Home for the Holidays 

Detroit Mission Offers Homeless Family Permanent Residence Just in Time for Christmas

 

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries has offered a permanent residence to Dwayne Cole and Siretha Lattimore, a homeless couple who had turned their four young children over to Child Protective Services because it was too cold outside to sleep in the car and one of their sons suffers from severe asthma. According to a report in The Detroit News, many readers and organizations stepped forward to help after The Detroit News and PBS NewsHour told the family’s story as part of a joint report on how emotional trauma is contributing to an asthma epidemic among children in the Motor City and nationwide.

Chad Audi, president of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, says the home will be move-in ready by the end of the week, completely new, furnished, and stocked with food.  Audi has also contacted the circuit court to ask if a hearing could be held in time to return custody of the children to their parents by Christmas. 

The Detroit Rescue Mission will provide the home rent-free for two years and pay for any repairs, leaving only utilities for the family to pay. The mission will also provide financial and homeowner education, tutoring and summer camp for the children, and will help the parents complete their high school equivalency degrees. After two years, the family could participate in the Mission’s Neighborhood Rescue Program, which allows working families with children or veterans to ease into home ownership by paying only for utilities, taxes, and home repairs for two years, after which they can choose to purchase the house for only one dollar.