TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - By now, most of those seeking shelter from Irma here in Tallahassee have headed out but one family says the Capital City is now their new home.
There's a story behind the joy of these kids.
For Cheryl Iliff, her six children, and fiance Antwand, the past few days have been challenging but they all have faith.
"God always has us. God has a plan," said Iliff. "He doesn't put us in situations that we can't handle, so, obviously He knows we can handle this as a family."
The family recently moved from Ohio to Central Florida. After Irma forced them to evacuate, they escaped to Mississippi, but not for long.
"We were like, 'It's not working out for us.' Job-wise, there's nothing for us," Iliff explained. "So, we tried to come back. When we realized we can't go back down there, we just ended up in Tallahassee."
They got to this Red Cross shelter Wednesday night. Unfortunately, they've been without a home before when Cheryl lost her job.
"Hotels to hotels, whatever we could afford," Illiff said. "Sometimes, I didn't know where we were going to sleep at night."
Choosing to move to Tallahassee took a lot of thought. The family says they've moved around so much, they're just looking for a place to stay and settle in.
"Tallahassee seems pretty decent," Illiff explained. "I mean, it's close to Georgia. It's at the top, and it's a new scene."
The family says job prospects and the quality of education in the big bend will keep them here for a while.
"I feel like we can make this work," Illiff asserted. "We can get through this, and it'll be a good move."
Cheryl says she has experience in different types of careers, and is hoping to find a solid job where she can move up in a company.
