I saw Kelly this afternoon at the Mansion, and I wanted to give you an update on our (successful) effort to raise money to get her out of her tent and into an apartment or trailer.

You might remember her, she is a veteran certified nurse’s aide who has been living in a tent for several months because she couldn’t afford the deposit and rent advances to get an apartment.

We raised enough money to pay for her to rent on either a trailer or apartment. We also have raised enough to help her buy some of the things she will need in her new apartment. She is very close to finding one or the other.

Her plans changed just last night.

For personal reasons that I don’t wish to talk about, Kelly has decided not to rent her new apartment with her daughter and grandson, but on her own.

I can say that I believe this to be a good and wise decision for her, but it is her business, not mine or anyone else’s.

I am very happy that we can help her get out of the tent.

This was a hellish week to be in a tent up here,  or in most of America.

There were storms and  torrential rains almost every day and night.

More are coming tomorrow. Nobody who does the work Kelly does should be living in a tent because the wages of working class Americans have not risen  in 20 years while  the cost of everything and corporate profits have soared.

The weather was so bad I contacted Kelly earlier in the week and asked  her if she wanted to stay in a motel for a day or two. Kelly is stubborn and independent. Just as she resisted help in putting money down for rent, she is also fairly determined not to take any more help. She hates asking for help.

I think she will definitely need some more help, and I will keep encouraging her to accept it.

She needs some more assistance and support to get settled, she has worked hard almost every day of her life and fell behind on her bills. I have already received enough money to help her, and any additional funds will be put to good use on her behalf.

The good news is that she is closing in on some one-bedroom apartments in this area, she is hopeful of finding one in  her hometown of Salem, N.Y., tomorrow or over the weekend. I’ve been working with her to find listings in the area, the rental market is the tightest I’ve ever seen it around here, and the most expensive.

Kelly also has a small eleven-year-old dog she won’t give up, and that makes renting  harder. My guess is that her grandson will be spending considerable time with her.

We are close to getting her out of that tent, and we will get there.  We have enough money to pay her deposits, etc. and to help her purchase some essential things for the apartment.  If anyone wants to send additional donations, I will make sure they get to her.

You can send them to me, marked “Kelly,” and to Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, and via Paypal, [email protected].

I want to empathize that we have enough money to pay her deposit and first months rent and help her get some things she needs for the apartment.

Kelly will need some support for a month or so, I gather. I’d like to provide that help. I am immensely grateful for the outpouring of support for her, one of the dedicated workers who takes care of our aging mothers with love and compassion.

You might say the same for all of the aides and staff at the Mansion. It is a caring place.

But no one else I know of is living in a tent.  If they are, I hope they will tell me and the Army Of Good.

Thanks so much for your support. When Kelly finds her apartment, I will go and take a picture of it.