2 1/2 weeks to go...what do I do?

I can't stay until the sheriff comes--that would just be wrong. The landlord has been more than accommodating but she just can't do it anymore.

I have four children at home. We can get away with 2 bedrooms elsewhere, but not here--CPS will be out quicker than you can say "UNCLE"!

My DH is working 60 hours +/- a week and it's what his union contract limits him to. I would babysit, but not only does our lease not allow for it, neither does our renters insurance.

We are, bumpus. I'd like to think I'm a better person than that

I've been trying those avenues of calling mobile home parks around here too We have very few where we live, but it doesn't hurt to ask. We can't go to where we were planning in WV because there are now no 3 bedrooms in that area for rent at what we can afford. What we couldn't sell or Freecycle is in a small storage space.

We had originally looked into Western NY, but had 'settled' on WV because the DH was close enough to his job to where he could stay behind for a few months and be able to drive home once or twice a month until he found a job where we were living...thank goodness I grew up in the military, 'cause I suppose that's what that would feel like! I wish we had the credit or the down payment to be able to buy a home but alas...

We have six in our family, and have pared down so tight, it's actually easier. We never believed in owning a lot of stuff anyway, so that part was simple...no keeping up with the Joneses here!

Yes, and this is her final decision. She has been more than generous, but, as she has said, she has a home to rent out to pay the mortgage, not run a charity

Everything that can be sold has been sold--our storage was paid for last year for a year ahead of time as we shared with another family. They have moved on, but we still have the space until at least December of this year. The only utilities we have are electric, gas and phone --no long distance, no cable (haven't had that for months), no credit cards. The internet was paid for 6 months in advance as a gift from a friend so we had a way to keep in contact with far away family members.

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

I'm with everyone else - get whatever apartment you can handle and deal with it for a while. Life goes on, you'll be fine.

Sharon

How would CPS know if you only had two bedrooms? Who's going to tell them?

You could also give the bedrooms to the children and you and your dh could sleep on a fold out/futon sofa in the livingroom.

RedTartan

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From the July 11-18 Trader's Guide, serving parts of WV and Ohio. All are rentals. Area Codes are 304 unless otherwise noted. Dunno if they're within your 6 hour limit or not.

14x70 mobile home 4/10 mile from Ripley on 3 level acres w/playground $495/mo plus deposit. 372-1770

4 BR house in Ravenswood, 2 baths, $500/mo $400 deposit, no pets 273-2777

3BR house, Braxton County, clean & nice, good quiet neighborhood, close to highway, no pets, 2 references & deposit required 765-2465

For rent or sale 1989 mobile home, completely furnished, 2 BR w/2 lots, good septic, good water well, 3 outbuildings, $300/mo or sell for $25,000 cash 853-2798

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If you feel that CPS is going to be trouble over not enough bedrooms for the kids then give the kids the bedrooms and you sleep on the couch.

I'm in Western NY and the rents here are about $550 for a 3 bedroom. There are many that are much cheaper but believe me when I say you don't want to live in those neighborhoods. If you want to consider this area again the Buffalo News is online and has a home finder section. If you find something in the South Buffalo area I would be more than happy to take pictures and give you my impression of the street/neighborhood.

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I agree with those that say you can get by with a much smaller place in a pinch. When we first moved here we spent two months in a on bedroom apartment with five kids and a dog. Not much extra room, but we had a roof. Also, it's summer. How about putting your stuff in storage and setting up a couple of tents in a campground.

Funny you should mention a campground...state parks around here limit you to a 2 week stay, and by the grace of God we were given a HUGE 16x20 4 room tent.

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

Ruby Jane:

Find out if the campground limit is 2 weeks per year or just per time. Here you can stay 2 weeks, then camp at another campground 2 weeks, then return to the first one. Also, there are county, state and federal campgrounds. You can stay in one of each = 6 weeks. Camp while the weather is mild. That will give you time to keep looking at your options before winter sets in. Use your in-laws address as your home address, so DCF can’t claim you are homeless….just camping.

Even if you move more than 6 hours away, the grandparents could meet you at a campground maybe one weekend a month at the half-way point between their place and yours. That way no one would have to drive more than 3 hours or so and everyone could visit relatively cheaply by only having to pay half the gas of a full round trip.

Well there ya go! 2 weeks at one campground, 2 weeks at another campground -- that gives you a total of over 6 weeks to find a place. Tell the kids your sort of taking a family vacation.

By the way, what state are you in?

I'd also be definately moving to another state were CPS doesn't care how bedrooms you have. I'd also double check on that as being a law. If it isn't a law, they don't have the legal authority to force you to a 3 bedroom home.

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We may just have to do that--we even got the tent out yesterday and set it up. We'll just have to make the best out of a difficult situation

Housing Authority around here makes sure that the "bedroom law" is enforced...each child has to have a bed and a bureau or someplace to put their clothing. Ugh, gotta love this state!

On another note--I want to deeply thank another forum member (who will remain unnamed ) who has been going out of her way to help us find a place in the beautiful area of the state she lives in. Through the grace of God, we're being helped.

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

My thoughts exactly

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Is there a chance one or more of the children are adopted or foster children? That would keep CPS or another agency more involved wouldn't it?

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Would CPS cause a problem with moving the children to another state ?
.

Nope, all of them are mine. But, with a yearly inspection by the Housing Authority of every home registered (and most are registered because if not the landlord gets a HUGE fine!) and really, incredibly nosy neighbors ("Hey, you have an awful lot of kids at your house and...blah, blah, blah")...

My renters insurance company does a review every year or two also.

Gotta love this state

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

No, not at all My ex and I recently went to court--I had orginally asked to be able to move with the kids to NY, but he wanted to move to Nevada. We just agreed that as long as it was in the 50 states and he got to see the kids some holidays, that was fine. If it came down to it, my MIL said we can use her addy as a 'home base' and just do whatever we had to do until we found a place. She really doesn't have the room for us and understands we may be longer than 6 hours away but as long as she and Pop pop can drive to see us, she's okay with it

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

Ruby Jane if you don't mind me asking what part of WV are you living in?

Rent in my area doesn't aproach what you're paying.

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We would like to live in WV but we live on the East Coast right now...that's why the rent is so high, I suppose.

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"Nothing else matters in the whole wide world, when you're in love with a Jersey Girl..." --Tom Waits, 'Jersey Girl'

Well, you say Mid Atlantic, but you can't possibly live in Virginia. I've never heard of a "bedroom for every child" law, and I can't imagine it. Seems unconstitutional to me. The house next door to me is coming up for rent soon. $450. Jobs here aren't dream jobs by any means, but they are still plentiful.

Here's another one:

Pembroke: Approx 15 minutes from Blacksburg. Spacious Duplex Apt. 3 BDRMS/2 BATHS. Huge eat-in Kitchen w/appliances. Spacious Living RM. Laundry on main w/washer & dryer. Heat pump. Easy access to RT460. $625

No picture, but this place is gorgeous! Much nicer than my house, and on a beautiful property.

There's plenty out this way, let me know if I can help. I feel bad for you. Situations like this are difficult for kids.

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For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30

Let me guess, you're in Maryland right?

The army moved us up there for the last couple of years before hubby retired. We looked into rentals. Never seen anything as crazy in all my life! Fortunately we got a place on post for 6 months and then found our farm here in VA. Our mortgage and utility bill for house and 34 acres is less than your rent!

I hope you are able to find something and your situation improves. If you have to take a two bedroom think about a set of those bunk beds that have the single bed on top and the double bed at the bottom. We only have one child but he has one of those bunk beds. It sleeps all of us so, when we have company they sleep in our bed and others sleep on the couch and an air matress. We do have a third bedroom but It isn't used as a bedroom.

Pauline

The kids could have bedrooms in a two bedroom setup, if the parents do what mine did. They slept on a pullout in the living room, while the boys shared on bedroom and the girls the other. Later my parents curtained off one section of the unfinished basement to use as their room.