[BobbyB]

More than a year later fire victim still waiting for new home

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 - 07:09 PM


A Frankfort woman rescued from her burning home more than a year ago feels like a victim again. Sue Woods’ grandson pulled her and a 12 year-old girl to safety through a window but she lost thousands of dollars in antiques. 15 months later she expected her home would be rebuilt, but two contractors and thousands of dollars later Woods and her family don’t know when or if she’ll be able to move back home.

Woods tells Action News 36 she is not angry with the first contractor who was paid more than $21,000 to demolish what the fire didn’t. Nor is she upset with the man who she currently has a contract with. Woods says “the work he told them would be done for the $15,800 has been done.” Instead she says”it’s the mortgage company I’m mostly frustrated with.” Both the contractor and Woods tell Action News 36 the money needed to rebuild her house is there, it’s simply not being released by the mortgage company. The issue is the progress the contractor has made on the home which the mortgage company says is insufficient.

For the last 15 months Woods has lived with her boyfriend in Lexington. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, she has been using a wheelchair for six months and has not been able to use her hands or arms for even longer. Woods tells Action News 36, “my children live in Frankfort and they could help me a lot better if I was in Frankfort.” Melody Stone, Woods’ daughter adds, “I feel guilty not being able to check in on her everyday if she was here I could.” Woods and her family tell Action News 36 they feel helpless and can’t get a straight answer from the mortgage company, which leaves Woods only one option. “I’m going to sit right here. That’s all I can do. I can’t go home because I don’t have a home to go to.”

http://www.wtvq.com/midatlantic/tvq/...1-16-0013.html