Who to Call for Gov't Subsidized Housing?

They can't receive housing, as minors. Unless they have another guardian, they have to go into foster care. If one of the high schoolers is 18, they could fight for guardianship, but then the livelihood of the kids would be their responsibility.

It almost sounds like they need an attorney. If they have no biological parents alive and no other adult is their legal guardian...there is no one responsible for them, anyway. If someone is a legal guardian, I suppose the oldest could be emancipated, and possible appointed. I don't think it's often a minor is allowed to do that. Like I said, the oldest would then be the parent...essentially.

Children can't get government housing, they go into foster care. I am sure not what you wanted to hear but that is how the system works.

Can you take them in?

Thank you for taking an interest in these kids. They have suffered a great loss and are at the mercy of the legal system and an apparently unscrupulous step parent. However, we don't have all the facts. Who is the legal guardian of the minor children? Has social security been notified about the death of the mother? I believe only the minors are entitled to collect social security upon the death of a parent. They are probably collecting on their father's social security benefit. You might contact the school or encourage the teens to make the counselor aware of the fact that they may have to drop out of school and they are in danger of losing their home. The school counselors usually know about resources in the community and may know about legal services that you can access. They want to keep kids in school. I think I would call CPS and ask some information - without giving them name and address of the kids, ask how they would handle such a situation. A lot might depend on when the youngest would turn 18. If the older children are responsible, they might be able to become "foster care" parents to the younger ones and get paid by the state. Are there any other blood relatives that can get involved? Did the mother have a will in which she spelled out who she wanted to have take care of her children? I would try to get them a child advocate attorney to sort through a lot of these issues. Many areas have a 2-1-1 resource number you can call to find out what social services are available in your area. Good luck -help them navigate through the system!

Such a sad story. I take it that the stepfather doesn't want them anymore? (Well, maybe his new lover doesn't and she's getting her way?)

Without having actual custody of the kids, I don't think that the stepfather will get the kids anyhow, after swindling the social security money.

Are there any grandparents in the picture? Aunts or uncles?

Please call social services and talk to them about the situation. The stepdad can get his deceased wife's social security (I don't remember if there is a time frame of which they had to be married in order for him get it) but without legal custody of the kids, he isn't supposed to have the social security money.

The only ones who can get the social security out of his hands is social services. They will appoint a legal guardian over the kids and then find them a place to live. If you or someone else who cares about these kids go to the judge and petition the court to take care of them, the legal guardian will take the money and give you an allowance to help take care of them. Then the stepfather will only get the wife's social security. Once the kids turn 18, there is no more social security money.

There's no getting around involving social services. You should do it now while there's a chance that people will rally around them and possibly take them in. You have to be proactive with the courts.

So very sorry.
Dawn

If any of the children are over 18 there is a possibility he/she can become the legal guardian of the younger siblings. If the Orphans Benefits are being stolen call Social Security and file a complaint. You will also need to notify CPS (Department of ChIldrens Services), a social worker will be assigned to the case. If the bank is about to foreclose there is a chance the social worker can file papers in court to stop the foreclosure. However I do know in Wisconsin it takes 13 months of non-payment before the bank can start foreclosure procedings.

Since the foreclosure won't go against the kids credit, it might actually be better for them to let the home go. Hopefully, social services can work something out with the bank so they can move their belongings out and find a place.

So first call Social Security -- second call Social Services.

You may also need to call a probate attorney.

If none of the kids are over 18 a blood relative has the best chance to get placement of the kids. It can be a 2nd cousin of either parent but it's a relative, over 18 appointed by the court to look out for the best interests of the children. Or the court can appoint a guardian for the kids it could be an attorney or a friend of the family.

Did she have a will?
Half of profit from the sale of that house should go to the children.
If O. of the kids is over 18, maybe they can get guardianship of the younger O.. And if that older child then has dependents, he/she may then be able to get some housing.
I'd start at your county website with the dept. of housing.

first of all call cps..then call social security..unreal what ppl will do to get a free ride in life-i truly hope you follow this thru for the kids sakes.did the kids tell yopu this stuff?..thats alot of personal info-small town or not.why dont the older kids toss the bums out on the street-retake control of their lives?.this makes me really angry-whose to say whats really going on behind closed doors.get the right ppl involved..please

The children should be entitled to deceased parents social security in part, but they need to contact their local social security office about this.

Where I live, subsidized housing is governed by an agency called "Housing and Redevelopment Authority", or HRA. You can look up "Section 8 Housing" for your area on the internet and come up with whatever agency handles it. Alternately, you can contact your local human services, welfare, library, senior center, or Salvation Army offices for assistance, as they will all have this information as well.