Parish rescues family

Prior to their daughter Megan's birth, Risa Costello-Falvo and her husband, Lou, had been a two-career family earning approximately $70,000 a year. They had just purchased a two-bedroom town house. Mrs. Costello-Falvo was in a management training program with her company and planned to return to work after the birth of her child.

Now they describe themselves as "a month-and-a-half from being homeless."

Mrs. Costello-Falvo had to quit work because the care of her child was a 24-hour-a-day responsibility. Then, nine months after Megan's birth, Mr. Falvo found himself unemployed when General Electric sent his position to China.

Making ends meet

As a result, the family liquidated their assets, and depleted their savings and retirement accounts in order to make ends meet.

While Mr. Falvo has gone back to school to become a registered nurse at the expense of his former employer, the Federal Trade Act, which regulates the program, does not allow him to work while going to school.

In July, he qualified to begin working part-time and is waiting for the final clearance to begin. "I'll work as much as I can," he said. "A door will open up."

According to government standards, the Falvos are too wealthy for public assistance. While local legislators have advocated on behalf of the family, the rules governing social services are clear: As long as the family owns two cars, the second worth more than $1,500; receives money for Mr. Falvo to go to school; and has a small savings account in Megan's name, they are not eligible for help. The family will have to lose the few things they have before they qualify for assistance.

Help from Church

St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park has been assisting the family. Parishioners hosted a fund-raiser and manage a fund in Megan's name. The relationship with the church came after State Senator Joseph Bruno's office contacted the parish on the Falvos' behalf.

"We've fallen between the cracks," Mrs. Costello-Falvo said. "Now were worried about what we're going to do."

The ironic thing, according to Mrs. Costello, is that if they had put Megan into an institution, all of her needs would be met, and the couple could work again. In a way, she said, they are being penalized for wanting to care for their child.

(Anyone interested in assisting this family can contact Marcia Pokorny at St. Edward's Church, or send contributions in care of the Megan Falvo Fund to St. Edward's Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065.)

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