Most people would answer "A LOT!" I really wouldn't blame them, but when you get everything for free from them, does that mean you are entitled to complain?
I just received an interesting email ( I won't post it here due to its inflammatory nature) that made me question: how much is enough? What are we owed?
I knwo there are a lot of people in need. They live in subsidized housing, they receive assistance, and I know that in 9 out of 10 situations, it is NOT enough. So where does the money go? I ahve lived in subsidized housing and let me tel you it was no picnic. The rent was constantly fluctuating - I know now ( after the fact that I was overcharged) I had a 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath duplex. The appliances were 30 years old, there was no carpeting, the floors were tiled over concrete ( let me tell you in a buffalo winter, that can be mighty freaking cold!) There was no insulation. And the maintenance staff, treated me like.. Well for example one day they came in unannounced and said they could do whatever they want, we only rented.
They allowed drug addicts and a convicted child molester to live there ( Against goverment policies) Sure it looked nice onthe outside, but the inside was a whole other matter.
At the time, I was on disability, however the month I went back to work, I was informed my rent was due on the 1st. Not the 2nd or the 3rd - the first and only the first - and of course it was increased from the subsidized amount of $250 to $750. Now what you should know ( again I found this out AFTER the fact) is that when you are on SSD and go back to work, you are allowed to make $500/month for 6 months before you lose your SSD. AND GOVT subsidized housing is NOT allowed to include that $500/month in your income to figure your rent. MY complex did. They raised my rent to $750/month the first month and when I was late, I was assessed late fees. When I was late the 2nd time I was served an eviction notice. When I moved, ( early in the month) I was charged for the entire month plus all legal fees ( remember the eviction notice? that was another $900!) SCREWED? You bet!
SO why am I telling you this? Because I want people to know what they are getting into. Beign poor doesn't mean you are stupid. It doesn't mean people have the right to screw with you. It does mean that yo ahve to work extra hard to read all the information. You have to know your rights. and you ahve to hold the ppwers that be accountable for their actions. And when you find out something you didn't know about, you pass that information along to others - so the same thing doesn't happen to them.
