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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 16, 2004 Family just wants a place to call home EDITOR’S NOTE: "Light One Candle" is an annual Mail Tribune feature that focuses on a single need of an individual, family or agency. By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune For more than two months, the 4-year-old boy has called a Medford hotel room home. For longer than that, his parents have been struggling to scrape together enough money to rent a more permanent place. Advertisement But landlords require first and last month’s rent, along with a security deposit, and that much cash is just too hard to come by, says Toni Wallick, a family advocate with Southern Oregon Head Start, where the boy attends preschool. "I think maybe they just need a little boost out of the hole they’re in," said Wallick. "During this Christmas season, we need to give people hope that there’s something on the other end." It’s not that the parents haven’t tried to help themselves, she said. The couple, both in their early 40s, moved to Medford from Klamath Falls six months ago because of better job opportunities. She got a job right away — only to learn that she’ll be laid off after the holidays. He’s having a hard time finding work because his driver’s license was suspended for failing to pay previous fines, Wallick said. But he can’t pay the fines without a job. "It’s kind of a Catch-22," she said. This holiday, the parents aren’t asking for gifts for themselves or their son. Wallick, however, notes that the boy likes to play with magnets and Legos. He likes to put together puzzles and to color. More important, though, is a place to live. Wallick is hoping that there’s someone with an apartment or small house to rent who will waive the associated fees. The family can pay $500 to $600 a month. "They just need to get into some place," Wallick said. "It’s hard to raise a child in a hotel room." To help, contact Wallick at 772-7707 or at 2624 Merriman Road, Medford. Southern Oregon Head Start closes for two weeks after Friday, so interested people should call before then or after Jan. 3. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers