Doris France still home as new landlord helps out
By Ginny Privitar
NEWFOUNDLAND — Last December, the Courier brought you the story of Doris France, a 72-year-old widow in ill health who lost her house through failure to pay taxes.
She would have been eligible for reduced taxes. But she was unaware of this benefit and never applied for it.
France had expected she would be forced to move out of her house after the Christmas deadline. But she's still at home, thanks to help from her new landlord, Jim Luongo.
Reached by phone after several attempts, France said she was “Doing all right, I guess.”
A recent bladder infection had landed her in the hospital once again. Her hot water heater was acting up but Luongo was trying to repair it.
She said her son, David, who has health problems of his own, is taking care of her. But they don’t have a car, and he doesn't drive. Another relative shopped for them and brought them food, but, according to France, “his truck is acting up.”
There are no stores nearby. They have to take a taxi to get food or go to the doctor.
France is happy her landlord put in a new refrigerator and that her dryer is working.
“I paid up some bills and I bought the dryer (from Luongo)," she said. "He bought the fridge though."
But when encouraged to fill out paperwork seeking financial assistance, there was a despairing weariness in her voice as she responded.
“I don’t’ know,” she said. “Thanks for calling me.”
The Agency on Aging's executive director, Robin LoDolce, said three caseworkers are handling 170 cases in Pike County. Two more workers are out on medical leave.
LoDolce said she would put in a referral to a care manager with different programs. France might be eligible for a home health aide and light housekeeping, she said.
She said France would have to contact the housing authority in Waymart, Pa., for Section 8 benefits. But the landlord’s premises — the house France used to own — would have to pass inspection. The house is in such disrepair, though, it's not likely.
Social services are spare in Pike.
“We’re the only thing," LoDolce said.
But getting and filling out paperwork are beyond France right now. She needs someone from the county to bring her the paperwork and help her fill it out.
That would be a start.
After falling behind four years on her taxes, the house was sold to Jim Luongo and his partner, Don Walpole, for around $20,000 at an “upset sale.”
Luongo got in touch with local lawyer Vern Lazaroff, who had brought the story to The Courier. Luongo said he would continue to let France and her son live there for $1,000 a month. The two discussed writing up a legal agreement.
“We settled everything on her word that everything was fine," Luongo said. "I got the hot water heater repaired; got a new refrigerator for her from Home Depot. Now she has a washing machine and dryer, too. I gave her $3,000 to spend on whatever.”
He thought she might spend it on a used car. But other necessities came first.
“She needed food, clothes, a lot of things she was doing without," Luongo said. "She told me she was lowering the hot water heater. I told her ‘Don’t do that, you need it hot to take a shower.’”
After a recent visit, he said she needs help cleaning the place up, inside and out.
“She has heat and propane now," Luongo said. "She paid for some and we put some in. So far, so good. She really needs to call the county to help.”
France had exchanged some calls with the county’s Agency on Aging before but somehow seems to have fallen through the cracks, possibly because she has no way of getting there.
Luongo said he called the agency to ask if someone could go to the house with applications for aid — heating, Catholic Charities, anything. She will need help filling out forms. That is beyond her ability now.
“She is paying the $1,000 a month rent, even though she just has Social Security," he said. "She is a nice lady, so she is easy to help."
But, after the rent is paid, there isn't much left for bills.