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In a bind
Michael Buford of Roseburg was about to lose his home until locals
donated more than $6,500 to benefit him.
Michael Buford has 6,500 reasons to be appreciative this Thanksgiving.
Just a week ago, the medically disabled man was in danger of losing his home if he didn't come up with $6,500 in back mortgage payments, penalties and interest.
Contributions from area residents have saved his home.
"I'm so very grateful," he said. "People have been so kind and generous."
Buford, 45, has undergone three brain surgeries and suffers from numerous illnesses. He was forced to make a difficult choice between paying monthly $1,000 medication bills or the mortgage on his house after his Medicare coverage was cut in March. Since he couldn't survive without the medication, he felt the decision was clear, and soon fell into arrears on his house payments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, which issued a loan so he could buy his Altamont Street home, was going to foreclose if he was unable to pay.
"It was to be sold at auction on Dec. 3," he said. "I was going to have to be out by Nov. 29. I had that date clearly marked on the calendar. I was checking off each day. I just thought there was no way, that everything was lost."
He was wrong.
As a result of the fund-raising efforts of While Away Books' Karen Tolley, the money was raised within three days of a story about Buford's predicament appearing in The News-Review.
"I was flabbergasted," Buford said.
Tolley put a fishbowl on a counter in her store so customers could put spare change in for Buford after buying coffee or books. She also established a bank account for him at Umpqua Bank.
After talking with officials from Rural Development, she found that the bill would have to be paid by this past Wednesday to prevent interest from further accruing. Though there was $5,230 in the fishbowl, it was not enough to pay the entire bill. An anonymous donor gave $1,500 and Tolley threw in about $500 just to make sure all of the costs were covered.
"This is so incredible," Tolley said. "I think people wanted to help because it was something tangible, something they could see. They could know the person they were helping. I think Michael feels empowered. He has a house and he has friends."
Tolley said she's keeping the fishbowl out for the time being, in hopes of returning some money to the anonymous donor.
"He said to use part of it or all of it," she recalled. "He only asked that if there was any left that he get it back. I'm leaving the fishbowl out so we can pay back Mr. Anonymous."
Buford has conquered his medical bills by using a patient assistance program. He believes he won't have any further problems making payments on his house. He has made an arrangement with his bank to have his Social Security check directly deposited in his account, and his house payment automatically withdrawn monthly. The house payment will be $200 more expensive than it used to be since he lost a subsidy due to his delinquency.
"I have to keep going," he said. "I'll find a way."
* You can reach reporter Stacy D. Stumbo at 957-4230 or by e-mail at sstumbo@newsreview.info.
Just a week ago, the medically disabled man was in danger of losing his home if he didn't come up with $6,500 in back mortgage payments, penalties and interest.
Contributions from area residents have saved his home.
"I'm so very grateful," he said. "People have been so kind and generous."
Buford, 45, has undergone three brain surgeries and suffers from numerous illnesses. He was forced to make a difficult choice between paying monthly $1,000 medication bills or the mortgage on his house after his Medicare coverage was cut in March. Since he couldn't survive without the medication, he felt the decision was clear, and soon fell into arrears on his house payments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, which issued a loan so he could buy his Altamont Street home, was going to foreclose if he was unable to pay.
"It was to be sold at auction on Dec. 3," he said. "I was going to have to be out by Nov. 29. I had that date clearly marked on the calendar. I was checking off each day. I just thought there was no way, that everything was lost."
He was wrong.
As a result of the fund-raising efforts of While Away Books' Karen Tolley, the money was raised within three days of a story about Buford's predicament appearing in The News-Review.
"I was flabbergasted," Buford said.
Tolley put a fishbowl on a counter in her store so customers could put spare change in for Buford after buying coffee or books. She also established a bank account for him at Umpqua Bank.
After talking with officials from Rural Development, she found that the bill would have to be paid by this past Wednesday to prevent interest from further accruing. Though there was $5,230 in the fishbowl, it was not enough to pay the entire bill. An anonymous donor gave $1,500 and Tolley threw in about $500 just to make sure all of the costs were covered.
"This is so incredible," Tolley said. "I think people wanted to help because it was something tangible, something they could see. They could know the person they were helping. I think Michael feels empowered. He has a house and he has friends."
Tolley said she's keeping the fishbowl out for the time being, in hopes of returning some money to the anonymous donor.
"He said to use part of it or all of it," she recalled. "He only asked that if there was any left that he get it back. I'm leaving the fishbowl out so we can pay back Mr. Anonymous."
Buford has conquered his medical bills by using a patient assistance program. He believes he won't have any further problems making payments on his house. He has made an arrangement with his bank to have his Social Security check directly deposited in his account, and his house payment automatically withdrawn monthly. The house payment will be $200 more expensive than it used to be since he lost a subsidy due to his delinquency.
"I have to keep going," he said. "I'll find a way."
* You can reach reporter Stacy D. Stumbo at 957-4230 or by e-mail at sstumbo@newsreview.info.
