Talk of The Villages Florida - Can anyone help this woman?

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- - Can anyone help this woman? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/can-anyone-help-woman-313990/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mydavid (Post 1873164)

A lot of advice, but no real help, welcome to Florida's friendliest hometown.

Help doesn’t necessarily mean throwing money at a problem. Sometimes the best help is advice. This may be the case here. If you take the time to read each post it becomes clear what the answer is.

She gets 55% of his military retirement - a minimum of $43,000 ($23,600)
Plus Social Security- $35,000.
She needs someone to assist with ensuring she receives her entitlements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DON10E (Post 1873097)

I read this story and it’s been bothering me all day. Her husband was military till he died and she needs help to bring her house up to standards. She seems like a great candidate for a Go Fund me page but I have no experience with that. Do you? Any ideas? There but for the Grace of God...Merry Christmas?

A Villager is claiming her loss of supplemental income is making upkeep at her home too expensive for her to afford.

The home of Ingrid Rickard at 16558 SE 77th Northridge Court in the Village of Calumet Grove was the subject of a public hearing Friday before the Community Development District 4 Board of Supervisors.

A complaint about missing lanai screens and weeds was lodged against her property Oct. 13 with Community Standards. The violation was verified the following day.

Rickard’s husband, a retired Air Force colonel, died in 2012. They moved to The Villages in 2003. The house in Calumet Grove was built in 2004 and they were its first and only occupants.

In the years since her husband’s death, Rickard has fallen on hard times.

She said her supplemental income from retirement has been depleted

“I have no other way of making any money,” the 76-year-old told the CDD 4 board.

She had to trim back on her landscaping budget to save money and friends from her church have been helping her pull weeds.

On Tuesday, she signed an agreement with a contractor who can replace the screens in her lanai. But the contractor is “backed up” and can’t get to her job for 12 to 14 weeks.

Rickard said she understood she could be fined if the work isn’t performed in a timely manner.

“I had to borrow money to have the screens replaced. I cannot afford a daily fine,” she said.

Supervisor Don Deakin urged Rickard to get other competitive bids and potentially use them to spur her chosen contractor to move up the job on his priority list.

CDD 4 Board Chairman Jim Murphy reminded Rickard that she has a responsibility to “keep up the property.”

By a unanimous vote of the board, she was given 45 days to bring the property into compliance. If she fails to do so, she will face an initial $150 fine followed by $50 daily fines.

It's time for people to step up and help her.... it's what true neighbors are for, right?

What is the name of this organization?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4557Spahr (Post 1873173)

I’m sure there’s more to the story. I volunteer at an organization that helps people but vets them first. We review the income and expenses and give recommendations and, if needed, send someone to help with repairs and budgeting. You can’t really jump to conclusions without all the facts. Once you know the facts you can move on from there. I’d be more than happy to visit this person and see what can be done. Many times people aren’t willing to accept help.

What is the name of this organization?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimaquintana@aol.com (Post 1873188)

Is anyone in touch with this woman? I would be happy to meet with her and potentially purchase the house and let her stay there and pay monthly rent. OR I would be willing to see what she is in need of and help her get workers scheduled and put up funds to get the work done. How do I get in touch with her? Kim Quintana 978-476-1342

God bless you, Kim

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimJohnson (Post 1873141)

Husband died in 2012. If in fact it took 8 years to identify an upcoming problem with finances, then there is something else going on here. I am sympathetic to anyone falling on hard times, but I am more concerned about taking advantage of the gullibility of giving people.
With the information provided, something smells.

There’s always more to the story. I know someone who has plenty of money but they lack the mentality capacity to spend and make repairs. Family has tried for many years to help buy she doesn’t want any. She has the capacity to tell a judge she’s fine so legally theirs nothing wrong with her.

[QUOTE=Debfrommaine;1873170]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eg_cruz@comcast.net (Post 1873146)

Sound like a reverse mortgage is what would really help her. She would be able to have funds in a line of credit where she could draw monthly income.
This is exactly why reverse mortgages help some.

I think I read about this and now can't access "the other newspaper" via my google account. Anyhow, I think she has a reverse mortgage on it. It was yesterday or the day before that I saw an article.

Was able to get to see article, she does not have a reverse mortgage apparently. Very sad situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFB41 (Post 1873192)

She gets 55% of his military retirement - a minimum of $43,000 ($23,600)
Plus Social Security- $35,000.
She needs someone to assist with ensuring she receives her entitlements.

She gets her spouse's Social Security income, but she may not get a military pension. Her spouse could have opted out of the surviving spouse pension with her signature approval. Some spouses will sign this without even knowing what they are signing.

I fear this is a common situation ...... the obvious solution is for her to sell the house and move to a place she can afford. Even fixing this one up will leave her in the exact situation in short order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com (Post 1873115)

I’m a very soft touch for charities but this lady has a very nice pension coming in and who knows how much is in the house . I give to some go find me people but they usually have nothing because of some disaster or medical, even if there’s not much in the house she can find many inexpensive nice places to live on that pension and one poster is right where are her neighbors

how can you pass judgement when you don't know get?

Home equity is the key, particularly at 73. She may qualify for second mortgage or a reverse mortgage. Some one she trusts and knows this stuff should accompany her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mydavid (Post 1873164)

A lot of advice, but no real help, welcome to Florida's friendliest hometown.

Did we all miss the help you're providing?

As has been mentioned, just throwing money at an issue isn't necessarily going to be a long-term fix. What would need to be ascertained (and that's if she's willing to assist) is to find out what's going on with her finances, debts, spending, etc. That's a professional endeavor that a counselor should be engaged in.

Once that information is obtained, it should be clear what her options are. And yes, holding onto a property one cannot afford is not a smart choice. How is this not going to repeat itself when whatever help is offered is spent?

To those here asking "where are her neighbors", etc., what, specifically, do you want her neighbors to do? Are you talking about money? Are you talking about repair and cleanup? How would the neighbors help to fix her finances going forward?

The poster "Kim" above seems to have the most generous offer of buying the property and renting it back - but again, who knows if this person wants to sell?

Selling and getting something smaller and more manageable would have been my first choice
I know that's not what prople want to hear. So everyone helps this time what happens after that

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimJohnson (Post 1873141)

Theres more to this story obviously. We dont know her mental state. She may have problems and not really understand or be able to make a decision. Shes lived there long enough for neighbors to step in who know her and help her out. Not necessarily financially but help to make a decision and ket her understand her options