Oregon Public Broadcasting

As part of OPB’s Hard Times series, we talked to Ben Perrins and Cindi Shipley at Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square last May. Cindi said they were looking for work and a home.

Cindi Shipley: “Right now, we are couch-hopping. We were in shelter until May 1st. The shelter closed – it was a winter shelter.”

Rob Manning caught up with Cindi, Ben, and their three kids this week at a family shelter.

The family of five is staying at My Father’s House – a shelter in Gresham. Cindi appreciates their upstairs apartment, where they’ve got a kitchen and bathroom of their own.

Cindi Shipley: “This is a lot better. Now, the family is all together instead of two of the kids staying at my Mom’s house, and then Ben and I staying with our friend. Now the whole family is together.”

Downstairs, there’s a nursery and a playroom – where on this afternoon, three year-old Christopher, is bouncing from toy to toy and game to game.

Christopher: “My favorite goes like this: ‘vroom’....”

Cindi Shipley: “The toys.”

Kenny: “I like the building, and I love the play structure. And I love playing with toys.”

That’s Christopher’s six year-old brother, Kenny. He and his older sister, Kya, spent much of the spring living with their grandmother in North Portland.  With money tight, Kya did some odd jobs for neighbors, to earn her own way to summer camp.

Kya Burch: “I had to sweep very good, and I also had to keep an eye on the chickens, and plant some plants for my neighbors, and stuff.”

Kya made $27. Thanks in part to a gift the family received, Kya got to go to that camp.

Kya Burch: “My favorite thing to do at camp, was like campfire and free time.”

In the meantime, Ben and Cindi have tried to get back on their feet. But they say they’re still battling a tough job market. Ben was working sporadically as a temp for a moving company, but that work dried up.

Ben Perrins: “I’m actually thinking about going to PCC, and taking an automotive class because I’m more of a hands-on person. I like building – if I could build a house, foundation, or a car.”

Cindi hasn’t found a job either, and also wants to go back to school.

The couple is looking for new housing because they’ll have to leave the shelter soon. Cindi has a lead on an affordable apartment.

Cindi Shipley: “At this complex, the apartment is only $465 dollars a month, I believe, and it’s got a washer-dryer in the unit. And with three kids, it’s kind of a necessity (laughs).”

But it’s hard for Ben to be optimistic after other disappointments.

Ben Shipley: “400-odd dollars?”

Cindi Shipley: “Sounds too good to be true.”

Ben Perrins: “I mean, I would love to rent a house or an apartment from someone who would give us a chance. But two washers and dryers – for $400 – I’ve seen the pictures on it, honey, there’s another shoe that’s going to drop on that one.”

Ben and Cindi don’t want to go back to the living situation they had before, where the kids stayed with Grandma and the parents couch-surfed.

Cindi Shipley: “She’s supposed to be a grandma, not a parent, she’s not supposed to be playing the role of my kids’ parent. That hurts my feeling when she has to do that. I am still trying to do what’s best.”

Ben Perrins: “We’re still trying to fix what’s broke.”

Ben leans forward and softly touches his wife’s knee.

Ben Perrins: “Maybe one more split-up. Hey, we put ourselves together this time, we’ll do it again. Stop... I love you. It’ll work.”

The shelter required Ben and Cindi to take classes in parenting and finance. They say that’s helped them.

Cindi Shipley: “We still haven’t found jobs, and we haven’t found permanent housing, but I think we’ve become better parents. And realized what our kids need more than just food, clothes and housing – they need us as parents more. I think I was just getting by before. I mean, I think I’m a pretty good Mom, but not a great Mom. And I’m becoming a great Mom, listening more to my kids, and dealing with my own issues. I’m not as angry any more.”

Nine year-old Kya says she’s seen a change in her Mom and Dad.

Kya: “Dad doesn’t get mad at us as easy, and neither does Mom. So, that’s pretty much progress.”

Progress, but no definite answers yet, for where they’ll live, or what they might do to earn a living.