Posted on 09/25/2009 7:20:16 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
(CBS) Tammy and Troy Renault Look like any middle class couple, but someone else is living what used to be their home.
Almost everything they own is in storage, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.
Now, home for the Renaults and their four kids is a campsite - a tent and a borrowed trailer.
Troy said that how they ended up there is Economics 101. When he lost his job with a construction company and had trouble finding work on his own, the bills piled up, and everything else came crashing down.
"You go from 'do you pay your lights and water' or 'do you pay the house payment and sit in the dark'", Troy explained.
"You had a house. How strange does this feel?" Doane asked.
"The first week, when we first moved out, I conditioned my mind that I'm on vacation," Tammy said.
That was four months ago.
It costs about $85 a week to rent a space here. It includes electricity, water and sewage, but some cannot afford even that. So far, the management has been flexible, telling us they believe that they'll get what they're owed once people get back on their feet.
There's a sense of community here - a community bound by loss that's growing by the day. There are 116 campsites and 85 percent of those filled are not folks here on holiday. For them, this has become a permanent home.
Cindy Nunley lost her home when her husband lost his job.
"People don't understand, unless they been in this situation, you know, people don't really understand," Nunley said.
"There's days that make you feel very guilty," Troy said. "Because you want your kids to have better than what you had growing up."
But like so many here, the Renaults haven't lost their faith.
"We trust in the Lord, he's got a plan for our lives," Troy said.
For now, their plan is to stick together and hope things get better before the weather gets worse.
Tennessee ping
My heart goes out to them and to all who are facing similar fates in this country after being jobless for so long.
And, very sad to say, millions more will likely be joining them next year as Obamanomics rages on.
I hope they get to vote.
Sad. It’s a scary thing to lose your job. Been there a couple of times myself.
I’ve never stayed in one (God willing), but $85 a week seems a bit steep when you’re providing the roof over your own head. I guess your electricity being included makes up for some of it, but it still seems kind of high.
Been there too. It’s more difficult now if you have a family to support.
My camper is almost nicer than my house.
When the ‘s’ hits the fan, we are boarding up the house and moving to TX.
I saw a story on something similar to this several months ago. It’s heart wrenching, but also a better story than watching folks just give up and drink themselves to death or worse. It’s about people doing what they need to do to get by - pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and NOT asking the government for help! Tennessee is a very down to earth place...and most people there are willing to lend a hand in times of need. The lessons their children will learn from this will make those kids strong! They’ll never take a job or an opportunity for granted.
"Elections do have consequences."
Wonder how the Muslims in Tennessee are doing?????
Yeah. You won't find ACORN organizing there, would you? Wouldn't see any "Rock The Vote" flyers on their mailboxes.
Godspeed, folks.
“I conditioned my mind that I’m on vacation,” Tammy said. “
I like her attitude and hope and pray she’ll get back on her feet.
Well that’s true. Being poor is not the worst fate in the world....good lessons and motivation can be learned during those times.
But what is bad is that the hated middle class (hated by commies the world over) is what makes this nation “tick”. And it saddens me to see so many thrown into dire circumstances primarily because of out of control government taxing, spending, regulating machines which value, say, a two inch fish, more than a human being! (that is not what is going on specifically in TN, but it is just another instance of government gone insane - which is KILLING our economy, killing jobs, and throwing people out of their homes and into these types of living circumstances.
Or worse.
We had story on here this week about the “tunnel people” of Las Vegas.
And the story of the tent people somewhere else.
These stories are just going to mushroom next year....and, sorry, but it’s heartbreaking to me....and there but for the grace of God....
Camp Obama.
I have been on hard times in my life and it isn’t good. My family pulled me through. With this economic environment and a socialist at the wheel it will be very hard for these folks to turn soon.
Many RV camps charge nearly that much per night. The daily or weekly fare probably relates to the local real estate values. The trailer or RV camp owner has a mortgage to meet, too.
I hope the self-absorbed SOB’s that thought it would be so cool to vote for Barack Obama are real proud of themselves. B*stards.
Thank God he’s got a trailer. Sadly others are even worse off.
Actually, these stories will be much more scarce than they would be if a Republican were in the White House. The Pom Pom Media isn't going to showcase the destruction of the Obama economy so willingly.
Very sad. Just the beginning though, I believe.
Amen. True Americans can make something good out of tragedy.
The ones who voted for Zero ARE being affected by this economic nightmare.....and eventually will see the error of their ways.
The ones who won’t are the ones who have been on the federal welfare rolls for years - either as government employees, teachers (I was one of them - long time ago), union members-Acorn workers, or second or third generation welfare people.
But by then, there will be so many suffering.....again, it is maddening because good policies and right decisions could turn this nightmare around in just a few months.
This is a sad story and my heart & prayers go out to them.
As others have stated, we’re just now seeing the tip of the iceberg of what is gonna mushroom throughout the country. They’ll be thousands more in the same predicament just like this family...maybe millions if the Cap & Tax bill is passed.
We’ve urged everyone we know to get debt-free if at all possible, especially collateralized debt. Some folks think we’re nuts, but thats ok. Our house is paid for and I got a paid-for bed to sleep in without worrying about that “knock on the door” eviction notice. I would rather go down owing on a credit card yet have the house paid for and safe. I can always hang up on the butt hole from the credit card outfit or cut some reduced deal with em, but its pretty tough to ignore an eviction notice from the court/sheriff’s dept.
Aren’t these called 0bamavilles?
Tax cuts; for a start...
This truly breaks my heart.
Decent people by the thousands, no millions, will have their lives turned upside down, for what, for marxists? for ‘hope and change’ lies? for dim witted fools?
A curse on those who voted for the Zero!!
before a Democratic Congress....in 2006...there really was 4.5% unemployment. In three years that has doubled...in another three it will have trebled. Simple political and economic malpractice.
Yes, you are so right. I know of so many who are out of work and looking for jobs - and God bless each one - they somehow continue to have positive attitudes and hope.
Stretching every dime.
Never been in dire straits before.
My church has a contingency fund that helps many in such circumstances.
But so many find it very very difficult to ask for actual financial help....having the American spirit of independence and self reliance. Good for them.
Like I said, it’s still heartwrenching....
for whatever reason these mortgage companies aren’t even letting the homeowners pay back payments to keep their homes. they’d rather sell it for a fraction of what the homeowners are mortgaged to pay. can’t figure it out.
YES - TAX CUTS for all - especially for businesses - those nasty little profit makers who provide the JOBS we so desperately need!
But the communists in chsrge are doing everything in their power to kill businesses, and the jobs they bring with them!!
That’s why every single election in every city and every state is important - states can start the tax cutting NOW and not wait til 2010....if they can get enough people into office who understand business!!!! and profits!!!! which bring JOBS!!!
You really think so? They voted for Obama in the first place which suggests they aren't so quick on picking up on things, and probably believe everything they see and hear on TV.
“for whatever reason these mortgage companies aren’t even letting the homeowners pay back payments to keep their homes. they’d rather sell it for a fraction of what the homeowners are mortgaged to pay. can’t figure it out....”
I think they’re hurting so bad, they’re trying to get their hands on whatever they can get...as fast as they can get it. Fed. govt. made them make those risky sub-prime loans to those that couldn’t pay...knowing full well that they couldn’t pay. Now, regardless of the circumstances, they’ll go for the most money they can get their hands on, even if its a fraction of what’s owed them, rather than deal with continued delinquent “payments” since the mortgage companies are trying to stay afloat day-by-day as well. Thats another thing that has been going on and not getting much play in the state-run media is bank failures. We keep just enough cash in the bank to cover the utility bills and what little debit card usage we have. Everything else (gas, groceries, etc.) is paid in cash. All other extra cash, if any, gets locked up in a fireproof safe. Can’t make any interest on it anyway, but at least its in our responsible hands and at our disposal and not under the control of some greedy, beady-eyed, crooked-fingered, Marxist federal regulator should the bank fail.
My son works for an excavating company, they used to do subdivision work, he says they have 2 more weeks of work and then...who knows?
He can come home and we can put him to work here but if he does, I’m putting him in the camper on the south farm.
I feel for you. I’m not even 30 and single but the silver lining I saw when I was unemployed was that once you hit rock bottom, one will never, ever forget it and will do everything not to hit that low point. The 2nd silver lining was that I knew who my “friends” were.
Right now he is living with a friend who is unemployed and on the weekends they are cutting and splitting wood to sell and they are open to any odd job they can get. Both of them can do just about anything.
No home and no job, full timing in an RV ( a lot of folks dream of Rving full time BTW).
I do have a question—
With no job, no home and no hope of either, why the heck are they hanging arounf there? Time to hook up that ol RV and head someplace where there are jobs.
Zeroville.
Obamavill bump
I just sold my little 1968 Norris vacation trailer to a single friend of my husbands tonight. He said he wanted it because he’s afraid he’s about to be laid off and lose the house he rents.
It’s ok for a short vacation. It has a fridge, a gas stove, little furnace, bath rm, and runs off gass or elect but I wouldn’t want to live in it.
Yes...we need to STOP electing lawyers...we need businessmen that will CUT taxes AND spending.
$85/week is cheap compared to most other rv parks. I’d say the park management is giving them a nice break.
Well, those who are losing their jobs and/or their income as a result of the Dems/Obama policies will (many of them) eventually turn against Obama....because we have to remember 2 things -
1. it’s the economy, stupid (not you, but Obama)
2. All politics “is” local
When people are hurting financially, people who earlier thought Zero would bring hope and change, they will begin to see the light and turn against him.
Those who are in the permanent government money dependent groups as mentioned above - however - won’t.
Amen!
Other than that Mr. Renault, How’s that “CHANGE” thing working out for you folks.
I lost my job a while back. I think I might get an offer from out of state in a few days. I’ve been exploring this as an option to keep my family at home while I work and live as cheaply as possible. Even a tent site where I want to move is $30 a night. Temps average in the low 40’s over the winter so I may try tent living as long as I can to keep rent costs low.
Hopefully I can find a cheap site somewhere.
Did this of my own volition when we relocated. Refused to buy/rent another place till old place sold. So we camped in an RV a long time.
Let another family do the same thing in my unit this year.
Its hard on the parents but kids generally like camping.
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