The following is a communication I received from Curt Detjen, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, regarding the April Aire Mobile Home Park. The Community Foundation worked with the April Aire Task Force, helping displaced residents when the mobile home park shut down. This was accomplished with donations to the Fox Valley Emergency Assistance Fund within the community foundation. Other agencies and business throughout the Fox Valley Region donated their time or services as well. This is the final report for assistance through the Community Foundation.
April Aire Mobile Home Park
Assistance Summary and Final Report
Total families assisted: 26
Total individuals assisted: 79
Type of assistance:
Move trailer to new location: 9
Assistance with rent: 16
Assistance with home purchase: 1
February, 2008 $2,186.46 (5 families)
March, 2008 $300.00 (2 families)
April, 2008 $600.00 (2 families)
May, 2008 $600.00 (2 families)
June, 2008 $5,123.00 (5 families)
July, 2008 $15,235.81 (10 families)
Total: $24,045.27
Contributions from the community: $12,334.33 (23 contributions of $10-$5,000)
Remaining funding: $11,710.94 anonymous donors will provide for this
Sample demonstration of need:
S. is a single man whose 31-year-old estranged wife passed away in December of 2007. He moved into her mobile home at April Aire to care for his two young children and his stepson. With assistance, S. was able to secure a three-bedroom duplex to raise his family as a single father.
C. is a 64-year-old military veteran who has worked for the same employer for 22 years. He has lived alone in a mobile home at April Aire for sixteen years. With assistance, he was able to secure safe housing in a new location.
R., T, and their two young children lived in one of the older homes in April Aire. During the cold spell this winter, the pipes froze, causing sewage to overflow into the home. The condition of the home was described by the receiver as “horrible.” The family was able to relocate to a new apartment.
J. is a single woman who has lived at April Aire for 17 years. She lived alone after inheriting the mobile home from her parents. She was distraught over the thought of losing her home, but with financial assistance, was able to transport her home to a new mobile home park.
D, her husband, and young daughter lived in a mobile home at April Aire which was located right next door to her disabled mother, P. The living arrangement was mutually beneficial—P. was able to provide day care to her granddaughter while D. was able to assist P., who is confined to a wheelchair. With assistance for a first month’s mortgage, the families were able to purchase a duplex.
