Less than two weeks ago, a tight-knit Chuukese family from the Federated States of Micronesia was envisioning refinancing their mortgage and making improvements to their Salt Lake home.

Today, they're looking for a place to live and trying to navigate the insurance system in the aftermath of the Nov. 7 fire at 4411 Likini St. that claimed the life of 4-year-old John Rex Ceasar and left them homeless.

A mortgage payment of nearly $5,000 is due today, there's still no place to call home and funeral plans for John Rex are pending while the family tries to understand what their homeowner's insurance covers.

Kangichy Welle, tied to the family from his mother's side, has spent nearly seven days just to determine that Allstate Insurance is the carrier, since all documents were lost in the fire.

Gaining authorization for release of private information as the family's designated point man has been the biggest stumbling block, Welle said. "There's a lot of red tape," he said.

"We're grateful to the (Hawai'i Chapter of the American Red Cross), Harbor Shores Apartment Hotel and Allstate for their help but what we can do depends on the insurance money," Welle said.

"The No. 1 thing is to get housing; I can deal with all the rest."

The Red Cross provided temporary shelter for seven days — four more days than usual — and Harbor Shores management added an extra day at no charge yesterday, a hotel manager said.

The family consists of 10 adults and 15 children, Welle said. Three visitors from the Big Island who were en route to Chuuk were staying with them at the time of the fire.

"There are brothers, sisters and cousins, but to us, it's all one," Welle said. "We emphasize living together because it's the only way (the family) can afford it.

"We've been living a life of juggling things with our hands, feet and whatever it takes to deal with the crazy equation we have to deal with."

Jennifer Walter of the Red Cross Hawai'i Chapter said that although the Red Cross is no longer providing direct housing assistance, it is staying in touch with the family and working with other agencies to steer goods and services to those displaced by the fire.

"The Red Cross assistance was only meant to be a bridge to help the family until insurance money or other kinds of aid becomes available," Walter said.

A fund has been set up to help the family. Donations can be made at any Bank of Hawaii branch. Make checks payable to: In Loving Memory of John Rex Ceasar.