housing relief and/or solutions

thecarolhouse

Hi, my name is Barry Libitsky, treasurer of The Carol House/Carol Anne Clark Foundation, founded in memory of my sister-in-law, Carol Anne Clark. Carol passed away from metastatic breast cancer on October 22, 2011, at just 53 years of age. I invite everyone to visit our beautiful website at www.thecarolhouse.org where one can peruse Carol's moving story, chronicling her fears and consternation upon being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in November, 2004. Despite her poor health, Carol was an outspoken advocate for cancer patients who were experiencing a severe financial crisis attributed to the debilitating and accumulative effects of their disease. Armed with a great deal of extensive research, gleaned directly from cancer patients she was coming into direct contact with month after month and year after year, Carol's mission was to shed some much needed light on the plight and desperate needs of cancer patients, many who had forfeited their careers .. were having their cars repossessed .. losing the entire family's health insurance .. depleting their life's savings .. losing their homes to foreclosure. Carol and her husband, Ron (Carol's full time care giver) also learned of several spouses who abandoned their family in their hour of need. Deeply frustrated by all the red tape and inhumane bureaucracracy associated with the qualifying criteria for any meaningful financial relief, which rarely materialized, Carol began to think outside the box. Carol's concept was to form a non-profit foundation fundamentally different from any other and in addition to providing unmet health related resources, focus on providing residential housing solutions. Her non-profit foundation would incorporate three guiding principles, MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME, IN ONE AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT A TIME. Yes, this was an ambitious project and one that several people had advised Carol that her residential housing relief program in and of itself was unrealistic, that she should stick with similar proven programs employed by other non-profit mainstream cancer organizations. But Carol shrugged off these negative comments and was confident that her goals and vision could be achieved. Carol would tell people that "Walt Disney was also apprised that his ambition to establish a theme park unlike any other was totally unrealistic." Carol was cognizant of the fact that she was no Walt Disney, but she, just like Walt Disney believed heart and soul in her vision. Carol also understood that this endeavor would not be for the faint of heart, that it would involve hard work, sacrifice, commitment, creative fundraising and the support of one's community. Carol also understood that this was not just a matter of simply handing the keys over to a house, that additional nurturing resources would need to be brought to bear, especially in the event of Hospice Care coming into play. Sadly, Carol never lived to see her vision come to fruition. However, out of sadness and grief came our inspiration as family, friends and community activists rallied to Carol's innovative cause. We formed The Carol House/Carol Anne Clark Foundation in May, 2012. Just five months after our incorporation, we welcomed our first indigent breast cancer patient (a single mother diagnosed with stage two breast cancer) and her two young children to the first Carol House. Words alone cannot describe the excitement etched on the childrens faces and the gratitude shown by the mother and her mother as everyone helped them move in to their new home. As everyone can no doubt imagine we had received numerous applications for housing relief, but due to this mother's dire financial and health related circumstances, our board agreed to afford the mother a Rent Free Agreement/Contract. In the world of non-profit breast cancer organizations, one woman's vision has made history and believe it or not, The Carol House has started a beautiful movement and a conversation that needed to be brought out into the open as Carol had intended. We have received congratulations from all over The United States and abroad with regard to our originality and innovative housing relief program. Indeed, Carol's vision has had such an impact that organizations and corporations big and small have contacted us with the purpose of exploring various avenues of support, including the funding and establishment of additional Carol Houses in Carol's honor and wherever the need is great.

Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy comment.

Sincerely,

Barry Libitsky