Evicted Greenwood Trailer Court residents need help

The Whitefish Housing Author-ity is seeking donations to aid households relocating from Whitefish trailer courts. The funds are needed to aid households that do not qualify for existing housing programs.

Proposed uses of funds include the costs to construct foundations, purchase trailer skirting, towing costs, security deposits and utility hook-up fees.

Many of the households have already relocated. The Housing Authority has aided several households relocate.

At least two households have moved into Housing Authority managed apartments, and one household purchased a home through our new Homeownership Program.

The needs of some of the remaining households are beyond the scope of work for which our existing funds are reserved. To meet such needs, the Housing Authority is relying on the benevolence of the community.

We anticipate aiding 10 households with a variety of needs. Some of the households have lived in Whitefish more than 40 years, some graduated from high school here and others are more recent residents.

The Whitefish Housing Authority is a quasi-governmental agency dedicated to housing people. Our staff has experience in rental and ownership programs and networks with housing and social service agencies across the county.

The funds will be loaned or granted to the households depending on their ability to repay. Not all families will be relocating in Whitefish. Households found eligible for housing programs will be referred to any such existing housing programs.

We are seeking financial aid for households with nowhere else to turn. At this time, the households on our list are either employed or retired from employment in Whitefish. Whitefish is the hometown of many of the affected households.

A March survey of the needs of trailer residents found a variety of needs, including downpayment assistance for the purchase of home, moving costs, security deposits, land for trailers and the costs for water and sewer hook-ups.

Whitefish has shown benevolence in so many areas. A goal of $50,000 has been set to meet the identified housing needs. The Whitefish Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners will review the applications for the use of the funds.

In the event that more funds are received than needed for this specific effort, the remaining funds will be given to the Agency on Aging for their Senior Home Repair Program special fund for mobile homes.

Donations can be sent to a special account established by the Whitefish Housing Authority at the Whitefish Credit Union. The Whitefish Credit Union generously offered the first pledge to the account.

Please call 862-4143 for more information or to offer help.

Sue Ann Grogan, director

Whitefish Housing Authority