Tonight's Extreme Home Makeover...

[freepixie]

Okay I want feedback from people about tonight's show. We have a different perspective since it took place in my hometown and we have different feelings on it since, well, they make Clara out to be a local celebrity and in reality nobody knows her... we've talked with friends of friends of friends and we can't find any connection to her or anything its so strange cause its a small city!

How did it seem for real? We were watching and thinking people around the country are gonna think our hometown has nothing to offer children but this one woman when in reality there are dozens of inner-city resources and places for kids to keep off the streets. I should know, I work for one

Feedback please???

 

[princess momma]

I only saw the first half.

Honestly, I look at the show with a different perspective than I did in the beginning. Things are not always as they appear on the show. I used to think it was just great when they went in and helped fix up the old houses. Now they tear everything down and build huge monstrosities that are completely out of place in their neighborhoods. I sometimes find their choices in families to help a little questionable. It really bugs me when they show people living with their children in complete filth, yet they're able to feed the entire neighborhood.

 

[freepixie]

Thank you!

 

[jodilinton]

I love what ABC does but I am always concerned with if these people can pay their taxes on these huge homes. I would hate to see someone lose their home because of its value.

 

[freepixie]

I love what ABC does but I am always concerned with if these people can pay their taxes on these huge homes. I would hate to see someone lose their home because of its value.

Clara from tonight's show was in trouble just after they did her house over this summer, the govt. was getting her on back taxes from the OLD house that she never paid but one local corporate stepped up and said he will always pay her taxes for her and she should never do without and blah blah blah... if she couldn't afford the taxes from her old house how could she ever afford the taxes on the new house? Oh and they also reported that this was not the first time she was in trouble for her taxes...

 

[JOCAmom]

I only saw the first half.

Honestly, I look at the show with a different perspective than I did in the beginning. Things are not always as they appear on the show. I used to think it was just great when they went in and helped fix up the old houses. Now they tear everything down and build huge monstrosities that are completely out of place in their neighborhoods. I sometimes find their choices in families to help a little questionable. It really bugs me when they show people living with their children in complete filth, yet they're able to feed the entire neighborhood.

You summed up my feelings on the show lately. I really use to enjoy the show when it seemed like they really helped people who were down on their luck. Families with kids with severe disabilities or illnesses. Now it just seems like they do the next sad story that comes along, if that makes any sense.

OP, sorry that I missed tonight's episode but I've kinda given up on this show. Now it just seems to be a "look at me" type of show without any type of substance to it.

 

[freepixie]

Oh and Clara is now offering tours of her house for $100 per person to be donated to the kids...

The local news is going nuts about how this was Erie television history...

 

[Lucky4me]

I don't know, something just seemed off about this one to me.
Can't quite place it. She seemed sincere enough, but her daughter, not so much.

One thing that bothered me was them fixing up the neighbor kids bedrooms-three different houses. It was a nice thought at least.
One of the bedrooms was disgustingly filthy and it had nothing to do with poverty and everything to do with not teaching a child what they need to learn about living.
I've been extremely poor before, but I was clean. No way would my child's room ever be that dirty. I thought it had switched over to the Hoarders show it was so bad. I would bet that particular room is a mess right this minute. They need life coaches more than they need a bedroom makeover.

 

[DisMN]

Welllllllllllllll I hate to be cynical but after they said "for the kids" for the umpteenth time I got the distinct feeling that we were all being taken for a bit of a ride.
I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the show is just lots and lots of puffery meant to demonstrate the *kindness* of Sears, CVS and Whirlpool appliances.

 

[kimblebee]

I always wonder if the family knows it has been picked. They always seem so surprised when they first run out of the house but wouldn't they need to pack up their house and their clothes for the vacation? Wouldn't they need to get time off work too?

 

[PixieDust32]

I think they get picked and then have to meet with the production and sign a bunch o papers so they know, but the have to do the whole 'show'. My son watched tonight's episode and he was telling me that he had a weird feeling too.

 

[eduk8r26]

My sister has long said instead of building big fancy houses they can't afford property taxes on, they should build normal homes that fit into the neighborhood. I keep reading about families that have had houses built for them who are losing their home or have to sell it because they can no longer afford it. I've read that ABC counsels the families on taxes and stuff, but it doesn't seem to help.

 

[alizesmom]

I didn't see the show but I know of people with severely disabled children who have been turned down because they "were'nt interesting enough"

 

[JoShan1719]

I always wonder if the family knows it has been picked. They always seem so surprised when they first run out of the house but wouldn't they need to pack up their house and their clothes for the vacation? Wouldn't they need to get time off work too?

Not to mention the fact that the design team shows up at like 7 in the morning. They come running out like they're wide awake, dressed and ready to go. If I'm not working I'm not up before 7.

 

[Lucky4me]

I think they are told a few months ahead of time. There is so much that goes into it. Permits, the builders, building materials, donations, volunteers, tv crew, it takes a long time to get it all together. I think by the time they are taping and leaving on vacation, most everything they want to keep has been at least identified, if not packed and ready to go.

 

[PixieDust32]

My sister has long said instead of building big fancy houses they can't afford property taxes on, they should build normal homes that fit into the neighborhood. I keep reading about families that have had houses built for them who are losing their home or have to sell it because they can no longer afford it. I've read that ABC counsels the families on taxes and stuff, but it doesn't seem to help.

I thought so too. Build a normal house, they can do cool things for the kids without breaking the bank like they do in other home improvement shows, and use the extra money for college fund or whatever.
I'd read about a couple EMHE houses that were lost to foreclosure.

 

[disykat]

There was a house in our area done when the show first started. They knew they were finalists, but weren't sure until the crew actually showed up if they'd been chosen. I think the one I knew was a real success story - though I agree the over the top stuff is more detrimental than helpful. They picked a nice family, helped them out of a hard situation, and it hasn't seemed to have caused any problems long term.

The other home they did in our area in a later season didn't have the same success. Last I heard they were having to move due to financial issues and couldn't find a buyer.

 

[shortbun]

We've had the show around here twice and twice the family has been really deserving. Personally, I don't think the OP having no knowledge of the family has any bearing our their need or contribution to society as I had no prior knowledge of the families in my community. AND-someone having trouble paying their property taxes isn't a barometer on their value as a person; property taxes are one of the most common causes of home loss in the elderly. During the Depression, people owned their homes outright yet lost them due to no money to pay property taxes. I find the skepticism on this thread a tad disturbing and hate based. Don't be a hater.

 

[mickeyboat]

They did one recently in our area. The family was deserving and they had done a lot of fundraising for our local children's hospital.

The family knew they were finalists, but were told there were 5 other finalists. Many people (me included) knew who they were since there is a lot of prep work such as permitting and engineering that goes on before the week of the build. They also did not leave for vacation the same day the crew showed up - it was the next day so there was time to pack and do all the filming they do at the beginning.

However, I do have problems with the build. This family's home was in one of the most wealthy towns in the area. The home and lot could have been sold for probably over $350,000. The home did have some mold - but I think it could have been remediated without tearing down the house - which was only 9 years old. There are many many other projects in the area who could have helped a lot more people with the money and other resources that went into that one house.

That being said, I think the build did benefit the community in many ways. It brought us together and showed us what we could accomplish. It showcased the area - whose economy depends on tourism. It did make a huge difference for this family.

 

[luvsJack]

Show was here just recently, finished the house last week in fact. I, too, have a bit of issue with the show. I think its great that they do the things they do for the family on the show.

But, here is the thing; we still have people around here with blue tarps for roofs. We still have people in the state that are in Katrina trailers or cottages until they can get their homes built back (if they do). We have many deserving families in the area that have disabled children or a parent who has been in Iraq/Afghanistan or that the economy has hit hard or whatever makes the family picked deserving. All of these volunteers gave their time and money (from not getting paid those days), the companies give money and products, and whoever else puts money in the pot for this one family. Then ABC goes home and everyone goes back to work and we STILL have all these other folks who are in need. The money and time that goes into one house for that show could house several families in need.