Neighbors Helping Neighbors

This is a theme some have expressed in Biscayne Park.  It's offered as a charming, caring, old-timey way of living together.  We sort of have that kind of neighborhood, and some like to act on it.

The day I moved here, in July, 2005, two different neighbors brought over casseroles.  That's how I met them.  One woman I know has brought food to a family that is struggling, and I'm told she does it on a recurring basis.  Another woman, and some others of her neighbors, help one of our elderly neighbors with yard tasks.  One of my friends has kept his neighbor's grass cut, and he prunes Village-owned trees adjacent to his property.

I have heard other BP residents talk about helping a hypothetical neighbor who does not have the wherewithal to paint his house.   The idea is that a collection of neighbors would make a project of painting such a house for the limited neighbor.  As far as I know, this has never happened.

Right now, we have a neighbor with a fairly serious problem.  Barbara Watts has written about this family in the newsletter.  The homeowner has given me permission to use his name, and it is Tim Peluchette, who lives in 9th Court, between 111th and 112th.  One of Tim's daughters, a high school-aged girl, developed a serious neurological problem and is unable to function independently.  Tim has had to take considerable time away from his work to care for her.  He is barely able to keep the family afloat, let alone attend to home projects.  Like the roof that is leaking, and which he cannot begin to afford to replace.  He has a tarpaulin covering the entire roof, it has been there for quite some time, his immediate neighbors are complaining about it, and there is even a tree beginning to grow through it.

The problem is that he has no money for a new roof.  It's unimaginable to me that he'll ever get out from under the medical debt from his daughter's hospitalizations.

This raises a philosophical question.  Do his neighbors feel like the kinds of neighbors who would like to help him in some substantial and "heroic" way?  Or is this one of those developments that results, in something of a darwinian way, in some people finding out they cannot sustain home ownership?

If the former, what, exactly, can his neighbors do?  If we're talking about a new roof, then we're talking about a $12K-$14K task.  Does each of his 1300 neighbors give him $10 or so, so he can get himself a new roof?  My experience tells me they do not.  I have been there, and I can tell you that as simple as it sounds, it's not remotely that easy.  Alternatively, do far fewer of his neighbors loan him money, each one coming up with very much more than $10, which this man then pays back to his neighbors when he can, or when he sells his house?  That requires each lender to be able to do without whatever they donate for quite a long time.  And does he pay them back with some interest, so it seems "worth it" to them to do without the money for as long as it takes?

Or is there an answer I haven't considered?  Does a collection of individual donors pool money to loan to any Village resident in difficult straits?

I have made an official inquiry into this, and the Village Attorney tells me this should not be a project for the Village as a municipal entity.  It has to be private.

Any thoughts?

By the way, Tim Peluchette's profession is as a repairman of office equipment, like copiers and other such electronics.  He works when he can, and he is always available to accept a job.  He can do the repairs on site, or someone can bring smaller equipment to him.  If you have anything that needs repair, let me know, and I'll put you in touch with Tim.