@PMJL34 ]The reality is, if we grew up the way they did and if we were in their shoes, we would make very similar decisions.
If we grew up the way they did? I grew up in a C/D black neighborhood with gangs, drugs and crime all around me. Parents split and I was kicked out as a young teen.
Because I’ve made certain statements, based on my section 8 experiences, you’re automatically assuming my upbringing as similar to yours? And privileged? How judging. And ironic. Ha.
]Your comments, especially about 95% of them will suck benefits dry with no desire for self-improvement is highly offensive and flat out ignorant and wrong.
My comment may be offensive to you and others (reality sucks?) but it’s not ignorant and it's not wrong, in my experience. Maybe when you have a few more years of experience and more than (1) section 8 rental, you’ll have a larger sample size in which to compare and we can chat further about it.
]IMO, the better way to go about this is to try to understand instead of judge.
Facts are not judging. Yes, we need to understand and then we need to take
appropriate action to improve the program. That’s what I outlined in my first post and what I have outlined all along.
Folks taking advantage of the program is a major part of the problem – aka sitting on a voucher for years while spending all other funds without a care! There is nothing that helps get them off the program. This is not judging; this is factual and it’s a problem and it hurts the overall program and most importantly, hurts the people that need the program most.
I was laid off several years back and went on unemployment. Per the program, I had six months to get back on my feet before benefits ran out. I
NEEDED the unemployment checks - this was pre-MMM Sammybiker, I had no savings and a good bit of debt. I had to check in with the unemployment office every other week, prove that I was applying for jobs and they helped me tune up my resume. Four months in, one of the unemployment agents called me, said they had a lead at a temp agency. Two weeks later I was back in a job and a year after, I was offered a fulltime position.
Why not apply similar infrastructure to Section 8? Easier said than done, I know. But create a path to get off the treadmill.
Congrats on your single section 8 experiment in a class A neighborhood over the last (4) years – I’m very happy that it’s gone well for you and I truly think it's awesome that you've promoted bringing in a family without means into an excellent neighborhood and probably a good (or at least better) school district. I also like your idea of ADUs and would be interested in how this could be a sustainable & scalable operation.
That said, my experience differs immensely from yours. And that's okay! But I disagree that I'm being judgmental, that I lack empathy, that I'm committing classism or displaying privileges.
I'd encourage you to start a journal here when you launch the ADU projects, I'd certainly be interested in following along.
Happy NYE
@PMJL34 & all.