The Robin Family is a family comprise of Roy and Melissa and their five boys: River, 17, Trenten, 13, Sef, 12, Destin, 9, and Hunter, 5.

Both Roy and Melissa Robin grew up in New Orleans. They were both “hoodie rats” but turned their lives around after meeting each other. Their neighborhood in New Orleans was tough, with gun shootings and gangs. While visiting family in Oregon, they decided that they would someday move to Oregon where they felt they wanted to raise their family. It was Hurricane Katrina that brought that change into their lives. With their homeowner’s insurance company no longer able to make payments, the Robins took the $1300 they received for their house, gas money from the Red Cross, and hotel vouchers from FEMA and headed to Oregon.

When they arrived in Oregon they moved into a home that Melissa’s brother was building in Harrisburg. The community responded to a plea for help, and filled the house with beds, dishes, food, etc. Christ Center delivered meals each night for their first week, and Old Navy had a bag of clothes for each of the boys. They knew they had made the right decision to make Oregon their new home.

They eventually found a 105 year old home in Monroe that they could afford to rent. The boys continued to go to school in Harrisburg, as they really didn’t want to introduce yet another change in their lives. It was when they were notified by the school district that the boys couldn’t continue living out of district and attending school in Harrisburg that they knew they would have to move again. They are now in an apartment in Harrisburg where the three youngest boys share a bedroom.

Roy works for Neel Management Team and is the maintenance manager at the apartments. Melissa helps with the landscaping and works as the office manager. Living on site where they work has its challenges. Folks call or knock on their door at all times of the day and night, expecting Roy to “fix it”. They are excited to partner with Habitat and be home owners again! Roy is a Cub Scout leader and has plans to get the scouts involved. They have already begun to build hours towards their 500 sweat equity hours, and have promises from friends and family for their help and support.