As a family law attorney, Julie Ketterman has worked countless cases in which Child Protective Services took children away from parents for reasons that range from a family using an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing to keeping clothes in boxes instead of dressers.
Ketterman said CPS caseworkers deem those instances as unsafe and cramped living conditions, which is grounds for removal by the agency's standards.
"But to me, they are being picked up because they are poor," she said.
Legally, CPS cannot cite poverty as a reason to remove children from parental custody.
"But do they do it? Absolutely, all the time," said Ketterman, who has worked as a defense attorney in CPS cases in Houston for more than five years.
The case of Prince and Charlomane Leonard and their children is similar to many Ketterman said she has handled. Last month, CPS removed the couple's six children after agency caseworkers said that the small storage shed in east Houston the family was staying in contained unsafe living conditions.
The family lived inside the 12-by-25-foot shed for nearly four years, outfitting it with a wood-burning heater, AC unit and compost toilet while fetching water from a nearby spigot.
It is sad that people have to live like this, but it sounds like the parents did what they could. It's not like they were purposely letting their children sleep in sheets with pet urine and feces, like a case I have heard. I think that if the parents are making every effort to provide food, shelter, and clothing for their children, then that is all you can ask of them. After all, those are the basic necessities, not cell phones and cable.
ReplyDeleteThis family is making things work very much like my father's family had to when times were difficult in the 30's. Poor doesn't mean bad and I am fairly confident this family is making it on their own without government help. I admire their ingenuity. We should praise their efforts and offer them help. I'll bet there is a church out there that would be glad to offer some help. May God Bless them.
ReplyDeleteInstead of taking the kids away, why doesn't CPS help families like this have REAL housing?
ReplyDeleteTaking kids away because their clothes are in boxes instead of dressers? PLEASE! Then every family that moves should have their children taken away? THAT is just INSANE!!!!!!!!!
It would of been a bloody mess if I was involved, it is what it is. I had someone say I was a bad parent once, after all I done. It hurt me so bad I told him that black robe dont mean shit to me.
ReplyDeletethis family is doing NOTHING wrong. government stay out of peoples lives. stop trying to be nanny to everyone and ruin our lives.
ReplyDeleteNO cps should not take these children away. in fact the government should be sued for this. shame on them.......
Having visited a number of the Caribbean Islands, I can tell you that, unfortunately, housing conditions are even worse than this, yet the people seem content with what they have. The family name seems Haitian, and, badly as they are living now, most people in Haiti are in far worse straits. These people have come to America to seek a better life. They may have to start with conditions similar to those in Haiti, but here they have hope. The government has no right to intrude.
ReplyDeleteThat is a crying shame! If you loose you children because of poverty, even though you have provided a safe living space - our society has gone too far.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the parents are making it work. BUT, if you are poor, why the heck did you pop out six kids that you can't take care of?! What, 3 hungry little mouths weren't enough?
ReplyDeleteOur government is evil
ReplyDelete