Is this the new normal for the majority of American's?
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Who's Mean's Are Livable
President Scott Sales, R-Bozeman stated to the Great Falls Tribune in a May 1, 2019 article "We have to get back to the point where we live within our means to some degree."
It is here you as the reader will look at the means that I have to live within. From this exercise maybe some of you will have a better understanding of how important, Affordable, WorkForce, Low-Income or Government Subsidized housing is. Not only that may you also come to understand that living with Government Subsidies is no walk in the park, especially under this administration.
In order for me to live within my means, I must work only with the amount I receive from Social Security Disability, as I can only work 12 hours a week now. I don't know of an employer who has those kinds of hours to offer. So we have our $851 in hand and are ready to go out and get a place to live on our own, without government help or in a government-subsidized building. This means we will be looking at the real rental price and all the other bills that go along with it.
It is here you as the reader will look at the means that I have to live within. From this exercise maybe some of you will have a better understanding of how important, Affordable, WorkForce, Low-Income or Government Subsidized housing is. Not only that may you also come to understand that living with Government Subsidies is no walk in the park, especially under this administration.
In order for me to live within my means, I must work only with the amount I receive from Social Security Disability, as I can only work 12 hours a week now. I don't know of an employer who has those kinds of hours to offer. So we have our $851 in hand and are ready to go out and get a place to live on our own, without government help or in a government-subsidized building. This means we will be looking at the real rental price and all the other bills that go along with it.
"The median monthly gross residential rent in Montana was $759 in 2017 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $772 in 2017. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2018 Montana median and average rent data will be released in September of 2019."
Now, in 2017 the average gross rent was $772 a month of a one-bedroom apartment, $851-772=$79 left to pay utilities, auto insurance, food (as we can not use SNAP, we must live within our means), gas for the auto, phone service, doctor's visits, prescriptions, toiletries, and to feed our service animal. No cable tv, or internet, eating out, going to the movies, or even for a drive. $79 is not going to go very far, even in Montana where you don't have to have cash every day to ride a bus or park your car.
This scenario tells me I need to look for a lower-cost place to live as it is my biggest expenditure. So let's take a look at alternative living arrangements that can be done with $851 a month without breaking the bank.
To share an apartment with someone who has rented a place at $772 a month, we would have to pay half of that plus half of the utilities, Rent: $386 a month, lets say utilities run $100 a month, so we add $50 to the rent of $386 and we get $436 over half of my income so we know that is not going to work either.
Let's see what the math would be to live in a motel with monthly rates, the only one available is in Butte, that is a 68 mile drive, so we need to factor in the cost of gas to get there: 68 miles x $2.75 a gallon of gas= $19 or about 7 gallons of gas if we get 10 miles per gallon. Now the room for a month in Butte will be $119 a night for 31 nights plus $19 in gas to get there = $3,708 total just for housing a month. Well, that will never do.
Our next option is to look at campgrounds and sleep in our vehicle. Now in the state of Montana, there is plenty of places you can pull over and stay for free without having to be in the city limits, or you can stay at Walmart for the night for free and have sketchy things take place under the cover of darkness. These two choices fit our budget, but they do not allow for bathroom usage, we will need to haul water so we can clean and cook for ourselves.
To stay in an established campground for a night can cost you anywhere from $14 General to $7 a night if you are disabled and a senior, this cost is without electricity, and for a rustic site is $6 dollars a night for senior and disabled residents of Montana, $12 General. You are only allowed to stay 14 days in a campground, so we will have to move to another in two weeks. We want to get by as cheaply as possible, so we will take a rustic site at $6 a night (we won't factor in the gas this time as it will be less than $5 to move to a campground down the way). $6 x 31 nights stay =$186 for 31 days.
$851 monthly income - $186 monthly camping fees = $665 left to pay auto insurance, food, toiletries, gas, phone, groceries, doctors, prescriptions. Hmmmmm, it seems to me that this is well within my means.
Well, you can't camp in the winter! It's too cold! Waite a minute, it wouldn't be too cold if I had a portable electric car heater for the interior of the vehicle, no CO2 emissions as it runs off the cigarette lighter, there are more sweaters I can put on as well as build a fire, or drive into town and visit friends, family, walk around shopping centers, or go to the library during the day.
In this article, I hope that I have shown you what it means to live within my means. I would love to live this way for a year just to be able to save some money for a rainy day, but alas if you choose to live this way you can expect to have unwanted visitors thinking you are of the wrong element, need to receive mental health services or should be run out of town before other's think they can do the same thing.
Some of the homeless are not really homeless, as they have chosen to live within their means and not put up with all the negative connotations about taking from Uncle Sam, using so-called "Entitlement" programs that actually control how much money you can make, save, and get yourself out of poverty.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
QUESTIONS ABOUT HUD AND 24 CFR 5.609
Well, to tell you the truth I can not explain what happened. After all, I reported that my temporary, part-time, seasonal job with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks would be ending May 24, 2019, on May 14, 2019, to the Montana HCV counselor that was assigned to me when I moved here, to the Capital City, Helena.
I was disappointed when the paperwork for the reduction in rent was not handled until June 24, 2019, which forced me to pay from income that I did not receive for half of May and for the entire month of June. I was told this was based on their need to turn the paperwork in by the 19th of the month, and I did not quit working until the 19th of May. Be that as it may, I turned in my end of employment in time for the Housing Authority to have gotten the correct paperwork to me in a timely manner. I informed them through email and did not hear anything back from them until I called to find out what my rent would be for the month of June.
I was quite upset when I found out that I would have to continue to pay 30% from income that I was no longer receiving. I have tried to have the Housing Authority explain to me why this is? Why do I not qualify for the EID? Why medical bills that I now owe on were not taking into consideration when recalculating my income? I believe my income should have been disallowed under the 24 CFR 5.609 which speaks of income derived from a 12 month period. HUD has a special calculation they are to use for part-time work, which is generally also calculated for a 12 month period, you need to ask for recertification of income when you only work six months out of the year, or when you stop working.
Because I am disabled, I believe I should have at least qualified for the Earned Income Disallowance for Disabled Tenants, as I have used this benefit in the past two years, as I worked my part-time seasonal job and should have at least qualified for a 50% disallowance as this would be my third 12 month period, with only one more year that I could work and use this disallowance to keep my rent lower so that I could save some money.
Yet Helena Housing Authority Home Choice Voucher Counselor refuses to communicate through email to explain why I do not qualify or understand these rules. She insists we meet in person, and I would like a witness, but the Disability Rights CAP program does not seem interested enough in helping me, as they have not called back in response to my request for a witness in this instance.
I have contacted Senator Tester on this matter as he sits on the Appropriations Committee and helps to decide how much money HUD gets for these programs. His people sent me back to the Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division, and I sent the Agent there an email and have not heard back from them why I do not qualify for a fair hearing on this rent issue.
If anyone out there in internet land can tell me why I do not qualify for the EID, or why my income was not excluded under the 24 CFR 5.609 laws, and why I had to pay a higher rent with a lower income, why my own Housing Authorities will not allow me a fair hearing or even a complete answer to all my questions, then please email me with this explanation at snakewomanspeaks@gmail.com.
I do not understand, I thought I had a right to a fair hearing? I thought my Senator was to deal with Federal Issues and not sweep the poor under the carpet just because it's an election year. I guess I thought wrong. Does anyone have a van for sell that I might purchase because I can not afford to work and be a contributing citizen to society if the landlord gets every extra cent I earn and then some? But I can afford gas, a van, insurance and best of all I could work and be a productive member of society even though I am disabled. When does it pay to keep people locked into poverty?
It is sad when someone wants to work, but can only work a certain number of hours, can't work because the cost to get a job compatible with their disability will cost them more than they can make working.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Webinar on HUD's Proposal to Raise Rents, February 28
http://nlihc.org/article/webinar-huds-proposal-raise-rents-february-28-0
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
HUD IS INVESTING $35 MILLION FOR SERVICE COORDINATORS IN PUBLIC HOUSING
| HUD No. 18-015 HUD Public Affairs (202) 708-0685 | FOR RELEASE Tuesday February 20, 2018 |
HUD AWARDS $35 MILLION TO PROMOTE JOBS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS
WASHINGTON - In an effort to help low-income residents become self-sufficient, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $34.9 million to public housing authorities, public housing resident associations, Native American tribes, and non-profit organizations across the nation to hire or retain service coordinators to help them find jobs, educational opportunities, and achieve economic and housing independence (see list below).
The funding, provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) helps grantees hire or retain "service coordinators" who work directly with residents to assess their needs and connect them with education, job training and placement programs, and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency.
“It’s part of our mission to help connect public housing residents to better, higher paying jobs and critical services as a means of helping them move beyond public assistance and toward self-sufficiency,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “This funding gives our local partners resources they can use to help residents become economically independent and achieve the dreams they have for themselves and their children.”
The purpose of HUD’s ROSS-SC program is to encourage innovative and locally driven strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable HUD-assisted families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate their need for welfare assistance; and promote economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. These grants provide funding to hire and retain Service Coordinators who will assess the needs of residents of conventional Public Housing or Indian housing and coordinate available resources in the community to meet those needs. In addition, ROSS-SC grants help improve living conditions for seniors, enabling them to age-in-place.
Fiscal Year 2017 ROSS-Service Coordinator Grants
| STATE | GRANTEE NAME | AWARD AMOUNT | STATE TOTAL |
| Arizona | Pinal County Housing Department | $204,000 | |
| Arizona Total: | $204,000 | ||
| California | The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles | $738,000 | |
| Housing Authority of the City of Sacramento | $436,230 | ||
| Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara | $246,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of the County of Fresno | $230,660 | ||
| Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura | $246,000 | ||
| Chico Rancheria Housing Corporation & HA County of Butte | $245,000 | ||
| Madera, City of | $233,382 | ||
| Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura (AHA) | $228,500 | ||
| California Total: | $2,603,772 | ||
| Colorado | Walsh Manor Local Resident Council | $215,918 | |
| Westridge Local Resident Council | $240,556 | ||
| Westwood Local Resident Council | $215,918 | ||
| City of Englewood Housing Authority | $207,429 | ||
| Colorado Total: | $879,821 | ||
| Connecticut | Ansonia Housing Authority | $246,000 | |
| Housing Authority of the Town of Greenwich | $246,000 | ||
| Bristol Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Connecticut Total: | $738,000 | ||
| Florida | Sarasota Housing Authority | $233,460 | |
| Housing Authority of the City of Titusville | $208,832 | ||
| The Housing Authority of the County of Flagler | $246,000 | ||
| The Lee County Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Palatka Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Punta Gorda Housing Authority | $240,000 | ||
| Florida Total: | $1,420,292 | ||
| Georgia | Thomaston Housing Authority Resident Council Inc. | $246,000 | |
| Northwest Georgia Housing Authority | $230,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of Newnan | $246,000 | ||
| Georgia Total: | $722,000 | ||
| Iowa | City of Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency | $246,000 | |
| Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Iowa Total | $492,000 | ||
| Idaho | Nampa Housing Authority | $241,219 | |
| Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Idaho Total: | $487,219 | ||
| Illinois | Decatur Housing Authority | $240,725 | |
| Rock Island Housing Authority | $216,000 | ||
| Macoupin County Housing Authority | $151,772 | ||
| The Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington | $244,500 | ||
| Rockford Housing Authority | $492,000 | ||
| Oak Park Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Illinois Total | $1,590,997 | ||
| Indiana | Housing Authority of the City of Kokomo | $190,395 | |
| New Albany Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington | $184,391 | ||
| Indiana Total: | $620,786 | ||
| Kansas | Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Housing Authority | $142,190 | |
| Kansas Total: | $142,190 | ||
| Kentucky | Bryant Way Resident Council | $178,827 | |
| Gordon Avenue/Summit View Resident Council | $173,021 | ||
| Louisville Metro Housing Authority | $721,800 | ||
| Housing Authority of Covington | $231,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of Floyd County | $179,109 | ||
| Kentucky Total: | $1,483,757 | ||
| Massachusetts | Fall River Housing Joint Tenant Council | $186,000 | |
| New Bedford Housing Authority | $423,762 | ||
| Norwood Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Quincy Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Falmouth Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Massachusetts Total: | $1,347,762 | ||
| Maryland | Resident Services, Incorporated | $738,000 | |
| Maryland Total: | $738,000 | ||
| Maine | Portland Housing Authority | $240,756 | |
| Lewiston Housing Authority | $213,539 | ||
| Maine Total: | $454,295 | ||
| Minnesota | Northwest Minnesota Multi-County HRA | $246,000 | |
| Moorhead Public Housing Agency | $246,000 | ||
| Minnesota Total: | $492,000 | ||
| Missouri | Independence Housing Authority | $246,000 | |
| Missouri Total: | $246,000 | ||
| Mississippi | Laurel Housing Authority Beacon Homes Resident Council LLC | $246,000 | |
| Arco Lane Site Based Resident Council, LLC | $246,000 | ||
| Mississippi Total: | $492,000 | ||
| Montana | Public Housing Authority of Butte's Resident Council | $129,652 | |
| Missoula Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Montana Total: | $375,652 | ||
| North Carolina | Greensboro Housing Authority | $230,415 | |
| Housing Authority of the City of High Point | $492,000 | ||
| Lenoir Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| North Carolina Total: | $968,415 | ||
| North Dakota | Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority | $246,000 | |
| North Dakota Total: | $246,000 | ||
| New Jersey | Housing Authority of the City of Jersey City | $492,000 | |
| Housing Authority of the City of Paterson | $442,349 | ||
| Phillipsburg Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of the City of Rahway | $246,000 | ||
| New Jersey Institute for Disabilities | $246,000 | ||
| New Jersey Total: | $1,672,349 | ||
| New Mexico | Housing Authority of the City of Truth or Consequences | $246,000 | |
| Santa Fe County Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Albuquerque Housing Authority | $220,598 | ||
| New Mexico Total: | $712,598 | ||
| New York | Citywide Council of Syracuse Low Income Housing Residents | $492,000 | |
| Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation, Inc. | $738,000 | ||
| Albany Housing Authority | $492,000 | ||
| Rochester Housing Authority | $492,000 | ||
| Niagara Falls Housing Authority | $243,350 | ||
| Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc. | $246,000 | ||
| New York Total: | $2,703,350 | ||
| Ohio | Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Advisory Board | $738,000 | |
| Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority | $679,331 | ||
| Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority | $702,816 | ||
| Zanesville Metropolitan Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Ohio Total: | $2,366,147 | ||
| Oregon | Housing Authority of Clackamas County | $246,000 | |
| Home Forward | $492,000 | ||
| Housing Authority of Lincoln County | $246,000 | ||
| Oregon Total: | $984,000 | ||
| Pennsylvania | Allegheny County Housing Authority | $682,732 | |
| Harrisburg Housing Authority | $384,000 | ||
| Westmoreland County Housing Authority | $336,997 | ||
| Family Service Association of Bucks County | $245,449 | ||
| Pennsylvania Total | $1,649,178 | ||
| Rhode Island | Chestnut Court Tenants Association | $246,000 | |
| The Housing Authority of the City of Providence | $738,000 | ||
| Johnston Housing Authority | $220,500 | ||
| Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket | $82,000 | ||
| Rhode Island Total: | $1,286,500 | ||
| South Carolina | Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, SC | $384,255 | |
| Housing Authority of Greenville | $246,000 | ||
| South Carolina Total: | $630,255 | ||
| South Dakota | Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority | $177,000 | |
| South Dakota Total: | $177,000 | ||
| Tennessee | Johnson City Public Housing Authority | $246,000 | |
| Morristown Housing Authority | $180,300 | ||
| Columbia Housing & Redevelopment Authority | $246,000 | ||
| The Crossville Housing Development Corporation | $160,722 | ||
| Tennessee Total: | $833,022 | ||
| Texas | Housing Authority of the City of Fort Worth | $242,000 | |
| San Marcos Housing Authority | $225,405 | ||
| Houston Housing Authority | $628,605 | ||
| Texas Total: | $1,096,010 | ||
| Virginia | Can I Live, Inc | $738,000 | |
| Can I Live, Incorporated | $202,033 | ||
| Cardinal Village Tenant Association, Inc. | $231,000 | ||
| Pleasant View Tenant Association, Inc. | $231,000 | ||
| Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority | $231,000 | ||
| Chesapeake Redevelopment & Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority | $176,400 | ||
| Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority | $246,000 | ||
| Virginia Total: | $2,301,433 | ||
| Washington | The Housing Authority of the City of Bremerton | $246,000 | |
| Housing Authority of the City of Tacoma | $246,000 | ||
| Nisqually Indian Tribe | $228,600 | ||
| Housing Authority of Kittitas County | $208,286 | ||
| Washington Total: | $928,886 | ||
| Wisconsin | S.E.T. Ministry Inc | $239,733 | |
| Wisconsin Total: | $239,733 | ||
| West Virginia | Charleston-Kanawha | $457,209 | |
| The Huntington Housing Authority | $190,404 | ||
| West Virginia Total: | $647,613 | ||
| TOTAL | $34,973,032 |
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