Stories from Immokalee

Some of the stories of those living in the dilapidated, crowded and unsafe trailers in Immokalee are hard to believe. Rev. Miguel Estrada, Pastor of Mision Peniel and IFHA Board member, tells us of Isabella, a working single mother with three children, all boys, ages 16, 14 and 6. When she is working the fields, her older boys watch after the 6-year-old. But when they were in school, she was lucky enough to find childcare she could afford. However, she is a regular visitor to Mision Peniel, as she is constantly in need of food and money for rent. 

Isabella has to uproot her family to another location as often as three times a year or more.  Why? During the off season, when many of the farmworkers migrate north, rents come down in some of the “better” locations. Then, just before the workers return, the landlords raise the rent. 

Recently, the landlord, or his representative, told “Juanita” that the rent would increase the next month. When she said she needed time to find another place because she couldn’t afford the rent hike, they were kicked out on the spot! Another time, the family was kicked out without notice, and they were unable to retrieve anything more than the clothes on their backs. Adding insult to injury, these moves often require changes in schools, with obvious negative consequences.

Suppose the family had a centrally located apartment at an affordable price. Suppose Isabella had money for food, clothing, medical attention and other necessities. Suppose the children stayed in one school, within walking distance.  This is what IFHA is all about.