They say most American families are about two paychecks from homelessness. That what used to be the average working family can now be found facing hunger and losing their home with no place to go. 

We are asking for generous support to help the Obra/Ray family as they fight to overcome this challenge. Kristie is the wife and mother, Douglas is the husband and father. The twin daughters, Ariel and Clarissa are Seniors in High School now. Clarissa just enrolled to attend NAU majoring in Criminal Justice after High School and Ariel plans to extend her creative gifts in culinary and design.

For two and half years after Kristie's accident, a series of surgeries, injuries, and illnesses happened one after the other to Kristie and Doug. They fought month after month to keep their home. Kristie sometimes taking on second jobs. Until October of this year, that fateful court date came, and they were evicted from their home of 9 years. The home that they had loved and laughed and cried in. 

Now, this “average” American family is in an extended stay motel. The four share one room with two dogs, most of their belongings tucked away in a storage shed. Kristie works from the corner of the room, watching the cockroaches crawl across the computer screen, in front of the one small burner and increasingly empty fridge. Outside of their room, crime is on the rise. 

The price for one week of temporary lodging can be up to $900.00. For one month, they are paying nearly $4000, double what they would for rent in the area. It has diminished their income and made it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to save for a deposit for a new home and meals to eat. These types of motels/lodging can cause a vicious cycle of despair and hopelessness.

What should be the twins' Senior year at high school of fun has been filled with hunger, struggle, and shame. For Kristie and Doug, the anguish of seeing their children suffer has been the hardest thing to endure. 

They understand that they are blessed with a car, jobs, and for the most part, they have their health. They're caught in a whirlpool that has proved to be nearly impossible to come up for air from. Doug and Kristie thought about extra income, second or third jobs. However, a contract at his current job requires him to do a freight sweep every evening and Kristie cannot leave the twins alone in an unsafe environment. So they keep praying, fighting and hoping.

Hoping for that ONE chance. That miracle, the Grace that God has shown many times to this family to pull them out. With deep appreciation and gratitude, we ask for your help to donate to their cause, so that they may come up with enough to put towards a home. Anything helps! If you would like to donate essential goods/foods, please reach out to her daughter Marta at the email [email protected] for more information. Thank you, thank you, thank you!