topic Re: Low Income Budgeting in Among Friends

Low Income Budgeting

KarenQVC — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:18:06 GMT

If a single person is on low SS, SSI, or SSD, or holds a low income job, often the best thing they can do is focus on getting into subsidized housing. That is the kind of housing that accepts 30% of income as full rent. Once they have that piece in place, they can budget from there.

What do you think?

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Scooby Doo — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:27:59 GMT

The theory sounds good, but often it's not that easy. Low income housing may be scarce nowdays, and a long waiting list to get in. Around my area the list is so long that they are not taking applications at this time. And not every landlord wants to rent to low income.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

CatsyCline — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:33:05 GMT

SSI is a Supplement. Supplemenatal Security Income, there is a separate application for SSI but you cannot recieve SSI only. it comes with either SSDI or Social Security.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

missy1 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:55:24 GMT

It's a long waiting list, here. The thing that bothers me if your income increase you don't have to move. Hud goes with the amount of income you give when you first apply. Food stamps/ medicaid (free state medical for poor, not ssi) can be cancelled etc. when income changes. Renewal is every 6 months. Hud needs to revaluate their housing income changes, and kick people out .

A person I know of applied for hud with no income. They now make more than me. Hud pays all their rent/ some of electric bill. There are NO renewals, the people don't leave.They do check the apartment each year to make sure it looks ok.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Moonchilde — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:56:41 GMT

As others have said, not a simple done deal. In most cities, demand far, far exceeds availability. In SoCal for example, the "normal" ordinary waiting period for a vacancy is *2-3 YEARS.* Nowhere that I know of is it apply, get okayed, and 1-2 months later you're in and set.

That doesn't mean one shouldn't *apply*, just that they have to have a Plan B they can handle for more than a year.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

persiflage — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:58:56 GMT

I have never faced that type of situation but that wouldn't be my strategy. If I couldn't increase my income I would rather look for some kind of shared housing situation, possibly renting a room or even moving to a less expensive area.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Mz iMac — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:04:04 GMT

In the county I live in, Section 8 housing "applications" has been closed since 1984. 2-3 yrs ago, the State took over. So now, one has to apply to the State for Section 8 vouchers.

Advocates had to take the "city" I live in to Federal court to provide "low income" housing as well as "senior citizen/disabled" housing & "affordable housing".

The "city" lost the court battle which lasted nearly a decade & was fined $2+ billion dollars by the Feds. Apparently, the whole time, the "city" had been receiving Federal housing funds but was spending it elsewhere & nowhere that had to do w/housing.

Currently, my city has 1 Section 8 housing development, 1 brand new senior housing complex & 2 brand new affordable housing units.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

missy1 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:06:44 GMT

@persiflage wrote:
I have never faced that type of situation but that wouldn't be my strategy. If I couldn't increase my income I would rather look for some kind of shared housing situation, possibly renting a room or even moving to a less expensive area.

I suggested FG renting a room instead. (close to shopping areas etc.) FG is not old enough for senior housing.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:08:57 GMT

I don't know anything about that. I do know that a lot of people don't realize that (depending on the area) builders are required to set aside a certain amount of housing they are building for low(er) income housing.

I think people often rule out an area because the houses/apartments are so expensive when they shouldn't rule out anything because it might be the area where the buillder has had to set aside some of the houses for lower income.

Some builders have to do that in order to build in an area. It's worth looking into.

I have seen shows about people being creative (getting together with one or more couples (all retired) and living in a large size house (pooling their money together).

I also saw a show this weekend where Americans are moving to little towns in Italy buying a tiny house for as little as $15,000. There is little or no crime and they love it. I was astounded at the number of people (all ages who are doing this).

Look at this article:

http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2012/10/15/best-places-to-retire-for-under-40000

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Ms X — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:11:27 GMT

We need more good jobs to return to the USA so that more people can afford to live a decent life. Assistance with education and training could help low-income workers move up. I hope there's more to the story regarding another poster's statement that that people stay in Section 8 indefinitely. There definitely should be an upper limit for househod income. Very often women in Section 8 live with their boyfriend who has a job but hide the fact that he's there. Sometimes he's the father of their children but not on the birth certificate. The system is overloaded in part by people who are not 100% honest.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

lolakimono — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:12:36 GMT

@KarenQVC

This is a good read, which explains the conundrum of low income housing.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

KarenQVC — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:49:44 GMT

The senior low income buildings around the Detroit area often have a certain percentage set aside for the younger disabled. One place I am familiar with, the Baldwin House in Birmingham MI, always seems to have openings. Yes, this system is best for the seniors and permanently disabled. Ann Arbor MI has low income units with 5 bedrooms. There is no incentive to move out.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

YorkieonmyPillow — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 01:14:15 GMT

Low-income housing would be the last option for me; I wouldn't want the government to know all my business and they'll go down in your guts to see what you had for breakfast.......if I had other options, I would take them....you can't have a pet in low-income housing, either....

I'd rather live in my car for X amount of time, and save up for a mobile home.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

catwhisperer — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 01:37:23 GMT

DH and I qualify for low income housing, but the waiting list is several years. We will probably be dead by then, so why bother getting on the waiting list? People need help NOW.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 01:41:47 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
Low-income housing would be the last option for me; I wouldn't want the government to know all my business and they'll go down in your guts to see what you had for breakfast.......if I had other options, I would take them....you can't have a pet in low-income housing, either....

I'd rather live in my car for X amount of time, and save up for a mobile home.

Whether or not to allow pets in Section 8 housing is up to the landlord. If a building or complex allows pets, they can't discriminate against Sec 8 tenants that want to have a pet.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

catwhisperer — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 01:56:08 GMT

@Moonchilde...that is correct. Thank you for bringing that up.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:11:20 GMT

@catwhisperer wrote:
@Moonchilde...that is correct. Thank you for bringing that up.

Many years ago they could prevent it, but there have been so many studies that show how beneficial to the health having a pet is, especially for the less-mobile elderly & disabled, that they changed the regulation. It was quite a few years ago now. I don't remember exactly when it was, but I remember how happy people were when it changed.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

catwhisperer — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:31:29 GMT

@Moonchilde...I admire you because you speak the truth and are not afraid to do so. You go girl.

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:42:57 GMT

@catwhisperer wrote:
@Moonchilde...I admire you because you speak the truth and are not afraid to do so. You go girl.

Why, thank you, @catwhisperer 😻

Re: Low Income Budgeting

Chrystaltree2 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:51:37 GMT

I think subsidized housing is scarce and the waiting lists are long. You don't just sign up for it. If your plan is to have taxpayers finance your retirement, you should rethink that idea. Hopping on that gravy train is a pipe dream, not a plan.