Living in Subsidized Housing

How can you comply if you have memory issues?! I think these rules are over the top. Its about money only.

Blah. I don't want more stuff, I just want to be left alone. I'm a grown woman. I don't need a set of rules to live by. I used to be someone once. Just because I'm broken now they seem to think that they can do with me as they please.

Tenants get together and agree to hire out window washing and lawn care to someone's able bodied grandson or nephew. Or just some unemployed person who is willing to take on the job.

Some kid could get in there and wash all the windows and do all of the lawncare without various people having to set up and do each task individually. Most of the effort here would actually be in the setting up of equipment. One person -- or a two or three man crew -- could just set up, do it all, get paid and get it over with for everybody.

Ohhh... and I can't wait!

You hear that, Aldabaran? Get the lead out!

My sentiments, exactly.

While arguing an issue with my landlord (a sneering, 30 year old who lives here rent-free, immune to the same rules we must live by, and opens the office only three hours a week to deal with us worthless humans)I reminded her that when I was in my thirties I also had an amazing career that lasted an additional two decades before my "fall" and that I prayed she never end up in this degrading situation herself.

300 bucks for the dog to visit has nothing to do with responsibility.

You are the first person I thought of when making this thread, Miggy. I wondered if you all were treated the same as we are here. I don't really care about myself, it's the old folks I worry about. Some of them can barely walk. What if they fell while out trying to water? It's just crazy.

Trying to turn lead to gold as we speak.

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

*pauses for laughter*



'Thanks. Just needed to vent.'

Yet you can afford a GLP gold star.

moocher

Eireann,

I think the elderly people live in the first two buildings. I live in the third and my building has younger people that deal with mental depression so I'm not around the elderly people very much to know what hardships they go through.

Most of them have home health aides who come by twice a week to help them clean and maintain their apartments.

By the way, there is a way around that pet deposit if you'd like a little furry companion.

My little Miggy is the only thing keeping me sane during this transitional chapter of my life.

You are the first person I thought of when making this thread, Miggy. I wondered if you all were treated the same as we are here. I don't really care about myself, it's the old folks I worry about. Some of them can barely walk. What if they fell while out trying to water? It's just crazy.

Blah. I don't want more stuff, I just want to be left alone. I'm a grown woman. I don't need a set of rules to live by. I used to be someone once. Just because I'm broken now they seem to think that they can do with me as they please.

Sorry OP. You rent and the owners make the rules. Their place, their rules. If you don't like it then move. That's the free market. I realize you are disabled or whatever but that still does not mean that people who own private property should not be able to make the rules. You can't depend on others and expect to be able to have all the freedom you want, even if you are disabled through no fault of your own. You may be an adult age wise but you are dependent on others in one form or another (you HAVE to live at XYZ place because it's all you can afford and you are living off of taxpayers.) I think that everyone on welfare regardless of the reason for it should be subjected to what the property owners are doing to you. I also think that the taxpayers who are funding their way should have full access to what they spend their money on. When you are dependent on others you don't get all the freedom you want. That is ridiculous. That would like a parent telling their kids they can do whatever they want. That would never happen. Even if my adult child moved back into my home I would have rules that had to be followed and the more of the bill that I was footing the less freedom my adult child would have. Don't like it? Then move out and do it on your own.

You bet it has to do with responsibility! If that visiting dog was to tear up something on that property, who would be financially responsible? The rules are there to protect the landlord from damages they have to pay if no one else would.

BTW, my daughters apartment complex (not subsidized) has a non refundable pet deposit AND visiting dogs are NOT allowed. They have defined rules to keep the apartment complex nice for ALL the residents.
BTW again, I worked for Housing- it sucked.

60% to 70% of the participants scam the housing authorities.

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.

Oh my goodness E. You are someone NOW. I always like your posts and I am so glad you are here.

I pray that you find an alternative living arrangement. That does sound overly controlling, over the limit, esp. for the elderly and those short on money. It sounds like rules for a country club or something.

I don't know much about HUD and stuff. At my mom's condo in FL, they have maybe 100 units and 2 or 3 of them are used for HUD individuals. They seem to work out well within that community. However, it seems to me that the places that are ALL HUD do not have enough rules. I don't know much - like I said.

dude, quit your bitching..sounds like I'm paying for it anyway not you. If you don't like it then go get a job flipping burgers. Sounds like I have to pay your water bill and mine. What chaps my ass is people like yourself that complain about how they are disabled and can't work but yet are competent enough to hack out a lengthy dissertation about their problems on a computer. If you can do that, then you can do other work on your computer to help you get off of tax payer support. Now man up and do what you have to to not be a burden on society.

I will be leaving the US to join my husband in Ireland by the end of this year. I'm fortunate as I have a way out of this mess. But before I leave, I want there to be some changes for the benefit of the elderly who live here. I won't allow them to be mistreated simply because they have no money and no recourse. It's abusive and intolerable and I won't stand for it.

Who pays for that water they want used on the windows and yard? I hope they pay for it for the sake of the elderly esp.