The only way to access their home is by trudging through a muddy creek.
But for this family of eight, the two-bedroom house they built nearly 20 years ago has become the root of their perpetual struggles.
The family is miles away from the nearest gas station or store, and with no shower or laundry facilities, they must walk to a nearby relative's house to bathe or wash their clothes. The two teenage boys living at home are often bullied in school because they can't bathe regularly. Their clothes often smell due to a kerosene heater in the home, adding to their ridicule, the family's caseworker said.
"The smell of it is very strong," the caseworker said. "The school tries to address it, [but] I don't know if there's a whole lot they can do."
At 40 years old, the mother stays home and often takes care of their one and two-year-old grandchildren, while the 44-year-old father works at a concrete plant and is usually laid off during the winter months. "The husband does the construction on the home, [but] only when they have the money and he has the time," the caseworker said.
After a heavy snowfall in February, pipes burst beneath the house, causing its floor to buckle and warp. What was once a laminate wood surface is now a mix of wood, dirt and concrete. "I honestly don't know how they keep it warm with that little bit of heat," the caseworker said.
Entering the home is a challenge; the steps up to the porch are dry rotted and can't be used. The family doesn't have any containers to hold their garbage - which they would need to haul through the creek - so trash is often scattered around the yard, attracting mice and other rodents, the caseworker said. The family needs $900 for a washing machine, a bathtub and various repairs to their home. To help, please consider a gift to this year's Gazette-Mail Charities fund drive. Gazette-Mail charity cases have been verified by approved social service agencies. The Gazette-Mail absorbs the cost of administering the fund. Checks should be made payable to Charleston Gazette-Mail Charities. Your tax-deductible contribution can be mailed to:
Charleston Gazette-Mail
1001 Virginia St. E.
Charleston, WV 25301