Earlier I wrote that the mother of Lindsey Baum, a ten-year-old girl who’s been missing for nearly a year, had been unable to work since her daughter’s disappearance and had had to move in with relatives cause she couldn’t afford rent anymore. Well, Melissa Baum’s problems have only got worse. Her son has Asperger’s Syndrome and the stress of Lindsey’s disappearance made his behavior problems worse, so their relatives kicked them out. Melissa is now pretty much homeless. Her only income is her son’s Social Security payments. She can’t afford to pay for the hotel she’s staying in, although a charity has agreed to cover the room for another two weeks. She’s going to send him to live with his father for awhile while she tries to find a job and a better living situation.
This is a terrible situation. There are no government programs to address this sort of problem. I can only hope the local community hears of the Baum family’s plight and chips in, like people did for Shasta Groene and her family.
The Charley Project Blog 
This is really sad.I agree there really should be some gov/state funds for these families,as well as other support services.Other factors,such as Lindsay’s brothers situation,should be taken into account and require immediate support/asistance.This mother seems to be getting the cold shoulder from all sides-how she keeps going is beyond me.I wish them the best,and pray they find some answers,and some resolution to these side issues nagging at the family.It’s awful to think the mother might have to give up her efforts toward finding her daughter.I hope she finds her.
Of course there are gov’t programs. Section 8 housing, public housing, WIC, etc. None are attractive, but they’re there. If you read the comments at KOMO, there’s quite a bit more to Mom’s story.
I’ve read all the comments and, even assuming all the information provided is accurate, I don’t see “quite a bit more.” The basic facts are still the same. One commenter says the son was a monster and Melissa would not discipline him which is why they got sent away from the relative’s. Well, that jibes with Melissa’s story about her son’s behavioral problems getting them kicked out. I can buy that she would have a hard time controlling her special needs child especially with her own depression from the situation. I don’t see anyone claiming she’s a drug addict or she’s got plenty of money and is spending it on wild parties or something.
She’s on the waiting list for a subsidized apartment but it won’t come through until July, the article says. So she’s got, at minimum, 6 weeks left before she can get a permanent roof over her head.
I wish there were government programs specifically designed for this kind of thing. I guess it’s so uncommon, people don’t think of it. You know, up until a few years ago if your kid was kidnapped, you weren’t allowed to claim them as a dependent on your taxes because they weren’t living with you anymore. The IRS finally changed that.
I’m sure there was problematic behavior, but I don’t see how you can’t have compassion for this woman and her son. Hopefully someone offers her a job. With housing programs and WIC, there are waiting lists and sometimes families are denied benefits, simply because there aren’t enough funds or homes to go around. Keep in mind that the problems that were in this family prior to the daughter’s disappearance (her son’s behavioral issues, possibly her own depression) have now been exacerbated.
I will say that getting back to a regular schedule would be helpful in this kind of situation; but how do any of us know how we would react to someone we loved going missing and not knowing their fate? Is their an accepted “end time” for grief and depression in this situation? I don’t think there is for many families of missing individuals. Depression, guilt, anger, divorce, suicide, illness, drug use have been the hallmarks of many families who have missing children.
With the U.S. economic fallout and the unemployment rates, I’d like to believe that there is growing support for improved ‘safety net’ programs. Any of us could be laid off, lose our income or our home, given the right circumstances. Any of us could have a loved one go missing — and there’s no easy way to “accept fate and move on with life.”
Just to clarify-my comments about “gov/state funds for these families “, meaning families of missing children,to help them keep-up with bills,etc.. when these kids go missing-immediate assistance.The other programs mentioned are always a waiting game,no matter your situation and are often extremely minimal.As far as this mothers son,you do not “discipline” an asperger’s child like you would another.And so,you wouldn’t just send him any old place while you worked,either.This womans plate was obviously full before her daughter went missing,it must be very difficult to grieve for your child,while looking for her,while trying to maintain a normal schedule and the routines,confusion and fears and needs of your aspergers son.When people have a huge bank account to sit on and use,in these situations,that helps them maintain while searching,it helps them get “the word out”,ect..anyone without that and/or a supportive family would most likely end-up in this mothers same situation.How would one ,get back to a normal life;or move-on from something like this-I feel that would be very hard,difficult in so many ways.I think it would consume me.
I wish her and her son the best.Hope they find the help they need sooner than later and Pray they find Lindsey.
This is a tragedy stacked on top of another tragedy. This should never have been allowed to happen. This is heartbreaking.
They live on the son’s SSI payment. Mom’s a grifter.
The mere fact that Lindsey’s mother accepts social security disability payments for her son doesn’t make her a scam artist. The majority of people on SSI are genuinely disabled, and it sounds like her son has a lot of problems.