Mother and son face homelessness and need help finding a new place to live
SPOKANE, Wash.– A Spokane family is worried they might not have a home when the holidays are over.
Heather Laird and her son Sean Brown have been living in their home for almost six years. However, their landlord said they need to be out within the next week and they have nowhere to go.
“I’ve gone through every non-profit, every charity, government agencies, looking for help because we’re on SSI, disability, my son and I,” Laird explained.
They’re having a hard time finding somewhere that will take them both so they can stay together. Sean is over the age of 18 so family homes in the area aren’t an option. He has severe autism and other disabilities so Heather needs to be with him at all times to take care of him.
“I don’t want to break my family up. It would destroy my son, putting him in a group home. We’re the only family we each have. It’s just us,” Laird said.
Even if they are able to find a shelter, it wouldn’t be a long-term solution for them.
“If you have an individual who is autistic, or has experienced trauma, or has underlying emotional issues, those are easily triggered in a dynamic situation like a shelter,” explained Maurice Smith, who has worked among the homeless for 15 years.
Oftentimes, shelters don’t have the training or professionals to work with those who have special needs. “They can recognize it, but they can’t deal with it,” said Smith.
” I’ve been fighting for him for my entire life and I’m not about to give up on him,” said Heather.
Heather said she’s always paid rent. Their problem is not having enough money to pay for the first month’s rent and a security deposit, simultaneously.
If you know of a resource or a way to help this family, let us know. Email Emily Blume at emilyb@old.kxly.com.
After this story aired on Thursday, a viewer started a GoFundMe to help them out.
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