help Dobbs teacher avoid homelessness

A HARD LUCK STORY

This summer I had an unforgettable experience at the Dobbs Ferry train station.  I met a teacher at the Dobbs Ferry train station. He had lost his job as a teacher and was going to NYC --desperate to earn some money so he could help his wife of 15 years, six children ages 12, 10 year old twins, 8 and 6 year old twins.  He was going to the city -- handing out literature for the jewelry industry on 47th street.  I will never forget my conversation--highlights the problems some people have when they lose their jobs. The man I met at the train station wasn't looking for handouts or sympathy, he didn't even ask for my help.   I offered to help him find employment but he didn't reach out to me until a few days ago (one of his children attended our swearing in ceremony at a local school).

 

The constituent has been re-hired by the school district that laid him off due to budgetary reasons. But, he is only working on a per-diem basis with no benefits.

 

As you will note from the following e mail his landlord is not renewing his lease. He is looking for a 3 bedroom apartment in Dobbs Ferry or close by to house his family (wife, six children). He can pay about $2200 a month in rent. Over the years he has tried to do everything right--he cares about his family, has not been in trouble with the law. If you have any leads or can help please advise.

I have deleted the name of the constituent, phone number and school district that he worked for to preserve his privacy. If you e mail me or call me on my phone: (438 1343 cell, 478-1219, home or 993 1545 office I will provide you with contact information.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER.

PAUL FEINER

Dear Mr. Feiner,         My family and I are writing to you due to your well known reputation for helping people. Having had the privilege of meeting you in person I know first hand that you are genuine in your mission to assist. My family and I are going through some difficulty and we are reaching out to you. In a nut shell the problem is this; I am a school teacher by trade, working for the __school district name deleted by Paul Feiner__due to budgetary reasons I was let go in  August 2012 (Let me take this opportunity to tell you that my wife and I have been married for almost 15yrs. and we have six children ages 12, 10yr.old twins, 8 and 6yr. old twins. I posses multiple degrees in history, secondary education and school administration and supervision). As you can imagine unemployment did not let ends meet for a large family living in Dobbs Ferry. I'm sure you are also aware of how brutal job search can be in the current economic climate. During this time I unfortunately fell behind in my rent payments. We live in a privately owned 3 family house and understandably my landlord eventually took us to court. The court worked out a payment plan to which we satisfied precisely. However this episode created animosity from our landlord towards us. We have received from their lawyer a 30 day notice stating that our tenancy will not be renewed as of January 31st 2014. We have attempted to come to an agreement with the landlord to no avail, so our problem Mr. Feiner, is finding housing. We would like to stay in Dobbs Ferry as our children have all attended school here since kindergarten. We have lived in this town for almost a decade and are entrenched in the community. But finding a reasonable 3-4 bedroom on such short notice is quite difficult. We have also found that landlords are reluctant to rent to a family with 6 children. Fortunately, in August of 2013 the___Paul Feiner deleted school district name. rectified some of their budgetary matters and called me back to work, albeit to a long term substitute position on a per-diem basis with no benefits. It is better than unemployment and we do what we can. My wife, formerly a sales associate at Morgan Stanley's brokerage division, has taken a part time position while the children are in school at the ___(place of p/t employment deleted by Paul Feiner)  here in Dobbs Ferry. I have hopes of signing a contract for a full time position with my employer come this September. Nothing is guaranteed but I am optimistic.           Mr. Feiner, we do not have friends and family that can help us with this matter and we are very fearful of homelessness. We are a few weeks away from putting our stuff in storage, living in a hotel and taking our children from the only school they have ever known. If you can help us in any way, shape or form, we would be extremely grateful. More secure employment in or out of education would alleviate much stress. Housing, preferably in Dobbs Ferry, but not limited to Dobbs Ferry is necessary for the sake of the well being of our young family.         Thank you for your time, consideration and attention to this matter.
Respectfully,