Mom Of Four Forced To Move Family Into Car Finds Out Coworker Stealthily Started Fundraiser For Her Family

Nov 20, 2020 by apost team

Having a place we call home is something that many of us can take for granted, especially if we've never been in a situation of homelessness. In this recent story, a mother-of-four named Kenia Madrigal found herself homeless and living in her car with her children, after being laid off during the pandemic.

A co-worker of hers started a GoFundMe page to help them get back on their feet and be able to rent a safe space, but instead of hitting the $800 goal, people from all over donated, and the campaign reached over $74,000! As of September, she finally has a home to live in. Here is Kenia's story.

A place of shelter is one of the basic needs that a human requires to survive. The concept of home has developed even further to include not only a place to shelter for the evening, but it's also a place where the family unit comes together to spend quality time, and also for each of us to be alone and decompress after long days. A home provides us with security, a sense of identity, privacy, and more, and is essential for our wellbeing.

A gerontology professor at the University of Kentucky named Graham Rowles discusses the innate need that humans have for a home, explaining there is strong evidence that the environment we live in is closely linked to our wellbeing. He says:

"We have a need for a place that is called home. But most of all, it's a place that provides us with a centering—a place from which we leave each morning and to which we return each evening."

To be without a home robs us of these essential needs and throws us off balance. And for children who happen to be in this situation, it could have an impact on their ability to grow up to become balanced adults

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Unfortunately, the fear of homelessness became real for one Houston-based mother-of-four named Kenia Madrigal. After losing her job during the pandemic, Kenia was unable to find new work and subsequently was late on her rent payments, forcing the family to be evicted from their apartment. Without anywhere to go, Kenia and her family were forced to live out of her car, a small SUV, for over two months over the warm summer. 

The situation was bad for all of the family, but especially the older kids who weren't able to attend school, as classes have been strictly online, and attending them wouldn't be possible while they lived out of their car.

Kenia explained to ABC13 how the family makes do in the tiny vehicle:

"I take the car seats out. I put the seats down, and these two go all the way back. So, me and my oldest are there while the youngest are in the back."

She continued:

"It's so hard to hold it together, try to be strong and try to show my kids there's nothing to worry about. It's really hard."

Heartbreakingly, she told the news station that her daughter keeps asking when they're going home, despite them not having a home to go to. Kenia kept trying her best to get her family out of this situation and was able to get a job, however, unfortunately, it only paid $11.50 an hour, which wasn't enough to rent an apartment.

But then she was blessed with kindness, as her coworker Chelsea Monroe started a GoFundMe page to help get Kenia and her family back on their feet. With an initial goal of $800—enough to enable the family to find and rent a safe space—the page was inundated with donations from people all over and soon enough reached over $74,000!

Since then, Kenia was able to find a home for her and her children in September and is excited to have a kitchen again so she can cook for her family once more. ABC caught up with her since the incredible life-changing experience, where she told them:

"I feel like I'm finally okay. I don't have to stress so much, I don't have to worry so much. My kids have somewhere they can sleep now."

After receiving the phone call that she'd been approved for the house Kenia cried, and wanted to make clear that she's incredibly thankful to everyone who helped her by donating. She told ABC:

"None of this would have been possible without the help of everybody honestly. I don't think I would have been here right now if it weren't for the people who have been supporting me and who donated. So for that I'm grateful."

Kenia's story outlines the importance of having a home. Beyond just being a place to rest our heads or store our things, homes provide comfort and security, especially during times of need. The outpouring of support for Kenia and her family is moving, but her situation is not a one-off. It's important we continue to consider the issue of homelessness in our societies and how we can help.

What did you think about Kenia's story? Let us know in the comments, then be sure to pass her story on to others.