‘We’ll figure it out’: Eagles Hope addresses concerns about current tenants at gifted property

(Riverton, WY) – Eagles Hope Transitions is responding to community concerns about the family of five that currently lives at the old “Good Samaritan” property Eagles Hope recently pledged to the new Riverton’s Mercy House homeless shelter effort.

The family has lived in the double-wide modular home there for almost three years, and they told County 10 they were working on a plan to purchase the property – a move that would have required a rezone – when they learned last month that Eagles Hope was giving it away.

At that point, Eagles Hope Director Devin Anderson said he gave the family until the end of December to find a new home, and he told them he wouldn’t charge them any rent for that month. 

But then, “all this backlash happened,” Anderson said, referring to comments from community members who questioned the plan to displace the local family – especially during the holidays.

Anderson said he responded to the feedback from the community by offering the family an additional month in the home, rent-free.

And if they still haven’t found a new place by the end of January, he added, “we’ll figure it out and help them.”

“It’s never going to be a, ‘That’s just too bad, get out,’ sort of situation,” Anderson said. “We don’t do that to people.”

The property transfer to Mercy House will take place after the family has moved, he said, noting that Mercy House organizers “didn’t want to put someone out” either.

“Both our organizations are on the same page,” Anderson said.

Mercy House Chair Grace Andrus said decisions related to the current tenants on the property are “100 percent in the hands of Eagles Hope and we cannot comment.”

She also noted that Mercy House has received its 501(c)3 status and will be working on raising funds “so we can open as soon as possible.”