Foods, local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.

To give, please send a check to:

Press Christmas for All 201 Second St. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.

Donations can be made securely online atwww.christmasforallcda.com

Recent donors: Gerry Demaris; Conrad & Trudy Chisholm; Donald & Sharon Lowe; Aldena Hildebrand; Anonymous; John D. & Wilma Ednie; Amanda Hughan; Harry & Ione Perry; Jeffrey & Sandra Medved; Irene Cuff; Catherine Francis; Maj & Justin StormoGipson; Ronald & Eveyland Muck (Happy 60th wedding anniversary!); Elizabeth A. Lee; Arthur & Nancy Flagan; Small's Construction Co.; Charles & Mary Adams.