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Organization Biographies: Biographies regarding our projects for the following:
Ausby, Helen 1900 Flora Lane • Vero Beach, FL 32960 Mr. Perna has been out of his house since the 2004 hurricanes and on July 26th, Every Dream Has A Price workers and volunteers will work to repair his home so that he can finally move out of his FEMA trailer. He is 70 years old, lives alone but has a dog named Lucky, is a Vietnam era Veteran, and has lived in the house on Flora Lane for 30 years. His only income is his monthly social security check. Here is more about Mr. Perna in his own words: “I moved into my house with the hope of
paying off the mortgage so when I retire I would have someplace to live
and have no house payments. This is every mans dream.
My house was built almost 50 years ago and is located in an old
community. The building codes at the time the house was built did not
require the house be elevated above the surrounding land. So, my house
sits flat on the ground. As time passed the codes changed and after the
hurricane devastated South Florida, all new houses were required to be
elevated. When the adjacent lots were developed and new homes were built
to the new codes, it left my house much lower than the surrounding
properties. 4747 35th Avenue • Vero Beach, FL 32967 Helen Ausby is a long time resident of Gifford and has not been able to live in her home since the three major hurricanes named Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma destroyed it. Here is her account of what occurred, “I was not able to get a licensed contractor for quite some time after the hurricanes…but was still living in the house with my 17 year old daughter. Finally, after waiting for people to give me an estimate, people started to come by the house and they told me they would call back after they checked on material prices. They said they would call me back and they never did. Several years had gone by and finally in the spring of 2007, I was able to have what I thought was a reputable contractor to work on my house. They had worked on a neighbor’s house so I felt that I could trust them. A contract was entered between me and the company and my insurance company had given me the go ahead. The work was to be completed in 120 days. In the beginning everything was going real well on the project until the day I was asked if all the permits were being pulled with the county. That is when I found out there were no permits issued and I had already paid these people $20,000 plus and I wasn’t able to contact the contractors. Their phone numbers were disconnected and I could not talk to anyone. They County Building department came out to my house and found out there were no permits pulled and the contractor I hired was not licensed like they led me to believe. Per the County Building department, everything that was done was going to have to be undone. I have been in a state of unknown or distress since this came about. To add insult to injury, over the Thanksgiving holiday, someone broke into my house and cut all the copper and electrical wiring and stole two bicycles. I am a single parent with a 17 year old daughter who has juvenile diabetes. Life has not been easy for us and I am not able to come up with additional funds to fix my house. In my life I try to do right by everyone. All I want to do is to be able to move back into my house with my daughter and be home with my family and neighbors." 4401 25th Avenue. Vero Beach,
FL 32967
On May 17th, a group of volunteers and the Every Dream Has A Price, Inc. group will held the first work day in a series to get Mrs. Colley back into her home. Skilled volunteers are needed including drywallers, painters and a stucco crew as well as inexperienced volunteers who may assist in painting, cleaning, moving and other basic tasks. Tangible needs include a dumpster and monetary donations to repairs. Details and past projects can be viewed at www.everydreamhasaprice.com Please contact Julianne Price at 772-713-6883 or Paul Tanner at 772-240-2663 if you can help! Jefferson 1019 State St.
Fellsmere, FL 32948
Mrs. Jefferson has three children, one of which is 10 year old Veronica who has been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. Ms. Jefferson was just informed that Veronica has a kidney that intermittently has problems functioning. Frequently, Veronica has to see specialists for her condition and some days are a struggle for her to get through. She is an adorable child and full of love- she smiles through it all. As you might imagine, this has been quite an emotional challenge for the entire family. Pamela is trying to be optimistic and although she is struggling, has moral support of her Godmother. She is very religious and has been praying for God to help her with her living situation for two years. The house, although only 19 years old, was built poorly. The floors, kitchen counters, electric, and cabinets have rotted wood, and due to faulty plumbing and the hurricanes, continues to rot in many places. Pamela used what little FEMA money she received to pay Maxwell Plumbing to fix her plumbing problem, but the kitchen has still has two places that leak and now the floor is about to fall through. On May 7th, her pipes burst and she had to turn her water off completely to prevent her home from flooding. Also, she tried to replace drywall, but the mold has returned. At the time of demolition, the roof still had the shredding of a blue tarp left over from the 2004 hurricanes. Pamela is described by many community members as a giving individual even though she doesn’t have much. She always keeps her door open to people who need a helping hand and if she can help you, she will. Even though she has limited mobility, in mid-August she was able to get her license to start a cleaning business so that she can support herself and her children.
1015 State St. Fellsmere, Fl 32948
Ms. Rainey is having a hard enough time going through chemotherapy, and I’m happy to report that the Mayor of Fellsmere aided us by relocating her to a temporary housing unit owned by B and W Growers until November 10th, 2007. Ms. Rainey desperately needs a new home that she can live in safely and one which does not pose a health hazard. Ms. Rainey often has many kids around as she like to look after them. She has a way of straightening out kids- not only her own, but she'll look after and set straight children who aren't doing right in the community. Both children and adults in her community respect her greatly. She also enjoys gardening, doing cross word puzzles, and watching football. She is known in the community for being a good cook and she says she is so happy that she will have a kitchen to cook in! Lately, she has a few good days but is tired and weak due to the chemotherapy; however, her kind and caring spirit shines through because she smiles through it all and keeps a positive attitude. Ms. Rainey returned to work in October as her medical bills are accumulating and she is falling behind. She hopes she feels well enough to be able to still have chemo sessions and work.
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Louise Colley is a widowed great grandmother in her
seventies, who for the past five years has not been able to live in her
home due to extensive hurricane damage. Mrs. Colley raised her five
children in this home, and in 1975 lost her husband. Two of her
daughters are undergoing chemotherapy right now and battling cancer. Her
house was in shambles after the two '04 hurricanes destroyed it;
however, Mrs. Colley has been trying to fix it up little by little. Mrs.
Colley was caring for an elderly lady about 100 miles away and sending
her earnings to a "contractor" who basically milked her of everything
she had and never fixed her home. For five years she has moved from
house to house and been unable to move back into the home she has lived
in for over 50 years! I can hardly express the sadness she feels because
she is not able to live in her home. 
Martha
Rainey is 63 years old and has lived in Fellsmere all her life- since
1964. She has three daughters and one granddaughter that she is helping
put through college. Her grandson, Hakeem, who is eleven years old lives
with her and she takes care of him. Ms. Rainey has been diagnosed with
colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Her single wide
trailer is in disrepair and after the two hurricanes in 2004, her roof
is caving in, there is mold throughout the home, the floors are
separating, and the trailer is being held up by a car jack. You can
click on the video tab to see the recent demolition of her trailer.