Richmond boarding home family looking for housing security after losing everything in fire

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A dozen residents of a Richmond boarding house, who consider each other family, are asking for help after they lost everything in a fire.

Vanessa Taylor, who is the "mom" of the group, told 8News they have nowhere to go as they navigate crises.

This all began after a fire on Saturday, Nov. 15 forced them out of their home on Larchmont Lane in Richmond's Southside.

When asked about what would happen without this group, family member Larry David Bryant said: "I'd be in the street."

"These are my babies, my family," Taylor said.

Finding stable housing is among the issues the group needs help with, as the residents have no close family members.

That home base on Larchmont Lane was where meals, Bible studies and prayers were shared -- but it was also their home, where everyone was safe and could lean on each other.

"I was able to do things at my own pace — to be able to get more — so I'm not in pain all the time and being able to be somewhat independent, which is very important," family member Donald Crawford said.

"I've got more comfortable. I've got a bed and food," added family member Ty Hicks.

For Taylor, who has died six times due to overdose, Larchmont Lane was a haven she was not only endlessly grateful for, but one she fought to protect. She has spent several years taking those under her wing who have nowhere to go and no close family.

"I do it a lot of the time, because they don't have the money, they don't have the income and nobody would accept them," Taylor said. "I was basically trying to make sure that they were in a home, not in the cold, not being hungry and not on the streets. I promised them an oath to my family [that] I would never see them in the streets."

"I used to hitchhike all over the United States. I've been doing it since I was nine years old," one family member said.

"She's my family. I've got no family," another added.

With no other choice after the fire, the family has moved into a Motel 6, but there's plenty of uncertainty over where the family will stay next. They're asking for advocates to walk with them in these darkest days.

"We don't need no one to take care of them or move them in[to] a home -- we need someone to help us as a family," Taylor said. "That's what they want to be. They don't want to go back to nobody's home."

Those who would like to offer help are encouraged to contact 8News at news@wric.com. You can also contribute to the family's GoFundMe here.