A 19-person family displaced from Oak Park faces homelessness as nonprofit aid declines

(WXYZ) — A 19-member Oak Park family is on the verge of homelessness and is asking for your help.

The Harris family says they lived in their home for almost two decades before constant flooding caused a mold infestation. After the city declared their home uninhabitable in February, the family says they had difficulty finding a place to stay that fit their budget and could accommodate a large family.

“Within two days we had to pack everything and make a difficult decision: where to stay? Where can we go? What can we take?” said mother Angel Harris. “It’s hard because you’re going through it and you’re trying to convince your little ones that everything will be okay, but you don’t know it. Your job as a parent is to keep everyone safe and whenever you can Don’t do it again. What are you doing?”

Angel Harris

Harris says they contacted several shelters and organizations that wanted to help, but were unable to due to the size of the family. Harris also said that many homeless organizations are set up specifically to serve victims of violence, people struggling with addictions or veterans, categories that their family does not fit into and from which they could not receive temporary help.

With their backs against the wall, the Harris family reached out to some of their children’s former teachers in the Oak Park School District, who jumped at the opportunity to help. The former teachers put the family in touch with Kids Empowered on the Move in Oakland County, which placed them in a hotel in Auburn Hills. However, the nonprofit says funds currently being used to support the Harris family will run out by the end of this week.

Russ Russell Communications

The nonprofit’s founder, Kimber Bishop-Yanke, says the Harris family is just one of many people struggling to find affordable housing in the county.

“People don’t realize that many hotels are home to homeless families, and if they pay for their own room they can’t get any help. Therefore, they are not considered category 1: literally homeless which means I sleep on the street, in a car or in a hotel paid for by an approved non-profit organization,” Bishop-Yanke stated. “We’re really trying to bring attention to this hidden group of homeless families who can’t get any help because of the guidelines.”

The nonprofit is now reaching out to the community for help, recently creating a GoFundMe platform where donations can be made. They say they want to place the Harris family in temporary housing for six to 12 months before helping them secure a permanent home with at least five bedrooms.

“I think a lot of people think they can just call a number and get help, but it doesn’t work like that. Some of these families have been staying in the hotel for 2 years and we are seeing a mental health crisis and being homeless. Some families, Bishop-Yanke said. “I believe we are the answer: business leaders, faith leaders, community leaders, citizen leaders.”

The Harris family says although the last few months have been extremely difficult, they are grateful to those who stepped up to help when they were in need.

“Despite all the lows that we’ve been through, all the stress and despair of this situation, there is hope because we have heroes out there, real heroes, and they are the teachers in Oak Park,” Harris said. “Keep the faith. There is light on the other side. It really is, and many of the storms we go through will be uncomfortable. This will be difficult. Many times you will want to give up as much as possible, but don’t.”

If you would like to help the Harris family, click here. You can also find more information about the nonprofit organization on its website.