Family Needs Help After Fire Guts Home

A house fire that engulfed the home of Trent Lampkin's great-uncle not only took the elderly Anthony Stevens' life but also left Lampkin and his family homeless.

Now, two weeks after the Jan. 9 fire, Lampkin is appealing for help from the community.

The 31-year-old, his girlfriend and two kids are living with his aunt until they can find accommodation. But time is running out. Shaniqua Blake is five months pregnant with her third child and there's only so much room in the aunt's three-bedroom house.

"It's just sad," said Blake. 'We will be homeless and DCF will take away our kids and it won't be our fault."

The family needs everything, said Betty Lampkin, Trent Lampkin's mother.

"They need furniture, they need a stove, a house to live in...," she said. "They lost everything, and they are getting the run around. Nobody cares about them."

Trent Lampkin was taking care of his great-uncle, who was on oxygen and was given 30 days to live. He was also a smoker.

It's not known how the fire at 156 Hatcher Ave. started although Betty Lampkin thinks her uncle was smoking that led to the fire.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has offered the family $300 in vouchers for clothes and lodging. That is soon to run out.

Until the family's IDs, which were all lost in the fire, are replaced, Blake says she can't apply for a job. Trent Lampkin is planning to apply for disability.

The Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless Inc., under the Community Service Block Grant program, has offered the family a one-time assistance for a rental home, said Sophia Nerdon, CSBG program caseworker.

The stipend helps with rent and deposit money.

Betty Lampkin said one landlord they approached did not want to fill out a W-9 form, required before any assistance can be given, and so they are still looking for landlords to help them out.

Those who want to help can call Betty Lampkin at 452-1970 or call Trent Lampkin and Blake at 873-0136.