by Jolene Toves

Guam - The response to a call for help for the family of nine who lost everything to a fire has ignited a wildfire of support from the community. Ruth Santos and her family will be moving into temporary housing provided by the Guam Housing Corporation. But it does not end there - donations for household items, furniture and clothing has been arriving at the Dededo Mayor's Office since the story first broke.

The family sends their heartfelt thanks to the community for all the donations, and all hope seemed to be lost for Santos and her family when they watched their home go up in flames. When we first brought the story to you on Monday a hero emerged from the ashes when Joseph Santos woke to save his family from the early morning fire.

With nowhere to go and nowhere to call home the future seemed bleak. Santos and her family lost everything. "I want to thank everybody that is helping my family and making my heart at ease making my children think that there is hope" she shared.

A hope stimulated by the community's generosity in response to help aid the family in their time of need. The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority is one of the agency's reaching out, as program coordinator Joyln Terlaje said, "GHURA has a program, which is why we are here today, to see if the family might be eligible. We offer a program, the Home Owner Rehabilitation Program, where we might be able to assist home owners to rehabilitate their home to bring it back to a Building Code standard."

If the Santos family qualifies it could mean a new home, as Terlaje said, "Where we may be able to help owners primary home by renovating substandard condition it is a loan program it offers up to $60,000 of renovation work for anyone that is eligible."

According to GHURA executive director Micheal Duenas, under the program the loan is deferred for a period of 15 years. During that time the family must reside in the home and at the end of that time, forgiveness may be granted.

You can still smell the ashes from the fire that took everything from Ruth Santos and her family but out of the ashes is an opportunity for re-growth an opportunity that GHURA hopes to afford this family of nine.

Donations are still needed and individuals interested in helping can contact the Dededo Mayor's Office at 632-5203.