Fire victims relocated to new homes
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 17, 2013 1:46 PM
Six families who lost their homes in a fire this past weekend on East Holly Street have been relocated by the Goldsboro Housing Authority.
Most will remain in the Fairview community, but two families have been relocated to other Goldsboro Housing Authority properties.
Housing Authority officials say the families have received more than just new housing.
"There has been a great outpouring of support from the community, lots of interest in how they can help and what the needs are," said Matilda Bedford of the Goldsboro Housing Authority.
"Everybody here (GHA) has been so wonderful and worked so hard in making sure we could get things ready for these people to move right away," she said.
The Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Goldsboro Family Y are also partnering to meet the additional needs of the families, as is the Goldsboro News-Argus through its Empty Stocking Fund.
"Two of the families lost everything," Red Cross Chief Executive Officer Tammy Forrester said.
"There were seven children total, and two single residents, one man and one woman," she said.
A seventh family contacted the Red Cross late Saturday, but fire officials determined there was no damage to that residence.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Goldsboro Fire Department said the blaze originated in Apartment 1713 B, then spread through the attic to 1715 A, 1715 B and 1719 B.
Apartments not damaged by fire might have suffered water damage.
"The investigation is still ongoing," Assistant Fire Chief James Farfour said.
At this point, fire officials are not calling the fire suspicious, but the investigation team is still waiting to speak to some of the residents.
The Red Cross immediately provides food vouchers, clothing assistance and shelter to families affected by disasters such as this, Ms. Forrester said.
So far, those immediate needs have been met.
The Salvation Army will work to supply furniture to the East Holly Street families.
The Goldsboro Family Y, with $2,800 in donated gift cards and financial contributions held over from its own community assistance event Sunday, will step in to help.
"The affected families will come to the Y, at separate times, and be taken shopping by a volunteer," Ms. Forrester said.
The Red Cross will designate a clothing dropoff site to accept contributions from the community to replenish its resources -- in preparation for the next family who needs help.
Financial contributions can be made any time to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The money will be used not just for these latest victims, but for others sure to need help later.
"And there will be a next time," Ms. Forrester said.