In the recent update that I sent out to my mailing list I talked about a couple from Croatia who came to this country with nothing and have been very successful in real estate--specifically in purchasing rundown apartments and fixing them up. They now own two low-income apartment complexes in tough neighborhoods here in Phoenix and the vast majority of occupants in their complexes are refugees. This couple genuinely loves refugees and they have bent over backwards to help them in numerous ways.
When the economy was good, the average time for a non-English speaking refugee to find entry-level, minimum wage work was about 3 months. Since the economy has slowed down, it is now taking 8-9 months for them to find work. The challenge: the resettlement agencies and available funding from other sources is sufficient to cover their rent for a maximum of 5 months.
Because of this couple's love, care, and concern for the plight of refugees, they have been VERY patient with refugees who are unable to pay their rent. They have been carrying the load themselves for some refugees who are 4 to 5 months behind on rent. They don't have the heart to evict them, even though they have the legal right to do so. They know that the refugees would literally have no place to go if they were forced to move out of their apartments. With all the refugees have already suffered in their own countries and in the countries where they lived in refugee camps, this couple just can't bring themselves to play a role in adding the experience of homelessness in America to the baggage these special people already carry.
Well, this last Saturday, while I was visiting one of their complexes, I had a meeting with the wife. In tears, she told me that the other complex, the one they owned first, is now in foreclosure proceedings. Her and her husband have used up their resources, and they were unable to pay the full mortgage payment on the complex for the past two months. Her heart was broken. But it wasn't over the loss of income she would experience or the damage that would be done to their credit. Her heart broke because if it's foreclosed on, a new property manager will be brought in by the bank or a new owner will come in, and it's very likely that many refugees will be evicted when they are unable to pay their rent within the legal time frame.
She said there is a group of people thinking about investing, but it doesn't look good. The deadline is March 8. The clock is ticking. Would you mind praying?
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2 comments:
What a great story! I will pray that God would do a work of foreclosure prevention and also give jobs to the refugees so they can pay their rent. And for the salvation of those involved and that the Lord would be glorified!
Jeff -- we'll be praying for God's hand to move and meet the needs of not only this couple but also those they minister to. Please keep us informed about what happens.
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