As part of its Bearing Witness 2.0 project, the Huffington Post is rounding up a few of the best local stories of the day.
Thirteen families displaced by flooding in the Southeastern United States in September are now living as neighbors in an apartment complex, reports Mark Davis of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The families, some of whom escaped their old homes only with what they could carry, originally met at the local Cobb County Civic Center, which was operating as an emergency shelter.
They have since formed a tight-knit community, doing favors for each other and cooking meals together. "It was the Lord who brought us together," said Marla Jackson. Many of the families are in their new homes with the help of non-profits like Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless, who help with rent and food.
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Rosemary Ponnekanti of the Washington News Tribune writes about musicians in the Pacific Northwest who are giving up their passions for paychecks. "I've been doing this since 1997," said Anne deMille Flood, whose color pencil drawings of local landmarks have made her a local stalwart, "and at the peak in 2007 I'd be selling around 15 originals a year, at around $500 each." Since then her sales -- and her income -- have dropped 60 percent, and she is looking for another job. "I hate to give it up," she said "but...I gave it my best shot. I hope the economy will recover, and I'll get back to it."
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Shannon McGinnis, a single mother of two recovering from lymphoma cancer, earns just $485 a month as a nanny. But her bills are much more than that, and she depends on the Colville Food and Resource Center, reports Sophia Aldous of the Eastern Washington Statesman Examiner. She credits the food bank with keeping her family together: "They're not just a food bank. They help me with the electricity bill, school supplies for my kids...I know they are here for me," she said.
The Food and Resource Center supports over 1,200 people a month -- about half of them minors -- and, like many food banks and shelters, is gearing up to serve even more people during the holiday season.
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In Lafayette, Ind., Amanda Hamon of the Journal and Courier reports that 67 crumbling houses and buildings have been demolished by the city Housing Authority. The department, established in 2006, identifies unsafe buildings and seeks to either refurbish them or tear them down. A rise in foreclosure rates has sent many homes into disrepair, and the city receives several calls a day because of blighted property.
HuffPost readers: Seen a good local story? Heard about a heroic judge, neighbor, or doctor helping people stay in their homes? Tell us about it! Email jmhattem@gmail.com.