Recession Takes Severe Toll on Low-Income Renters

http://www.truth-out.org/recession-takes-severe-toll-low-income-renters67395

Washington - Rising rents, stagnant wages and high unemployment led more than 7 million U.S. households either to live in substandard dwellings or pay more than half their monthly incomes for rent in 2009, according to a federal report delivered to Congress on Tuesday.

During the height of the Great Recession, the number of low-income households with "worst-case housing needs" increased by nearly 1.2 million, or 20 percent, from 2007 to 2009. That's the largest two-year increase since the Department of Housing and Urban Development began tracking the data in 1985.

Very-low-income renters who don't receive government housing assistance are considered to have "worst-case housing needs" if they live in poor conditions or their rent consumes more than half their incomes.

All family types, all racial and ethnic groups and all regions of the country saw an increase in these distressed renters in 2009, said Raphael Bostic, HUD's assistant secretary for policy development.

More at the link --

of these low-income apartments are dreadful and hateful. They treat the tenants like crap....I know. I'm one of them.

They don't care if you have bugs. They don't do their jobs. They're unprofessional. It's like there has been some sort of Caste System installed and the management treats the tenants like the UNTOUCHABLES.

And if, after asking 3 times for an exterminator, you get angry with them.....they simply will not renew your lease when it comes up for renewal. So you have to be 'good' and take your 'medicine.'

I'm surprised a tenant hasn't gone postal on a property manager. Probably have and I just don't listen to nor read about it.

Snow removal is promised, but they don't tell you that their idea of snow removal is called 'Spring.' It's f*cking amazing.

ETA: And apartments (at least in my area) have NO INSULATION....ALL THE heat in the winter goes right out the ceiling. Apartments are built so cheaply...it should be against the law to waste so much energy. My electric bill is insane.

much that we do not have the available housing units in most areas. It is that rental housing is not affordable. Also vouchers allow the poor to live in normal neighborhood situations instead of "poor only" complexes. I have been talking to my housing authority about vouchers for shared housing. I live with my grandson and pay half of all costs - I need help with my half. I am interested in what they say. Some of our family ended up moving back in with their parents - 5 people in three generations living in a 4 bedroom house. It is crowded but it is doable.