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Merrimack Valley
Declaration would mean thousands for homeless - and hope for evacuees
Published: January 23, 2008
LAWRENCE - When Martin Romero emigrated from El Salvador, he literally came to the United States with nothing but the clothes on his back.
During the past seven years, he has worked tirelessly for a better life for his wife and two daughters.
All their possessions - everything from their family photographs to their Nissan Pathfinder - were lost in the fire that swept through a South Lawrence city block Monday morning.
"It's not easy to lose everything when you have so little," said Romero, who lived at 16 Springfield St.
Romero and his wife Karen Roque are expecting their third child within weeks. They have two daughters, Ashley Roque, 2, and Claudia Quintanilla, 7. Since the fire, they have been staying at a shelter set up by the Red Cross at South Lawrence East School.
Romero and his family could be helped by thousands of dollars in low-interest loans the city is seeking through the federal government. The city is asking for a Small Business Administration declaration, which is similar to a disaster declaration but for loss on a smaller scale.
Should the city qualify, residents and small business owners would be eligible for loans to help them rebuild in the area.
That includes people like Ana Torres, also of 16 Springfield St., who is in a similar situation. The mother of Yiannis, 4, is expecting her second child in May.
"I'm looking to start over, get a new home and get some support," said Torres, who moved from Puerto Rico three years ago. "You work so hard and all of a sudden lose everything."
Torres stayed at the shelter last night, and said being pregnant makes it doubly difficult.
"I miss my bed and my food - rice, beans and pork chops. Thinking about it depresses me even more," Torres said.
Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan met with Torres and other evacuees to update them on what the city is doing to help them.
In order to qualify for the loans, the city would have to show that at least 25 businesses and homes have been significantly impacted and 40 percent of that loss is uninsured.
The money would then be made available through the Small Business Administration. If the money becomes available, renters could be eligible for loans up to $40,000, homeowners up to $200,000 and business owners up to $1 million.
During the past seven years, he has worked tirelessly for a better life for his wife and two daughters.
All their possessions - everything from their family photographs to their Nissan Pathfinder - were lost in the fire that swept through a South Lawrence city block Monday morning.
"It's not easy to lose everything when you have so little," said Romero, who lived at 16 Springfield St.
Romero and his wife Karen Roque are expecting their third child within weeks. They have two daughters, Ashley Roque, 2, and Claudia Quintanilla, 7. Since the fire, they have been staying at a shelter set up by the Red Cross at South Lawrence East School.
Romero and his family could be helped by thousands of dollars in low-interest loans the city is seeking through the federal government. The city is asking for a Small Business Administration declaration, which is similar to a disaster declaration but for loss on a smaller scale.
Should the city qualify, residents and small business owners would be eligible for loans to help them rebuild in the area.
That includes people like Ana Torres, also of 16 Springfield St., who is in a similar situation. The mother of Yiannis, 4, is expecting her second child in May.
"I'm looking to start over, get a new home and get some support," said Torres, who moved from Puerto Rico three years ago. "You work so hard and all of a sudden lose everything."
Torres stayed at the shelter last night, and said being pregnant makes it doubly difficult.
"I miss my bed and my food - rice, beans and pork chops. Thinking about it depresses me even more," Torres said.
Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan met with Torres and other evacuees to update them on what the city is doing to help them.
In order to qualify for the loans, the city would have to show that at least 25 businesses and homes have been significantly impacted and 40 percent of that loss is uninsured.
The money would then be made available through the Small Business Administration. If the money becomes available, renters could be eligible for loans up to $40,000, homeowners up to $200,000 and business owners up to $1 million.
It's something Robert and Desiree Hughes could use to rebuild their lives. They lost everything, except their Dodge Durango, when their apartment at 378-380 Market St. burned down.
The Hugheses, who have three children Robert Jr., 13, Kiara, 8 and Maurice, 6, have been staying with his mother and they hope to find an apartment soon.
"We're not picky. Anything is better than having nothing at all," Robert Hughes said.
