A tough situation: Chief reports woman is waiting on check to move, rejected help from services
Published 4:15 pm Thursday, July 27, 2023
- Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins
BROOKHAVEN — Christina Andrews is a disabled woman who said she has been robbed, threatened by gangs and lost almost everything when she was “unlawfully,” evicted this past month. She is in a tough situation living out of a trailer in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot and found herself at the center of aldermen discussion the night of July 18.
Andrews said she is just trying to get out of the state and away from a bad situation. She said she feels like a sitting duck waiting until she gets her next check in August and can rent a truck to haul her trailer away. One of her concerns is being able to feed her dogs.
“I can’t take care of my babies if I am sitting in jail,” Andrews said. “The Catholic church just has a food pantry. Brookhaven Outreach Ministries has given me meals twice this week. I need help. I’ve put calls into the mayor’s office. I have no one, I don’t know anyone.”
She said she feels alone, is scared and is without any help. Rain from summer thunderstorms have leaked into her trailer. She is unable to walk and doesn’t have a car. Andrews said she visited with volunteers from the Doll’s House Tuesday.
Brookhaven Police Chief Kenny Collins said the department met with her Wednesday along with Region 8 Mental Health Services and offered assistance. Andrews rejected help, Collins said.
“We tried all we could to be sympathetic and helpful,” Collins said. “The trailer needs to be moved on the third. She said she has been waiting for a check to do so. At this point we have exhausted all avenues to help her.”
Code enforcement will step in to enforce an ordinance pertaining to abandoned vehicles on private property after Aug. 3 if the trailer is still there.