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Post by spicysalmonroll on Aug 6, 2024 13:18:59 GMT -6
My best friend's apartment burnt down last night. All 3 units of people and pets are safe and ok. She is a single foster parent so when she pulled into her road and saw the firetrucks and smoke at her place, she called me screaming to come take the kids which I of course did. She stayed there for hours with the police, firefighters, red cross, DCF social workers, etc. They finally let her inside to see if there was anything she could take before they boarded it up and nothing was salvageable. I'm so heartbroken for her. They all ended up leaving my house and sleeping at her sister's. One of the 3 kids was rehomed today (she was a brand new temporary placement), they are doing their best to find a place for the toddler. My friend is trying to keep the baby because she's had a rough year even before this and feels the baby is like her "purpose/ happiness" (long term placement that she's had for 5 of his 6 months).
We are all just in shock and don't even know where to go from here, how to begin to proceed. So far, her sister's place was approved by DCF as temp housing, but it's a small apartment with 3 kids of her own so it's not a long term solution and their mother's apartment isn't either. Myself and several friends with slightly bigger homes have of course offered as well. Apartments are SO hard to find nowadays that she may get like a 1 month airbnb to start. I've offered to buy her anything from toiletries to clothes, baby items, groceries, dinner, pick up new prescriptions for her, anything she needs but she's too overwhelmed to even begin a list. Do you have any suggestions? Any ways I can help her without being a bother she's got so much going on I hate to keep asking her what she needs.
Does anyone know how the renter's insurance works? Like do they just pay her $x and that's that or is she going to need receipts for every single thing she buys or what? Any advice is welcome.
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STP
Diamond
Posts: 43,645
Likes: 316,905
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Post by STP on Aug 6, 2024 14:07:30 GMT -6
I don't have answers. I am so sorry this happened.
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Post by thechickencoop on Aug 6, 2024 14:16:22 GMT -6
I'm so sorry. I've been through Two fires and would never wish it on anyone.
Insurance first - she'll need to call to file a claim. She may have a set amount, or it may be a variable payout depending on if the fire department declares it a total loss, etc. But it'll be up to her to call and work with them and verify her policy docs, etc. Depending on the cause, they may fight behind the scenes with the complex, etc, but she should just have her deductible and then a payout.
Has red cross contacted them? They may be able to help locate housing, temp or otherwise, and some interim supplies.
If you want to help, I'd start with absolute basics so she feels like her head isn't going to fall off. Toiletries - think toothbrush(s), toothpaste, deodorant, kids and adult meds like motrin, etc. Maybe water bottles and lunch boxes if the kids are in school. Formula if the baby is still a baby, I know some of this may come from the foster agency possibly ??? (Although no clue how that works) but I'm sure its kinda slow.
Kid books, snacks, dinner gift cards, are all prob needed for day to day.
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Post by thechickencoop on Aug 6, 2024 14:17:40 GMT -6
Would you be willing to take them on for longer term if nothings available? It may be possible to contact DFS on your own to find out what needs to happen at your place (or any other friends/family) to be approved for housing as well?
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Post by peachtree on Aug 6, 2024 14:22:29 GMT -6
Depending on the policy temporary housing/ hotel rooms may be covered as well.
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Post by Sweetjane on Aug 6, 2024 14:34:20 GMT -6
I volunteer with our local "foster closet". Do you have one in your town that you can reach out o on her behalf?
Get her supplies, clothes, toiletries etc? They have great resources for housing as well. Maybe you could just make some phone calls for her and get the ball rolling.
I'm so sorry for your friend, what an overwhelming situation to be in.
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Post by spicysalmonroll on Aug 6, 2024 14:51:55 GMT -6
I'm so sorry. I've been through Two fires and would never wish it on anyone. Insurance first - she'll need to call to file a claim. She may have a set amount, or it may be a variable payout depending on if the fire department declares it a total loss, etc. But it'll be up to her to call and work with them and verify her policy docs, etc. Depending on the cause, they may fight behind the scenes with the complex, etc, but she should just have her deductible and then a payout. Has red cross contacted them? They may be able to help locate housing, temp or otherwise, and some interim supplies. If you want to help, I'd start with absolute basics so she feels like her head isn't going to fall off. Toiletries - think toothbrush(s), toothpaste, deodorant, kids and adult meds like motrin, etc. Maybe water bottles and lunch boxes if the kids are in school. Formula if the baby is still a baby, I know some of this may come from the foster agency possibly ??? (Although no clue how that works) but I'm sure its kinda slow. Kid books, snacks, dinner gift cards, are all prob needed for day to day. Thank you. Oh my gosh I can't believe it's happened to you twice that's so awful. The fire inspectors are still calling her today with more questions, they think it was her stove (she did not leave it on but it's one of those built in ones that's 60 years old). She said the red cross was there but she didn't really take in any of the info as it was happening so I think she just took the person's card. Hopefully they can help for sure. DCF is trying to get what they can but stuff like the formula WIC benefits have certain monthly renewal dates so we're def trying to buy her some until then. I would be ok with having her for a longer term if she take me up on it Thanks for the tips |
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Post by spicysalmonroll on Aug 6, 2024 14:59:30 GMT -6
Sweetjane, I think we do have one that she goes to, and people have already donated a ton of stuff to me to pass on. trying to figure out where she's going because she doesn't necessarily want or need all of it at her sister's.
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Post by Sweetjane on Aug 6, 2024 18:38:01 GMT -6
The HUD page has some resources and it also links to your state. It looks like they have emergency assistance shelters for families. That's a good place to start and she would have a case worker to assist in the transition.
Do you know anyone that has a garage apartment or MIL suite? A lot of older homes have them here. Sometimes they just sit empty, maybe someone could help out short term.
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Post by spicysalmonroll on Aug 6, 2024 20:56:04 GMT -6
Thanks all!
Update my neighbor collected shit ton of donations already on my behalf so I brought them to her at her sisters tonight. I had not been there before and the apartment was much larger than I expected- friend has her own bedroom and everything (I was under the impression she was staying on the couch). Her sister kept telling me “she thinks she’ll be finding a place by this weekend but she’s insane and I’m making sure she knows that she will be here for months”. So I’m really glad her sister is on that page of getting her settled in for the long haul.
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