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xchrom

(108,903 posts) Sat Oct 19, 2013, 01:43 PM Oct 2013

Families With Kids Go Homeless as U.S. Rents Exceed Pay: Economy

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-18/families-with-kids-go-homeless-as-u-s-rents-exceed-pay-economy.html

The former DC General Hospital now serves as a homeless shelter for many families. Homeless families struggle in the District with a lack of both affordable housing and shelter space. Placement is especially difficult when the family is large, more than 2-3 children.

When Montoria Freeland separated from her husband of 15 years in 2008, she left a four-bedroom house and economic security. Before long, her pay and hours as a pharmacy technician were cut and she found herself and her son facing homelessness.

Freeland lived with family for a time, she said, and four months ago moved into transitional housing funded by the city government in Washington, D.C., while searching for work that pays more than her $8.25-an-hour retail job. Having lost her oldest son in a 2000 homicide, Freeland said she insists on looking for housing in a safe neighborhood for her surviving one, now 17. She found that’s available only at an increasingly steep price.

“You’re trying to pay car insurance, rent, electric, cable and if you’re using public transit, putting money on your card, groceries,” said Freeland, who was accepted into a program that provides temporary housing, financial planning and job-placement counseling. “It’s hard to survive out here.”

For households with children, rising housing costs, elevated unemployment and stagnant earnings are increasingly placing rent beyond reach. The housing slump made matters worse as former homeowners turned into renters, increasing competition for available apartments.

3 replies

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Families With Kids Go Homeless as U.S. Rents Exceed Pay: Economy (Original Post) xchrom Oct 2013 OP

Kick xchrom Oct 2013 #1

My friend rents a tiny (ugly) house SoCalDem Oct 2013 #2

This does not feel right coldbeer Oct 2013 #3

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

1. Kick

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2013, 03:48 PM

Oct 2013

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)

2. My friend rents a tiny (ugly) house

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2013, 03:59 PM

Oct 2013

in a development where the houses are so close you can literally reach out and touch your neighbors.. One side of the house has NO windows at all, so she gets zero cross ventilation. the A/C barely works..

She pays $1025 per month and had to come up with $2k just to get the place.. It's less than 1000 sq ft.. I gave her the move-in money & my son gave her an extra fridge he had.

She also just found out that she's getting a pay-cut because of sequestration (she works on a base), and her elderly disabled brother (whom she cares for) is getting his SSI cut by almost $200 a month..

She has no savings , and literally lives in fear of a car breakdown (her car is a 2003 Honda). If her brother dies, she will probably be living with us, because his SSI is the difference for her...between having a roof over their heads and homelessness.

coldbeer

(306 posts)

3. This does not feel right

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2013, 05:58 PM

Oct 2013

My house is paid for. It's a dump. I have no debt other than taxes
and insurance. I drink beer at home in front of the computer or
television. Easy expense to cover. I could work but I am 65 and have worked
the factory, construction, and the bars. Back in '70 I married my
wife for her money, she had $750.00 and she still got it! We are on
Social Security!
My plan has worked, but I never considered the unfortunate children.
I grew up in poverty but have only thought about myself.

I always planned to stay ahead of the 50 per cent. I am a democrat,
I am union, I was drafted and served in the infantry overseas during
Viet Nam, I am white, male, have a wife, never divorced, have
grandchildren, and have always dared the RIGHT to make me kiss
their ass. All I had to do is stay above the 50 percent (that includes
a lot of the righteous). I am sitting back, comfortable, after lots of
hard work, waiting for the grand reaper. But I do not feel right
having all those in poverty. My solution is food stamps,
education, myself paying more taxes (and you make more money than
I do). I suffered guarding Rudolph at Spandau, he seemed as a nice
prisoner, with his garden, and his litttle shack in the corner where he
was murdered.
I feel bad because I knew this was going to happen and I was going to
say, "Gottcha" you miserable self serving shit heads. But I never figured on the
innocent children.

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