The Extreme Homemake over Toledo begins…
The Blade gives part of the story a Toledo Firefighter and his wife who suffers from Ehrlers-Danlos Syndrome (I believe they might mean Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) adopted five children from a Haitian orphanage and three other children and they have three biological children of their own. All 13 of them living in a four bedroom, two bathroom house with a tax value at Areis of $131,000.00 that it appears they were given or inherited in 2001, the sale/transfer price shows zero. It will be torn down on Tuesday and a new home built in it’s place.
What the house looked like recently:
Enough gawkers are expected that cars will not be allowed to park on the street and Fifth Third Bank is paying for shuttle buses to transport people who want to go see.
There are quite a few adoption blogs out there, according to many Hati can be a difficult and expensive country to adopt from. It’s amazing this family has been able to adopt 8 children with five being from Hati given the stringent requirements some say they’ve experienced. Looking at the requirements you get a feel for what it takes to adopt children from Hati.
LisaRaye, I too went straight to aries to look the house up. I live in a less than 1400 sq ft home with a husband and two kids in college and a kid who just won’t leave the nest. How the heck is this home in the “inner city”. I live in Polish community where neighbors water their side walks and take pride in (now) my community. The home I looked up on aries looked like a ranch style home in a great zip code. For Jakie and Aaron Frish to be chosen is a honor and I do know they collect kids as I do. I only bread 3 kids as they did. They adopted kids as I want to. I am not mad at them for being able to do what I have not done yet. I just ask, The government is so much in ones business, how were they able to have so many adopted kids in a 4 bedroom home? Also, why does “Extreme Make Over Home Edition not move the house to a different location? Is it really male genes wanting to tear it down? I love my neighbors (now) and I live more close to the inner city than the family chosen. I do like the family that was chosen, I do realzie that everyone needs help. I just want it to be reported correctly. Aaron and Jackie live more close to the “burbs” than they do the inner city.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:27 pmTina, I’m happy that one family gets a larger home too, but I agree with you that a home in Washington Local Schools is not the “inner city” of Toledo. To me the show made a change for the worse when it stopped fixing up the homes that existed and started tearing them down, replacing them with luxury models that don’t fit in with the neighborhood they exist in.
I can’t explain how someone could continue to adopt with that small of a home, except perhaps the living space requirements to adopt from Hati are different than what would be required here.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:40 pmwhere does it talk about the house being located in the “inner city”?
September 7th, 2008 at 9:56 pmtoledoblade.com — Home of Toledo firefighter to get ‘extreme …
Sep 7, 2008 … An inner-city Toledo family of 13, including eight adopted children, … Toledo rally kicks off ‘Extreme Makeover’ project | 09/04/2008 …
toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080907/NEWS16/809070273 – 10 hours ago –
Google…
September 7th, 2008 at 10:05 pmI only hope that this family is able to take care of their new tax burden. Technically, the value of the new house is considered income and will be taxed at a much higher income tax bracket, let alone the new the value of the property. I’ve heard terrible stories of Extreme Makeover contestants in foreclosure for being unable to adjust to their new tax liability. The same is true for all those who “won” free cars on “Oprah.” Many houses and cars have been taken away. While these may appear to be feel good stories on TV, ultimately they often end in disaster.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:58 amOn the bright side, at least Toledo will get favorable national tv play.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:53 am“I can’t explain how someone could continue to adopt with that small of a home, except perhaps the living space requirements to adopt from Hati are different than what would be required here.”
Requirements in Haiti?
The only requirement, here I believe, is that the people need to be related.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:44 amIf you visited the one link there financial documents, home studies, etc., that have to be done before you can get approval to adopt a child from Hati…
September 8th, 2008 at 8:59 amI don’t know about Haiti – but I have a friend who adopted three siblings from Ethiopia. I believe many restrictions are eased when and if siblings can stay together.
As far as Haiti – what a political mess. I have another friend from church who is very active in building and maintaining a school in Haiti. The political turmoil and power-plays that go on just making sure that the kids at the school get meals every day. When we have representatives down there overseeing things, everything seems on track. The minute our reps leave, we hear that the government or those in power step in and actually take food we have provided. Unbelievable. I can only imagnine what a hell adopting from that country must be like.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:59 amNo where does it say they live in the inner city! The Toledo kids the family adopted were from the inner city!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:02 amThe story originally from the Blade had a tag line of “An inner-city Toledo family of 13, including eight adopted children,” that still comes up when you search using Google.
See number 4. That’s exactly how the text came up and that is where Tina saw it say “inner city”.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:04 am“If you visited the one link there financial documents, home studies, etc”
I didn’t visit the link, because how can Haiti tell or dictate to another country what requirements of the housing be.
And as the provided material represents, a child may be adopted, provided that the laws have been met.
The requirement here is that the people must be relatives, so if the child is adopted in Haiti, the child becomes a relative and the law or requirement is met.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:08 amThe children are citizens of Hati – before they let anyone, including Americans adopt there they have rules. Just like we have adoption rules here. You can’t just fly in some country say “hey I want to adopt that kid” and then go home with them…
September 8th, 2008 at 9:12 am“You can’t just fly in some country say “hey I want to adopt that kid” and then go home with them…”
Well ya…..
And the parents are expected to follow the rules of the country in which they live.
The documents do not set out what the living requirements are in Toledo.
11 people in a 4 bedroom house seems over the top, but if they are related, then it is okay, is what my point is and was.
When I was on the Board of Health, there were regulations set up by the state that laid out how many people, related or not, could be in a house.
It was based on the number of bedrooms and it was for health reasons as well safety reasons.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:20 amNC – they are not related. The father and mother are white, their biological children are white…
September 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am“..they are not related. The father and mother are white, their biological children are white…”
Okay, now I am confused.
When a family adopts a child, the child is then a relation.
Yes?
As in when I adopt a child, from where ever and what ever race, that child is now my son or daughter.
Yes, the child is not biological relation, but through a process the child is now part of my family and my relation, now.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:01 amNC, when you adopt someone they are not related prior to the adoption, the adoption agency is supposed to take due diligence to make sure the adopted child will be in a safe environment and that the family has the financial means to care for them. It’s why the process takes so long and home studies are typically done to make sure that the home is acceptable for another child.
After they are adopted, they are related.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:23 amAre the adopted kids blood brothers? My nephew has adopted 6 kids here in Toledo and 4 of them have the same mother.
Could that be why they were able to adopt so many.
This is what I thought was meant by the “related” parts of the thread.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:52 amGeez Loiuse….”when you adopt someone they are not related prior to the adoption”
Like I didn’t know this
And like wise on the adoption process, I knew that also.
And my point was and is, and has not changed, the people in the house are related and under Toledo’s code that is acceptable to have 11 people in a 4 bedroom house.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:59 amThank God for people like this family, they have welcomed these children into their home and given them the love they deserve. I think we can all agree there are so many deserving families across the country, unfortunately we cannot help them all. I hope progressivetoledo is wrong, we all hear stories aka; urban legends.
My point is, lets quit nit picking this family and share in their joy and good fortune! This is an honor for them and our city!
September 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pmOh, and you can’t believe everything you read in the blade, sort of like the internet!
September 8th, 2008 at 12:01 pm“lets quit nit picking this family”
I am not nor did I ever intend to nit pack at the family.
The family is not the issue for me, never was.
When I was involved in Board of Health issues, occupancy was a concern.
But the regs are different here, that is all I was trying to discuss.
We have regs here because of the situations caused by people renting and putting down a certain number and then, when all is said and done, there are more people listed there, then at the time of the paper work being signed.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Lessons, Pay Taxes On Your Winnings! ”
“But as it goes, after such a house overhaul, you’re probably going to face quite a hike in taxes. Let’s see a few cases in point.
Case #1
The new 4,600-square-foot house, valued by the city of Encinitas at $410,474, already is on the radar screen of County Assessor Gregory Smith. Before work started, the 31-year-old house measured 1,212 square feet on a 7,744-square-foot lot.
Smith said he expects to send Brian Wofford (the homeowner) a supplemental property assessment statement late this year that will likely double the present property tax bill of $2,698. ”
http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/index.php/2007/05/03/extreme-makeover-home-edition-lessons-pay-taxes-on-your-winnings/
It stands to reason that an improved house will have higher property taxes.
“May 17 issue – Last fall Trent Woslum, a National Guardsman who was deployed in Iraq, got an e-mail from his wife. She’d been contacted by a new TV show called “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which wanted to do a big renovation of their southern California home—free of charge. By mid-December the family had new furniture, appliances and even a backyard baseball diamond. Estimated value: as much as $250,000. The production company gave the Woslums a letter saying its accountant believed the family didn’t have to pay taxes on their windfall, but when the family’s own accountant read it, he grew wary. “I’m living in fear and trepidation,” says accountant Brett Porter. If the IRS looks closely, he worries, the family could owe thousands in taxes. “There’s no way I’d be able to pay,” says Woslum, whose savings ran dry during his deployment.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4933223/
In amongst the phone calls and e-mails the family will be getting will be some from tax professionals to help them with the tax matters.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:25 pm“Smith said he expects to send Brian Wofford (the homeowner) a supplemental property assessment statement late this year that will likely double the present property tax bill of $2,698.”
Gotta love the government, huh?
You make more money – you not only pay more taxes, you pay a higher percentage of taxes
You get a sizable gift – you pay taxes on that gift. If you had no money to begin with, you’re in the negative unless you can sell it. Good luck selling a $1.5M house surrounded by $35k houses.
This isn’t the fault of the Family or ExM, it’s the fault of a greedy government.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm“Good luck selling a $1.5M house surrounded by $35k houses.”
That’s the irony of it.
“You make more money – you not only pay more taxes, you pay a higher percentage of taxes”
Ah, ya, as American as apple pie, unless you pay some one to make nice nice with the IRS.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:10 pmMy problem is not with the family or how many children they’ve decided to adopt or whether they could afford/provide adequate housing for that number of children.
My problem is the whole premise of the show, rather than help many families, since there are many families even here in Toledo who could use help, some who are even homeless, the show picks one family and then spends an obscene amount of money on one house, totally destroying one home that frankly, some here in Toledo would feel blessed to have no matter the condition. If the premise behind the show was to really help people? It’d be done differently.
The premise of the show is create viewers, and they’ve learned that by selecting a family with additional hardships and then creating that lottery winning moment, it draws in more viewers. Which then equates more money from sponsors and yes, it does help one family, but with all of the volunteer dollars and hours of labor and donations by local banks to do transportation….imagine how many families could really be helped as opposed to 8 or so a year.
So, I have a hard time getting excited about it when in return for making a media spectacle of one family, sure they get a house, which they deserve for having their life put on display and all of us all over America talking about them, and judging them if they falter as did the one family who used their extreme makeover home to take out a loan then ended up in foreclosure. I just look at it from a different perspective, why give one extreme when you could give so many normal….
September 8th, 2008 at 1:21 pm# 5 progressivetoledo@gmail.com,
Don’t worry about taxes, ABC provides the family money to cover property taxes for 30 years on the house. And as for the “horror stories”, it was just one family that got a new house and recently had it foreclosed on. It was entirely the family’s own fault, they mortgaged their new house to the hilt then pissed all the money away, supposedly starting a business that never started, and now they can’t afford the payment on their new mortgage.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pmJust one family?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/243576/extreme_home_makeover_causes_extreme.html
“Extreme Makeover Home Edition Home Up for Sale”
SANDPOINT — Eric Hebert’s Extreme Home Makeover home is for sale.
Although grateful to the community for building the home, Hebert said owning it is more than he can manage time-wise and financially as he raises his late sister’s 11-year-old twins, Keely and Tyler.
His personal priorities changed four years ago and his primary concern is raising two children, Hebert said.
“It’s a little too much for the three of us,” he said.
Hebert is concerned that community residents who helped build his home in November 2006 will think he is selling it to make a profit.
“I’m not doing it (selling) to make a profit. I’m doing it not to lose money,” he said. “I just hope people understand the reality of it.”
Upkeep on the 3,678-square-foot challenge also is difficult. Hebert, who is single, works full-time and spends most evenings taking the kids to baseball and soccer practice. He said wants to enjoy his time with his niece and nephew. The cost to maintain the home is expensive and Hebert is worried about the economy, the price of gas and the cost of food.
http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2008/05/19/news/news01.txt
September 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pmJust hope that the EHM crew doesn’t go overboard with this house.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pmand I hope they keep Carty away from it.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:24 amJust one family in foreclosure NC, I have no idea how many families decided to cash out and sell their home.
This show was so much better in the first season when they actually did a makeover and tried to work with the house that was already there. It was actually a big deal on one episode when they decided the house was unsafe and had to be razed first. Now they just tear down the house and swoop in with a new mansion that is largely constructed offsite.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pmWhat two things does the EMHE and the United Way Building have in common?
1. Some people attempting to dictate to others
September 9th, 2008 at 1:58 pmI don’t watch the show, and until this never knew anyone did that sort of thing.
Hopefully the family will be able to afford all that will be in the home.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:25 pmI don’t watch the show anymore, but took an interest because they were in this area. I’m not sure a new home that is out of place for the neighborhood is the answer for this family. Adding on and fixing would have been a much better solution. Although I am very happy that someone is at least helping this family, it makes me wonder however will they pay the increased taxes on it? According to Aries, it’s already in a delinquent tax payment plan. I think the other house just needed some TLC. How in the world will they be able to keep this house up with 11 children and the mother being so ill? I believe if they have an area big enough for a 4000 tla home, then surely there was room enough to add on. I will be amazed to see what that house looks like in a few years from now.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:43 amI’m kinda amazed at how huge this house looks NOW!
Had a blast yesterday, having my sister explain Rip, DeeDee and Josh, and that Ty wasn’t there.
It’s tough being a “ColorSplash” fan.
But the onslaught of “city officials” with gold badges and looking like they belong there. classic.
I suppose this is going to be the “CitiFest Event” of the weekend?
September 12th, 2008 at 5:44 amI knew my Aunt used to live on that street, but I just found out from my Dad that she actually lived in that house.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:06 amLisa I agree with your #25 post 100%.
I think people were and still are caught up in this media event. It took television coverage to bring people together to demolish a perfectly fine house and build a mansion in its place. I didn’t see the rush to rebuild the apartment building destroyed on July 4th. These donations are getting out of hand. I just heard something on the radio about college scholarships given to their children, a year’s worth of pizza and a vacation from Kalahari Resort?????? I didn’t know this family was so needy. I would rather see donations made to help others in need be given in honor of this family. It’s nice this family was given more room to raise their children, but it’s starting to make you say,” What” when you hear of the things they are given.
I’ve also seen home improvement business advertising their part in this media event. I know it’s publicity but if you want to do something, do it out of the goodness of your heart, not for what you can get from it.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pmFor too many years I have tried to do too many things and failed to master many of them. If Ty Pennington could fix alot of things for alot of different families – I am sure that he would. But that sounds more like some of these posters goals rather than his.
I read his story in Guideposts magazine and here is a paragraph that might help – but we need to remember that we get to direct other people’s goals and dreams – only our own. One would hope that people would be more tolerant of others’ aspirations rather than try to get ownership. It’s one thing to weigh in with opinion, it’s another thing entirely to discourage the efforts of others.
Ty Pennington: “That’s why I wanted to do the reality TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I wanted people to know that their dreams, the impossible things that they had hoped for, really could come true. The people on our show always amaze me. They lose jobs, they face catastrophic illnesses, but they never give up. At the end of the show, when everyone shouts, “Move that bus!” and the family gets to see their dream house for the first time, I ask them to take a private off-camera moment to give thanks.”
http://www.guidepostsmag.com/
September 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pmrather we doN’T get to direct other people’s goals and dreams. geesh.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:13 pmThe wonders of Ty aside, it’s been interesting to watch our city go gaga over this television show to the point where one tv station appears to have become “Extreme MakeOver Central” when families who are in much more serious need are ignored by both the government and the media.
A woman who fought back from drug use and being homeless to being drug free and working to help others shared her story this week. The media didn’t cover it because it interfered with their coverage of the house being destroyed.
So to me Kate, this is more than just about one house or Ty’s goals, it’s what does it say about us as a community, as a nation when we will help when it’s going to get us media coverage but on a daily basis we ignore those who truly need help more.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pmVery well put, Lisa.
and I agree with you wholeheartedly
it ain’t worth it unless you get face time in front of a camera
September 15th, 2008 at 2:16 pmI truly enjoy the show – I have changed my purchasing habits to use companies such as Sears who support the show. But I find myself becoming more cynical, and I predicted this to a co-worker.
“The University of Toledo is offering full scholarships for all 11 boys — with a potential value of more than $250,000 — and Lourdes College will give scholarships of $2,000 per year, per child, renewable for four years.”
UT – a PUBLIC UNIVERSITY – IE funded by TAXES giving away 11 scholarships based solely on the fact that these children made it on TV. Lourdes – GREAT – private university. Private citizens or a private company raising or donating a fund for college – EVEN BETTER. But, for UT to give these away is wrong.
Come all ye haters and attackers – I know your out there. It is situations like this which pit my sympathy and empathy against my political ideology and economic philosophy which make for the best debate.
TAHL
September 16th, 2008 at 9:58 amUT will raise tuition another 5% to cover the scholarships. The taxpayer looses.
September 16th, 2008 at 10:14 am“John McCain Will Provide Effective Education Leadership. John McCain is committed to high standards and accountability, but he is also committed to providing the resources needed to succeed. He believes we should invest in people, parents and reward achievement. ”
Provide Bonuses For Teachers Who Locate In Underperforming Schools And Demonstrate Strong Leadership As Measured By Student Improvement. John McCain will devote 60 percent of Title II funding for incentive bonuses for high performing teachers to locate in the most challenging educational settings, for teachers to teach subjects like math and science, and for teachers who demonstrate student improvement. Payments will be made directly to teachers. Funds should also be devoted to provide performance bonuses to teachers who raise student achievement and enhance the school-wide learning environment. Principals may also consider other issues in addition to test scores such as peer evaluations, student subgroup improvements, or being removed from the state’s “in need of improvement” list.
Provide Funding For Needed Professional Teacher Development. Where federal funds are involved, teacher development money should be used to enhance the ability of teachers to perform in today’s technology driven environment. We need to provide teachers with high quality professional development opportunities with a primary focus on instructional strategies that address the academic needs of their students. The first 35 percent of Title II funding would be directed to the school level so principals and teachers could focus these resources on the specific needs of their schools.
John McCain Will Expand The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. In our nation’s capital, we have seen the dramatic benefits of giving parents control of money and choices. The Opportunity Scholarship program serves more than 1,900 students from families with an average income of $23,000 a year. More than 7,000 more families have applied for that program. The budget for the Opportunity Scholarships is currently $13 million. John McCain believes that this extremely successful program should expand to at least $20 million benefiting nearly a thousand more families.
John McCain Will Offer $250 Million For Digital Passport Scholarships To Help Students Pay For Online Tutors Or Enroll In Virtual Schools. Low-income students will be eligible to receive up to $4,000 to enroll in an online course, SAT/ACT prep course, credit recovery or tutoring services offered by a virtual provider. Providers could range from other public schools, virtual charter schools, home school parents utilizing virtual schooling resources or district or state sponsored virtual schools. The Department of Education would competitively award the funds to a national scholarship administrator who would manage the student applications, monitoring, and evaluation of providers.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/read.aspx?guid=2ca6f926-4564-4301-87cd-a5f35e68c0d4
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