What do you do when you come home from work to find these signs on your front door? This is your only home and there is a notice to vacate on the door. What do you do?
The water was shut off in this home, but the resident continued to live there. It had become a garbage house and the city became aware of its condition when a new gas line was installed from the street. Until that time, no one had paid attention. Life had gotten out of control for the owner and helplessness had set in. The city officials accessed the St. Paul house by removing a window air conditioner and getting in through the window. A propane heater being used by the resident for heat was removed from the premises. What the city officials found inside was a life completely out of control.
St. Paul's proposed ordinance preventing the sale of this home until it is made code compliant means this owner will lose his/her home because when one doesn't have the money to pay the water bill and garbage service, one certainly doesn't have the money to do a complete code compliance after the garbage is removed. If the St. Paul home owner doesn't have family, friend or social services support, s/he very likely will become homeless. The end of a sad story where life just got to be too much effort and got out of control.
Yes, Kristal, there are usually clues, but sometimes the people who hear the clues don't want to hear them or feel it isn't their place to "take over". Regrettably, the inaction makes the correction that much harder in the long run.
Posted by: Bonnie Erickson | March 07, 2008 at 12:32 AM
It is so sad to have things like this happen. Unfortunately things get way out of hand before anyone can step in and take charge. There must have been clues left, somewhere along the line.
Sad so sad.
Posted by: Kristal Kraft | March 06, 2008 at 11:51 PM