Morning Sentinel
Family of 10 homeless no longer
Local businessman helps woman buy house, nearly lost to debt after death of her husband
By JOEL ELLIOTT
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Staff photo by David Leaming
enlarge Staff photo by David Leaming
FAMILY WITH FRIENDS: Karen Champagne on Thursday sits in the middle of her children and friend and businessman Brent Burger who arranged to allow her to purchase her repossessed home in Fairfield Center. In front are kids Jerico, Jasper, Justice and Journey. In back is Josie, Tatonka, Jessie, Burger, and Makita. Missing is son Dakota.
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FAIRFIELD -- Nine children and their mother won't go homeless after all, thanks to the efforts of the community and local business owner Brent Burger.

Today, Burger plans to take a drive down to Portland and return with two objects: the deed and house key to the home he intends to return to the Champagne family.

But he said he still needs help.

Karen Champagne and her children, ages 4 to 15, were facing eviction earlier this summer, unable to pay the mortgage after her mentally ill husband, Richard, accumulated about $145,000 in debt before committing suicide four years ago.

The future looked bleak for a single mother of nine with no credit history and no means of paying off the banks.

Burger said he got involved after reading an article about the family written by reporter Doug Harlow in the Morning Sentinel. Burger began thinking about what he could do to help.

But even now, Burger said he has a difficult time explaining his motivation for setting out on a quest to help the Champagnes that resulted in him paying out tens of thousands of dollars and donating countless hours of labor and planning.

"I don't know that answer," he said. "I saw that article in the Morning Sentinel and I just couldn't believe that nine children were going to be homeless. I thought I should get involved, and I did, and there was no turning back."

The $76,000 sale finalizes today, but that is hardly the end of Burger's project. Now, he is calling on the community to donate labor and materials in order to overhaul the 1,400-square-foot home and make it more livable before returning it to the Champagnes Sept. 30.

Calling his project "Nine Days for Nine Children," Burger, owner of Agway True Value in Winslow and four other stores across central Maine, aims to complete construction on the house that Karen Champagne and her husband had started building 16 years ago. Karen did not have the carpentry skills either to finish the home or to keep it repaired, and 15 years of children tend to wear on a house.

The project, which is planned to begin Sept. 21 and end Sept. 29, aims for an additional $18,000 in donations for materials. Any funds taken in above that amount will go toward lowering the Champagnes' mortgage when they buy it back from Burger. His goal is to cut the monthly mortgage payment down to a maximum of $500.

A list of materials needed for the project can be found on a Web site located at www.NineChildren.com. For more information, e-mail Burger at AHelpingHand@NineChildren.com.

The family is overwhelmed by Burger's efforts to help them, Karen Champagne said.

"Brent is a wonderful man," she said, the voices of her nine children filtering through the phone conversation. "Sometimes I think he is an angel, and with all of this happening, when it's done, he's going to -- poof -- disappear, because it's hard to imagine a normal person doing all he has done."

Champagne said that moving back into their home will make it easier for her children to attend school. With the intention of returning to Fairfield, they had never switched over to schools in Winslow, the location of the temporary housing Burger had found for them. Donations are paying the $1,200-per-month rent there.

The number of homeless across the state is tracking a gradual downward path, according to MaineHousing spokesman Dan Simpson.

"That's a success story," he said. "It's good to hear. A family of that size -- they would have had a hard time finding an apartment, especially one they could afford."

Burger said he has no regrets about his efforts.

"Sometimes you think, 'I should have done this', or 'I should have done that'," he said. "I didn't want this to be one of those situations where I looked back and I thought, 'I wish I had done something for those people.'"

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previous page | next page1-10 of 49 comments:

--- of Winslow, ME
Jan 6, 2008 12:08 PM
--This comment has been removed for violating the user guidelines--
Lauriewith6 of Benton, ME
Sep 24, 2007 10:30 PM
to the momof3 in fairfield. how can you even compare your hard times with 3 children to this woman with 9? yes there are alot of people who have it tough,,,but c'mon you have no idea how hard it is to raise 9 children alone after your husband has committed suicide. maybe if you had walked a mile in her shoes you'd have an inkling of what she had to go through! Just be happy for this family, they are good people.
report abuse
Martha of Tyrone, PA
Sep 22, 2007 5:23 PM
This is in response to momof3's assumption that Ms Champagne "missed" many payments. Apparantly, you've never even fallen behind in your mortgage. Once you get behind, most mortgage companies demand the entire amount needed to catch the payment up. They won't accept a "partial" payment. In other words, once Karen fell behind she would not be allowed to make a month payment plus part of the arrears. I know this because it happened to my daughter. She got behind and sent a payment to the mortgage company. They sent it back and told her she had to pay everything that was due and/or past due or they wouldn't accept the payment. If this is the case, I can understand why it would be nearly impossible to get caught up after falling behind. The point is.. unless you know all the particulars, perhaps you shouldn't be quite so quick to criticize.report abuse
Karen Williams of Winslow, ME
Sep 21, 2007 8:47 AM
WOW. One person is trying to do something nice for another person, or in this case..ten people.
Where does all the "nasty" come from? Agree or disagree, the core of this is all done from a place of one human caring about another. Gees...let's all look around and see what things, big or small, to make our world a better place. report abuse
momof3 of Fairfield, ME
Sep 15, 2007 9:16 AM
We all have life experiences that leave us reeling.. My husband left me 6 years ago with young children, a mortgage, car payment, credit card debt, student loans etc. I haven't lost my house yet.. although it is too small and needs work..but it is all I can afford. I have to work full time, not my choice, but then I wasn't left with a choice. My children had to go to daycare..again not my choice..but I didn't have a choice since I had to work. Karen isn't the only one in the world with a tough row to hoe. We all have them. How we respond determines what happens to us. I could have just given up after my divorce and lost everything, but I chose not to do that.I had children to provide for. Welfare was not an option for me since I had the ability to work. I hope that Karen doesn't default on this second chance loan she got for her home. Being $60,000 behind on a mortage means she missed more a couple of payments. She missed MANY MANY. Several years.
I hope she has learned a lesson. That you pay the mortgage FIRST... report abuse
My3boyz of Fairfield, ME
Sep 7, 2007 2:29 PM
I first heard this story today when Mr. Burger was on 92Moose requesting help. The story was very vague and I thought to myself "There has to be more to this story". There was just so much that was left out. So I went to the website (which still did not give a lot of info as to why this woman with 9 children was going through this) I feel that if someone is looking for assistance there is a good reason why they deserve it. Then I found a link to this article which definetly filled in the blanks for me. Upon reading this comments I felt compelled to write as well. There are certainly things this mother could have done to not be in the situation that she is in today, however with 9 children and no experience it is very hard to just jump up one day and say "I am the now the bread winner-watch me go" She is doing probably the only thing that she knows...to be a great mom. And that right there fokes is the most rewarding yet under paid and unappreciated career in the world. My grandmother was a stay at home mom who had 10 children. She married a man who took in all of her kids and was a father like no other. Then as if that was not enough, they both took me in the day I left the hospital! I could never thank either of them enough for the life they provided for me, and unfortunately they are no longer here to see me do it for my children. My point is: Ms. Champagne has to hardest job in the world and on top of that she has to explain to her children why people would treat them the way that some people on here are. Help out, do something nice for someone. You may be amazed at just how good it feels to see the smiles on those children's faces. Maybe if our world was not so selfish and always degrading others we would find a much more fullfilling and happier place to live.report abuse
Lauriewith6 of Benton, ME
Sep 6, 2007 3:20 PM
There are so many critical people that just feel the need to put their two cents in. didn't anyone ever teach you "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all"? This woman didn't plan this to happen. she's a good mom who has her priorities in check...her children!! She's not off at the bar or doing drugs with the low lifes. she does her best to make sure her kids are clean, dressed, educated, and fed to the best of her ability. She deserves a helping hand. And god sent Mr Burger into their lives for a reason. And i am sure Mr Burger did this with only good intentions to help this woman and her children, not for a pat on the back and certainly not TO READ NEGATIVE COMMENTS FROM MISERABLE PEOPLE. report abuse
anjl97 of Mechanicsville, VA
Sep 1, 2007 11:32 AM
My husband sent me this article because I think there are no feel good news stories anymore. Now I think there are, but many just don't want anyone to be happy about them. Kudos to those that are!

I personally am not a big fan of welfare because it does not seem to be used the way in which it was originally intended. That being said, why does it matter what Mr. Burger does with his own money? Would it make people happier if he were spending it on a new boat instead of helping people? Wow. What do some of you put in the offering plate in church? A note that says, "Take care of yourself, you worthless piece of crap"? I guess charitable donations are out, also. Unless, of course, it is for the animals...report abuse
C-Fairer of Waterville, ME
Sep 1, 2007 4:16 AM
Okay, our views are different, mine included.
A nice man became a sugar daddy. Those children learned that life is fair, which it isn't. I have learned charity begins @ home, church or close friends. We should not judge Karen, to which my daughter is in a similar situation. I know the circumstances and since she wants to continue her downward spiral, refuse to bail her out. I will not enable poor judgement.
Later, Regreport abuse
jtst0804 of Fairfield, ME
Aug 31, 2007 8:57 PM
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, absolutely, but here is the point... why is it your business what one man does with his own money?? Burger made the choice with HIS money that he EARNED to help this family, so unless you are his wife or significant other, this really has no effect on you! If this had been your situation, maybe his help would have gone to you. Don't get me wrong, because her husbands death was four years ago, I do believe she could have taken preventative steps to avoid this from happening, and the papers story on her husband Richard accumulating all this debt is quite unrealistic seeing how four years of it had to be her because he is DEAD, but the situation is what it is, and really isn't hurting anyone's pockets, except those who choose to help. Another point is, those children did not request these parents, and would obviously still love their mom regardless of what she is or isn't..so do you think these children should have been taken away? I also agree with the comment, the state should help those who help themselves, but unfortunately they don't, so this is reality. Anyway, yes 9 children is extreme for this day and age, but it was also the choice of this husband and wife, so why does everyone feel as though they have the right to dictate? How would you like someone telling you that your children shouldn't exist? Alot of women in this country are still housewives, would you like to be told that you don't have that choice, I believe that was entirely up to them. Yes the lady should have found a job or some way to help herself and her children because in the event of my husbands death I would have known full well that the responsibility was now mine, but she didn't and now it is the way it is and someone has taken it upon themself to help her and he's not hurting anyone by doing it....maybe now she'll do something for herself, if not the only thing you have to do is stay out of it and don't be another one of these people that enable her!!!report abuse

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