URI freshman supports mother, two siblings facing foreclosure

01/28/09 - University of Rhode Island students may find themselves worrying about a variety of problems this semester, from tedious required reading to the stress of upcoming exams. However, for freshman Ydaliza Pimentel, the pressure this spring has become far more intense. Pimentel, who lives with her mother, 12-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister, has become her family's sole source of financial support, working part time at a local Wendy's.

"I support my family by paying for my mom's medicine and medical bills since she is currently uninsured and I help pay the utility bill," said Pimentel.

While she worked part-time in high school, her older brother helped support her family. He has since moved and her mother is currently unemployed, putting the responsibility of the family's welfare on Pimentel's shoulders.

"It is hard to keep up with, due to the economy and jobs cutting hours," she said.

Her financial struggles have forced her to derail her plans for a full-time education, but she still plans to graduate as a nursing major.

"I currently became a part-time student and just moved off campus due to economic hardships and helping out my mom since she is sick," Pimentel said.

She now commutes to Kingston for one class, while taking another class in Providence.

The recent economic struggles sweeping the nation have not only affected Pimentel's college plans, but have created the looming threat of foreclosure of her family's apartment.

The family's history of homeownership is tumultuous. The landlord of Pimentel's previous apartment lost the building to foreclosure just three days after her family had moved in. The bank forced Pimentel's family to move, and kept their initial deposit of $2,000.

"When we first heard that we needed to move out, my mom began to get nervous because we had just moved in and [she] didn't know where she would get the money to move out," Pimentel said. "We had to go to court so that the bank would give us our deposit money back."

The family eventually received its deposit back from the bank. The Pimentels then used that money to move into their current apartment in Providence.

Now, after two years in that residence, the owner of the building has lost ownership of the house. Faced again with foreclosure, the Pimentels may be forced out of their home once more.

"It is very frustrating to not know whether we [will] get our money back or even find a new house and know [the new home owners] aren't facing foreclosure as well," Pimentel said.

On Jan. 14, the newly formed Rhode Island Bank Tenant Homeowner Association, of which Pimentel's family are members, staged a demonstration demanding the state declare a moratorium on foreclosures. The group met in the State House Rotunda for the protest, which Pimentel described as "shocking."

"I didn't know so many people are going through the same thing as me and hoping to overcome this current situation," she said.

Pimentel supports the moratorium on foreclosure, a proposal put forth by President Barack Obama during his election campaign. She hopes the protest will help put the moratorium into action.

"I hope all our voices were heard. I hope people understand where we are coming from and help those facing this situation," she said.

Pimentel said she wants her story to help others understand the dire situation faced by a growing number of American families.

"People need to understand that this is a serious issue-you don't know where you're going to end up if you don't have the money to move and the bank just kicks you out," she said.