Living in Subsidized Housing

running a business, fewer rules?!?!?!?

You must not have a business, I spend a lot of my time not running my business but reading the nearly endless, and constantly revised, list of rules I must follow or lose everything.

As many of you know, I'm mentally disabled.

*pauses for laughter*

Besides having PTSD, I am losing my memory at a rather alarming rate. I have good days and bad days. If you ever follow my writing/posts, you can pretty much tell which days were good and which days were bad. Anyway, because I'm only 47 I am on disability but I don't qualify for Social Security for another 20 years. No worries. I am working at building my own business doing research. Not an easy task with a memory problem, but one has to do what one has to do.

Because my disability is only $699 a month, I need to live in a rent assisted housing facility. Here in Texas the waiting list for a Section 8 housing voucher is years long so I opted to rent in a housing program that is offered by the community where I live. It is overseen by HUD, but it is privately owned property which is reimbursed for the remainder of the rent due through a state HUD grant program.

Now because it is privately owned, they can make their own rules. Not a problem, right? Erm. Maybe. The Housing Authority is run by Board of investors. This is a very small town with about zip for crime and everyone practically knows each other by name. This board makes some really interesting rules. I'm just going to name a few to see what you all think. Now I'd like to point out that I am the youngest person in this complex which is made up of 16 one bedroom units. The rest of the people who live here are all retired elderly and are all widowed with grown children.

Once a month we have a housing inspection. These inspections get weirder and weirder as the months go by. While I can understand the reasoning behind some of the - rules - I can't help but find many of them personally offensive and horrendously disrespectful to the elderly living here.

1. They check my dresser drawers, closets, cabinets and other furniture drawers for hidden drugs or drug paraphernalia.

2. They require my apartment to be as clean as a hospital. I've been in some of the board member's houses and I can tell you that they do not live up to their own standards.

3. Even though we are all on a limited income, we are required to water the lawns around our apartments to keep bugs out. Anyone care to wonder a guess at how much my water bill runs? Some of these elderly live on far less since they were housewives and mothers and did not work outside of the home.

4. There can not be any dust, streaks, or dirt on the windows. All window blinds must be free of dust or dirt and not be damaged in any way. We pay to have the blinds put in, btw.

5. If we have a pet, we are required to pay a 300 dollar non-refundable deposit. Yes...a deposit which is non-refundable. It should be called a fee if it isn't refundable, but oh well.

Here are some of the other rules which really chap my ass.

1. Any family member who brings over a resident's personal pet, must pay a 300 dollar non-refundable deposit each time the animal visits and show proof of all shots. If the animal is going to live with the resident, the deposit need only be paid once. Failure to comply will result in eviction of the resident. Seriously.

2. All dogs must be kept on a short leash. Any one using a leash over three feet will be fined and the animal will be barred from the property.

3. All outside windows must be washed once a month. The siding and doors must be free of dust and dirt. Now wait a fucking minute. How is 89 year old granny suppose to fucking clean the god damned siding and wash windows that go 8 ft off the ground?

4. All areas outside of the apartment, including personal gardening areas, must be free of weeds. Failure to comply will result in a $50 fine for each day of noncompliance.

And it goes on and on. HUD doesn't have any such rules. I've spoken with the State Attorney's office and they said that because it is private property that the owners can make any rules that do not violate my Constitutional rights. Erm... what about the monthly searches? She said that is a grey area. A grey area? WTF? What about the watering? 120 a month in a Texas summer? I have to go for days without AC and my diet is far from nutritional just to comply with all of the stupid rules. I haven't been out to eat, gone out for a cup of coffee, or bought so much as a fucking candle for ambiance in eons. Can't afford it. No phone, TV or extras. This feels more like a punishment than a help. We're treated like subhuman criminals who live in prison. Our recourse? We can leave.

So for the folks who think that those of us who need public assistance to get by live footloose and fancy free - we most certainly do not. It's humiliating, degrading and totalitarian. It's why we call this complex "Nazi Square". And the rules keep coming. Sometimes two and three new ones a month. It's insane.

Thanks. Just needed to vent.

WOW. I wish our managers thought like your managers do :) That's awesome.

But yes, this is my concern. If we are doing the watering, weeding, window washing, then who is getting the money set aside for property upkeep? Surely this can't be legal. If isn't illegal, it certainly is unethical.

But yet you could come to Holland and live with your Husband, I'm English, I married a Dutch girl, it is wonderful here, what is your problem?

SO the owners who put up their money to provide housing should not make a profit? If they do they pay taxes on this profit. Good thing because how would your rent be subsidized?

Keep in mind the budget usually doesn't budget for increased real estate taxes, unpaid rent for losers who skip out, damages to units, insurance increases, and god forbid the property gets bedbugs that if left untreated can run in the thousands.

We didn't meet the immigration requirements. The job he had was through a temp agency with only a week by week contract. Immigration said that to sponsor me he needed to have a contract with a company for a year or more. When he finally found a company that would offer a contract, a few weeks before they were to renew the contract they let him go because of the economy. We did some research and found that if he were to have a job in Ireland, I can come and live with him. So he's been looking in that direction. Just today, like this morning while I was responding in this thread, he got an offer that is so amazing it's Divine :D

As many of you know, I'm mentally disabled.

*pauses for laughter*

Besides having PTSD, I am losing my memory at a rather alarming rate.

Don't think my building hasn't thought of this!

Maybe not the swastika part but still....

Great thread. People shouldn't judge, anyone's circumstances could change overnight.

I strongly agree about the coconut oil. It is expensive, but does feed the brain and is anti bacterial and anti viral, worth every penny.

Two other things to get odors out, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.

I'm so sorry people are so insensitive and taking advantage, it would be nice if that watering was going for vegetable gardens. I love permaculture, having an edible landscape.

Can you get around ok? Lots of people that do have full time jobs need people to walk their dogs while they are at work, and house sit while they are out of town.

Lol I do work with alot of elderly properties. I know what I am talking about and deal with tenants like you everyday with their excuses and complaints. You have a husband and sounds like you both are working the system. And you probally met online because neither one of you work and sit online all day while the taxpayers pay your rent and your food stamps.

Question OP: Where did you get PTSD? I know people who allegedly received that in the military and they are pulling in over $2K a month.
While I was at work paying for your subsidies with my hard-earned work, I noticed there was an older man of approximately 50 years old (about the same as you) who was throwing sod down to make a living. Nothing strange about that except he wanted to work and was busting his back side. Nothing strange about that except the guy only had ONE FREAKING ARM! Plus he was hacking away at the sod with a machete.
I had to ask him, "Why sod throwing...". He said he refused to take disability and can earn a better life without it.
The man wanted no sympathy, no hand outs or hand ups, just an opportunity to earn for himself.
Now ask yourself if there is something you could be doing that doesn't require you to skim off the working people. A one armed man throwing sod did just that!

Question OP: Where did you get PTSD? I know people who allegedly received that in the military and they are pulling in over $2K a month.
While I was at work paying for your subsidies with my hard-earned work, I noticed there was an older man of approximately 50 years old (about the same as you) who was throwing sod down to make a living. Nothing strange about that except he wanted to work and was busting his back side. Nothing strange about that except the guy only had ONE FREAKING ARM! Plus he was hacking away at the sod with a machete.
I had to ask him, "Why sod throwing...". He said he refused to take disability and can earn a better life without it.
The man wanted no sympathy, no hand outs or hand ups, just an opportunity to earn for himself.
Now ask yourself if there is something you could be doing that doesn't require you to skim off the working people. A one armed man throwing sod did just that!

Miggy what has happened to you? I thought u had things together? Thought things were working out and now u r living in a sh$th*le.

Lol I do work with alot of elderly properties. I know what I am talking about and deal with tenants like you everyday with their excuses and complaints. You have a husband and sounds like you both are working the system. And you probally met online because neither one of you work and sit online all day while the taxpayers pay your rent and your food stamps.

The first bolded should also apply to the humble people here who have fallen on bad times and need help. Have seen some offer their tragic story and be totally bashed. You make a good point.

About the dog walking though, probably not a good idea for someone who may suddenly not know who they are, or where they are, to have responsibility for someone's dog.

B######, would you do me a favor and open the office tomorrow so I can talk with you?

Thanks.

Miggy

Doing away with detached facilities

Integrating care will require breaking down the walls between structures of care, said Matthew Hurfurd, chief medical officer for Philadelphia's department of behavioral health.
"We have silos that have gotten really good at treating people in a certain way, in a certain place," he explained. "What we're going to ask people to do now is to think, really innovatively and creatively, about changing the way they do business."

Conference participants said they expect to see significant changes in where and how mental health care is delivered over the next few years and removal of government payouts to individuals and instead treat them and possibly require hospice care for any mental instabilities they face.