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Extreme Welfare: Home Edition?

S

ShotgunSteven

Lifer
I rarely watch television. I check out a few series on DVD, but that's it. I don't sit down in front of it just to see what's on, channel surf, et cetera. I do recall seeing an episode or two of this show a couple of years ago when at the house of friends though, and I remember how the show worked for the most part.

Some questions came up during a discussion with a friend, when I was telling them about a local family that had been chosen for a home makeover for the season premier of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Some of the following information may not be 100% accurate, I am posting information taken from local newspaper articles, people that volunteered to help out at the house, and other sources.

The mother is single, has no job, and has eight kids by a husband who ran off. She is crammed into a 900 square foot home (I heard mobile home at some point, not sure if that is accurate or not) with the kids, her brother who is on dialysis, his kids, and various relatives.

They're getting a 4,000 square foot-plus home with a two car garage. They cannot afford the property taxes they already owe, let alone what they will owe once the place is reassessed. Do the people that produce the show cover the property taxes for a set number of years if it is necessary, or as long as the family lives in the house? Do they negotiate with local officials to have them waived, or just abandon the family to sink or swim?

They must be doing something along those lines, because with the oil prices being what they are, apparently the family cannot even afford heating oil and a local charity fund is being set up for people to donate to. It's a nice thought, but I doubt it will last two years due to the limited attention span of the public at large.

I would honestly be more interested in a show that followed up what happened with these families one year, two years, five years down the road. A lot of people, though I cannot say that it is a majority, simply treat their dwellings and possessions badly. Moreso if they had no personal involvement in paying for them or acquiring them. In the case of getting a brand new house that is better than anything you could have afforded on your own, think of the lottery winners that are broke less than ten years later.

The father of a friend was recruited to do some tiling in the house, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him since the project was completed. Does anyone out there know what they do regarding long term plans for the families, if anything?
 
she had 8 kids??? Here's what I'd love to see..a single mother of 1 or 2 kids get that house. 8 kids?? Stop breeding you filthy pig.
 
Originally posted by: Accipiter22
she had 8 kids??? Here's what I'd love to see..a single mother of 1 or 2 kids get that house. 8 kids?? Stop breeding you filthy pig.
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not to go off topic.. but you heard about the lady that just had quadruplets? 3 years after she had triplets? She also has 2 teenagers in the house.. 9 kids! AND they live in a one bedroom apartment.. Im wondering where child services is.
 
Either there is some misinformation here, or there is a mistake. When these shows build homes for these people, the transaction is usually done in such a way in which the taxes are paid for (I forget how they said they do it--they overvalue the home and then use the extra cash to pay the taxes...something like that). That takes care of any extra expenses.

Now, Oprah gave everyone in her audience cars, and some of them couldn't pay the taxes on them (which makes sense--not everyone has $3000 to plop down out of the blue), but those home shows are usually taken care of.
 
I agree with seeing followups to these charity type shows; because in the end human nature will win. Not unlike lottery winners who go bankrupt, what these people need are strong year to year life coaching and changes of life style, not just changes of scenery.
 
There was a home built in atlanta by beezer homes, they gave the family $100,000 to pay for utilities and taxes for a very long time. The family used it all up and went back to beezer and asked for more money, and if they didn't they would goto the media. Beezer gave them another $100,000 and will not make another home for the show.
 
I really dislike these shows. They always start with a teary-eyed session where they outline the plight of the family, and talk about all of the good they are going to do. The 'good' they're paid to do, I might add; paid by a large corporation who wouldn't be 'donating' anything if it weren't for the publicity and advertising revenue it generates.

Some of these families are there because of circumstance, but you're correct, some are there through their own actions.

After watching the show, I was expecting that most of the people sold their houses, since they obviously were unable to afford property taxes. I hadn't realized the producers also gave them lumps of cash.
 
Originally posted by: Quasmo
There was a home built in atlanta by beezer homes, they gave the family $100,000 to pay for utilities and taxes for a very long time. The family used it all up and went back to beezer and asked for more money, and if they didn't they would goto the media. Beezer gave them another $100,000 and will not make another home for the show.
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That's charity for you. It's the whole teach a man to fish story. I NEVER give money to charities because I know that only $.20 of every dollar (max) will ever go to someone who needs it. And of that $.20, only $.02 will be used efficiently. The rest gets blown on cigarettes, booze, or something else that doesn't do anything to help the underlying cause of the problem. Instead, I give to peope around me that I know really need the money and will use it wisely. I always know how each dollar I give is spent. If I give a friend $100 to help him out of a bad situation, I make sure that ALL of the $100 is spent on that situation and I make sure that the person learns a lesson out of it. It's more work for me, but it actually makes a difference.
 
Originally posted by: Quasmo
There was a home built in atlanta by beezer homes, they gave the family $100,000 to pay for utilities and taxes for a very long time. The family used it all up and went back to beezer and asked for more money, and if they didn't they would goto the media. Beezer gave them another $100,000 and will not make another home for the show.
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wow $100k would pay for tax's and utilities for uhm close to 10 years i would guess.


yeah these shows are stupid. they put a lazy ass family into a new 10 bedroom house and furnish it with a bunch of lcd TV's etc.These are people who only have one parent working and living in a 700sq ft house that is falling apart.

if they can't take care of a small cheap house what makes them think they will take care of a new house?


though i would like to hear the fallow ups on them. i remember one where the guy was a hurt in iraq and was takeing care of 3 kids (no mother) and was a nice guy around the town. he h ad such a good reputationt that like 5 diffrent familys in town wrote the show to get them to help him.
 
also gotta love the fact that they are getting sued. they built a house for a family with 8 fosterkids. the kids were moved out (ok they claim kicked out) so they are now sueing.


Orphans sue ABC, family over Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode

Five orphans who were part of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode are suing ABC and the family that once took them in and has since evicted them.

The five kids ?say that the producers took advantage of the family?s hard-luck story and promised them new cars and other prizes to persuade them to participate in the program,? according to the LA Times.

While the kids were taken into Firipeli and Lokilani Leomiti?s home, which was renovated for the show, ?the suit claims that the Leomitis used the children to increase their chances of being selected for the program.? And ?shortly after production wrapped,? the paper reports, ?the Leomitis began working to evict the Higgins children ? who are black and at the time ranged in age from 14 to 21 ? through physical abuse and name-calling, including repeatedly using a racial epithet.?

Also named in the lawsuit is the construction company, because ?Pardee used their photographs and story on the firm?s website without their permission.?

 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Either there is some misinformation here, or there is a mistake. When these shows build homes for these people, the transaction is usually done in such a way in which the taxes are paid for (I forget how they said they do it--they overvalue the home and then use the extra cash to pay the taxes...something like that). That takes care of any extra expenses.

Now, Oprah gave everyone in her audience cars, and some of them couldn't pay the taxes on them (which makes sense--not everyone has $3000 to plop down out of the blue), but those home shows are usually taken care of.
Click to expand...

That's just it though, I doubt the property taxes are paid for forever. Especially on something as expensive as this is projected to be. The woman still has no job, and they're still trying to collect funds locally to pay for her heating oil.
 
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
I rarely watch television. I check out a few series on DVD, but that's it. I don't sit down in front of it just to see what's on, channel surf, et cetera. I do recall seeing an episode or two of this show a couple of years ago when at the house of friends though, and I remember how the show worked for the most part.

Some questions came up during a discussion with a friend, when I was telling them about a local family that had been chosen for a home makeover for the season premier of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Some of the following information may not be 100% accurate, I am posting information taken from local newspaper articles, people that volunteered to help out at the house, and other sources.

The mother is single, has no job, and has eight kids by a husband who ran off. She is crammed into a 900 square foot home (I heard mobile home at some point, not sure if that is accurate or not) with the kids, her brother who is on dialysis, his kids, and various relatives.

They're getting a 4,000 square foot-plus home with a two car garage. They cannot afford the property taxes they already owe, let alone what they will owe once the place is reassessed. Do the people that produce the show cover the property taxes for a set number of years if it is necessary, or as long as the family lives in the house? Do they negotiate with local officials to have them waived, or just abandon the family to sink or swim?

They must be doing something along those lines, because with the oil prices being what they are, apparently the family cannot even afford heating oil and a local charity fund is being set up for people to donate to. It's a nice thought, but I doubt it will last two years due to the limited attention span of the public at large.

I would honestly be more interested in a show that followed up what happened with these families one year, two years, five years down the road. A lot of people, though I cannot say that it is a majority, simply treat their dwellings and possessions badly. Moreso if they had no personal involvement in paying for them or acquiring them. In the case of getting a brand new house that is better than anything you could have afforded on your own, think of the lottery winners that are broke less than ten years later.

The father of a friend was recruited to do some tiling in the house, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him since the project was completed. Does anyone out there know what they do regarding long term plans for the families, if anything?
Click to expand...

I did some work on that house. It's a damn nice house. But you're right. One of the questions/comments that kept popping up was "If they couldn't make ends meet with the little house how in the hell are they going to pay the electric/heat/taxes on this monster?"

My personal guess is that two seconds after the show airs you'll see a ReMax sign on it.
 
IT appears that most of you haven't actually seen the show? Especially the OP. Generally they raise funds to help them in the future. Also the houses are generally paid for. So whatever they were paying for their home before, should go directly towards any utility bills.

Of course it's hit or miss. They try their best to get families that really do need the help. It's not always perfect though, their are people who abuse the system and lie. It's not ABC's fault that a family kicked the kids out of the house.

Additionally, I'd rather see them spend $250,000 on a family in need than to give it to some asswipe on a "deserted island" running around naked for "reality tv". At worst, ABC is making money by helping people. It's better than making money not helping anyone but themselves.

"they put a lazy ass family into a new 10 bedroom house " A lot of the stories are FAR from "lazy ass family". This sort of crap is just plain jealousy.
 
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
IT appears that most of you haven't actually seen the show? Especially the OP. Generally they raise funds to help them in the future. Also the houses are generally paid for. So whatever they were paying for their home before, should go directly towards any utility bills.

Of course it's hit or miss. They try their best to get families that really do need the help. It's not always perfect though, their are people who abuse the system and lie. It's not ABC's fault that a family kicked the kids out of the house.

Additionally, I'd rather see them spend $250,000 on a family in need than to give it to some asswipe on a "deserted island" running around naked for "reality tv". At worst, ABC is making money by helping people. It's better than making money not helping anyone but themselves.

"they put a lazy ass family into a new 10 bedroom house " A lot of the stories are FAR from "lazy ass family". This sort of crap is just plain jealousy.
Click to expand...

It appears you didn't actually read my post...
 
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
IT appears that most of you haven't actually seen the show? Especially the OP. Generally they raise funds to help them in the future. Also the houses are generally paid for. So whatever they were paying for their home before, should go directly towards any utility bills.

Of course it's hit or miss. They try their best to get families that really do need the help. It's not always perfect though, their are people who abuse the system and lie. It's not ABC's fault that a family kicked the kids out of the house.

Additionally, I'd rather see them spend $250,000 on a family in need than to give it to some asswipe on a "deserted island" running around naked for "reality tv". At worst, ABC is making money by helping people. It's better than making money not helping anyone but themselves.

"they put a lazy ass family into a new 10 bedroom house " A lot of the stories are FAR from "lazy ass family". This sort of crap is just plain jealousy.
Click to expand...

It appears you didn't actually read my post...
Click to expand...

No, It appears you haven't watched the freaking show.

" Do the people that produce the show cover the property taxes for a set number of years if it is necessary, or as long as the family lives in the house? "

What about them receiving 100,000? Generally the show raises money or the company donates large sums of money for the future?

How could it not be any clearer? Watch the show.

EDIT: Do you know what she was given? She may have blown all of the money she was given.
 
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
I rarely watch television. I check out a few series on DVD, but that's it. I don't sit down in front of it just to see what's on, channel surf, et cetera. I do recall seeing an episode or two of this show a couple of years ago when at the house of friends though, and I remember how the show worked for the most part.

Some questions came up during a discussion with a friend, when I was telling them about a local family that had been chosen for a home makeover for the season premier of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Some of the following information may not be 100% accurate, I am posting information taken from local newspaper articles, people that volunteered to help out at the house, and other sources.

The mother is single, has no job, and has eight kids by a husband who ran off. She is crammed into a 900 square foot home (I heard mobile home at some point, not sure if that is accurate or not) with the kids, her brother who is on dialysis, his kids, and various relatives.

They're getting a 4,000 square foot-plus home with a two car garage. They cannot afford the property taxes they already owe, let alone what they will owe once the place is reassessed. Do the people that produce the show cover the property taxes for a set number of years if it is necessary, or as long as the family lives in the house? Do they negotiate with local officials to have them waived, or just abandon the family to sink or swim?

They must be doing something along those lines, because with the oil prices being what they are, apparently the family cannot even afford heating oil and a local charity fund is being set up for people to donate to. It's a nice thought, but I doubt it will last two years due to the limited attention span of the public at large.

I would honestly be more interested in a show that followed up what happened with these families one year, two years, five years down the road. A lot of people, though I cannot say that it is a majority, simply treat their dwellings and possessions badly. Moreso if they had no personal involvement in paying for them or acquiring them. In the case of getting a brand new house that is better than anything you could have afforded on your own, think of the lottery winners that are broke less than ten years later.

The father of a friend was recruited to do some tiling in the house, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him since the project was completed. Does anyone out there know what they do regarding long term plans for the families, if anything?
Click to expand...

I did some work on that house. It's a damn nice house. But you're right. One of the questions/comments that kept popping up was "If they couldn't make ends meet with the little house how in the hell are they going to pay the electric/heat/taxes on this monster?"

My personal guess is that two seconds after the show airs you'll see a ReMax sign on it.
Click to expand...

How do you think the house will hold up overall with the local conditions? One local project I know of they went with cheaper lumber on a rush job, and what with the extreme cold conditions it wasn't even a year before sheetrock screws were being pushed out of the 2X4s and through the sheetrock. Did they go for top of the line materials? Did they get them locally, through SBS, Home Depot, and Lowe's?

Sorry, I am just very curious about the opinions of the quality of one of these makeover houses from people that worked on them. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Sorry, I am just very curious about the opinions of the quality of one of these makeover houses from people that worked on them. 🙂
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AFAIK they did source all the materials locally. Having been inside, I can say that it's built like a brick sh*thouse. It was definitely rushed. But overall I can't say anything bad about the quality of materials or workmanship that went into it.

I can't say that's true of all the houses the show builds. But this one seemed pretty solid.
 
I know for a couple of shows the outsourced the framing of the house. It was one of those pre-fab homes. So I'd assume their construction is up to the same standards of any other. They just do special accents and such to make it better.
 
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I know for a couple of shows the outsourced the framing of the house. It was one of those pre-fab homes. So I'd assume their construction is up to the same standards of any other. They just do special accents and such to make it better.
Click to expand...

Yeah, one of the ones I saw they did pre-fab for part of it, but that was mainly because there was nothing really to "make over" of the original house, it was pretty much a total loss so they demolished it.
 
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I know for a couple of shows the outsourced the framing of the house. It was one of those pre-fab homes. So I'd assume their construction is up to the same standards of any other. They just do special accents and such to make it better.
Click to expand...

Yeah, one of the ones I saw they did pre-fab for part of it, but that was mainly because there was nothing really to "make over" of the original house, it was pretty much a total loss so they demolished it.
Click to expand...

It seems the first season they remodeled most of the homes. Now I think they just demolish all of the houses and start from scratch. I didn't watch it much this season, but I think almost all of them were demos also.
 
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I know for a couple of shows the outsourced the framing of the house. It was one of those pre-fab homes. So I'd assume their construction is up to the same standards of any other. They just do special accents and such to make it better.
Click to expand...

Yeah, one of the ones I saw they did pre-fab for part of it, but that was mainly because there was nothing really to "make over" of the original house, it was pretty much a total loss so they demolished it.
Click to expand...

It seems the first season they remodeled most of the homes. Now I think they just demolish all of the houses and start from scratch. I didn't watch it much this season, but I think almost all of them were demos also.
Click to expand...

Probably easier in the long run. I know with the house I worked on in Seattle, my brother-in-law wished after the fact that he had leveled the place and started over, as there were no true right angles in there. It was originally built in the 1900s.
 
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