Property owners, would you be ok with "affordable housing" in your neighborhood?

Just like to say . Jimmy Carter done this on a mass scale before, its nothing new. I will say though that most of the section 8 housing built during the Carter era then is in ruins or has been knocked down or will be soon. Crime is a big factor in these developments; that's fact it goes with the territory. I live not to far from from one of these developments about a mile away. it's the worst. The former mayor tried to have this 600 unit building knocked down, but the owners a large California corp won the fight to keep that one building; only after they changed from section 8 ,and were ordered to fix the place up. but lost their other properties, they were bulldozed. during this legal fight the company that own these units decided they could get off cheap and decided to place armed security officers with 9mm on the premises. hoping that would solve the problem. stupid idea, all they did was give the drug dealers more protection. The police finely came and arrested the dealers and the security personal. ( the security personal hired were residents of the complexes)


To answer the op . No, I was not ok with it and neither were much of the surrounding neighborhoods. Normal people that are less fortunate would never live there either. The crime was out of sight murders, meth labs, you name it. We are still fighting for that development to demolished. The problem is these section 8 multi- family- dwellings are way to large to manage. The corporations that own these developments are aways for the bigger the better. Everyone of these developments is 250 plus units. The cities in this country need put some very strict building laws in place to prevent this, and the federal government needs to also restrict the size of these section 8 buildings. ( 750 plus units from the OP article. ) It does not surprise me that the people of this country are still felling the effects of the Jimmy Carter era.

Many of you guys continue to discuss this without even a glimmer of consideration that some of the people living in such places don't actually enjoy living in such an environment. I am one of those people, it really doesn't matter though because I have to secretly stay with my mom who lives in a section 8 place because the government only wants to help lowlifes and junkies. You people act as if everyone living around those places is the same. Are you making the claim that I don't deserve better because I was unfortunately born into a very pathetic excuse for a family? Are you insinuating that I am to be held somehow at fault for being such a "pitiful" excuse of a human being? Do you think I enjoy the oh so lovely situation that this cruel world has allowed me to have? Because it certainly seems that way to me. Want to know something though? I wake up every single morning of my life wishing that I could just put a bullet in my brain because it seems that no matter how hard I fight and how much effort I put into trying to work my way out of this situation, I will never truly succeed because of greedy and uncaring people such as yourselves who seem to believe that every last one of the poor people are all just a bunch of idiotic drug addicts who only want a free hand out. At this rate maybe that bullet wouldn't be such a bad idea...

reply to post by doomedtoday


I hope most of the people here know that not all residents' in section- 8 housing are the same, Your not one of them. You situation will improve,only because you are really trying to change your life circumstances. It's a shame most people don't try like you do. Because those whom do always succeed, you will succeed.

I'm still working on house that I'm living in that used to be section-8 housing, because the previous owner made it that way and turned into a multi-family dwelling. I'm in the process of converting back to a real home. The people around the neighborhood still think it's section 8. They ( neighborhood Assoc) also tried to get rid of me and the home at one time. that is until I showed up at one of there meetings in my Military Uniform. They though I was the deputy commander of the near by base there to fix there noise problem from the F-16's.( Must be the rank I wear that gave the impression) I gave them a good piece of my mind. What made me mad the most is, these people were taping notes on my front door. If SHTF I'm not helping the the bas*** My family and I will be on C17 heading for Guam.

Originally posted by SJE98
Just like to say . Jimmy Carter done this on a mass scale before, its nothing new. I will say though that most of the section 8 housing built during the Carter era then is in ruins or has been knocked down or will be soon. ... ( 750 plus units from the OP article. ) It does not surprise me that the people of this country are still felling the effects of the Jimmy Carter era.

I have no idea how you got Carter mixed up with section 8. My reference to Carter's program in my post was to his post-Presidential program called Habitat for Humanity which is STILL going.

Section 8 history for you here: en.wikipedia.org...(housing)

And either Nixon or Ford were in office when

Congress passed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, further amending the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 to create the Section 8 Program.

In Carter's Habitat for Humanity Program ... they own a spot of land and help build 10 or so other people's houses ... and then other people help them build their own. It's a self-help program.

The problem with affordable housing where i live , which is a rural area of the UK, is that it is designed without any aesthetic thought. Just knocked up with the cheapest materials, small windows, no facilities. All about the bottom line and no concern for the surrounding environment.

So its not the housing, it's just the poor design of the houses. In this day and age with our creative minds and designers, we should be able to build affordable housing which is attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Building houses that resemble an army barracks, just creates social divide in an area.

just mt 2 pence worth

reply to post by Trexter Ziam


Were you around when carter was president ?

Carter put a lot federal money into hud housing when he was president, dam the torpedoes for section -8 housing full speed ahead. though section 8 housing was around for a while by then he just gave it a huge influx of cash. Carter wanted to be known as the President of the poor; it did not work out that way though. Everyone was poor when he left office. Wkik's don't tell everything either. I think Congress and Carter changed a few thing in the housing laws where section-8 housing should be incorporated into middle and upper class neighborhoods, due to some think tank study that stated something about social learning from the middle and upper classes in America. I debated this issue in high school on a debate team. I did not pick the subject though.

Carter did though embark on his Habitat for Humanity after he was president, he had big PR issue after his presidency. ( the country was in real mess, much like today ) Roslen Carter was the one whom gave Jimmy that idea to save his image. It took the country 10 -12 years for the economy to recover at that time.

reply to post by SJE98


Yes, and I agree with most of what you said except that I had already said,

"his post-Presidential program"

They still build homes for each other and that's the sort of idea that should replace section 8.

to "doomedtoday"

Well I know I said "Most of the people" on section 8 assistance.

Nothing ever holds true and you can never label everyone one way or anther. I myself am in a bad situation. I have my house and rental property in foreclosure, I lost my 70K a year job with benefits 10 months ago and unemployment doesn't cover the expenses- Forced to file bankruptcy. Now I'm selling most of my possessions and down sizing to live with family. On top of that I was just in the hospital without insurance and I'm now receiving bills for 20K in medical expenses I can't afford to pay. I'm broke, I have no savings, my credit is in the toilet. Only work I can find pays even less then unemployment.

Everyone has a poor me story.

It's not enough to cry the blues life in't fair and poor me I always have bad luck etc....

It's what you do with yourself, how you learn from these situations and the effort you put in to changing your circumstances.

I learned never again to over extend myself and not to buy what I couldn't afford. Now I start the rebuilding process.

Doing the same thing and respecting different results ..... we all know that's insanity.

Now back to the section 8....

Even my own tenants on section 8 complain about being poor, but when you ask them about getting a job they say " oh i can't do that I'll loose my benefits ". The system of helping people tends to promote this type of dependence and mentality- somehow housing and everything else is owed to them. Because everyone else has it easy cause their all rich and I'm poor- I deserve what they have. Most of these people want everything, but their not willing to do anything to help themselves, more so then complain to everyone how bad they have it.

Everyone is having it hard time out here. And I know myself I get sick of hearing how bad people living for free off the government have it.

Most of us hard workers who consider are selfs "middle class" are in the fast lane to becoming poor, broke, and on the street.

While someone with section 8 has a guaranteed roof over their head, most likely food stamps and utility assistance. I'm loosing everything, and I'm the bad person for being resentful to people who get everything handed to them.

That's why I think we need a resourced based economy like the venus project. We will never solve the hate, anger, poverty etc.... unless we do away with money and ownership.

I live in an area that has rent houses, though most, like mine, are owned by whomever lives there. The rentals are not Section 8, just plain rent houses. There are plenty of parties, noise, break ins, graffiti, and hooligans here in my neighborhood without the houses being Section 8.

So, no, I wouldn't be OK with it. I've been to the neighborhoods here that are largely Section 8, and I don't feel safe there driving during daylight with my window rolled up and doors locked. I can't imagine trying to live there.

Originally posted by boot2theface
reply to post by newcovenant

 

There is nothing wrong with socialism friend. Nothing at all.

Ask Russian, Chinese, North Korean, and Cuban citizens if there's anything wrong with it. They'll give a different answer, comrade.

/TOA

Originally posted by mayabong
It seems when it comes to property value, even the most liberal non-racist, "diversity is our strength" person will totally do a 180 when it comes down to Section 8 housing on their street or closeby.

Of course they would. It's very easy to be "liberal" from the safety of your leafy, civilized, white-picket-fence neighbourhood.

In truth, most people of this kind are NOT liberal at all - they just pretend they are in order to ease the burden of guilt they carry; guilt for their all-white, wealthy communities and their huge salaries. The vast majority of government live in such areas.

Why do they force diversity upon us? Because it eases their guilt and yet doesn't affect them personally. Perfect solution.

Originally posted by DontTreadOnMe

REMINDER

**ALL MEMBERS** The recent surge in Hatred, Racism, and Sheer Stupidity STOPS NOW

I've read every post here and not witnessed any of the issues you mention in your "REMINDER"

Originally posted by TheBlackManIsGod7
I wouldn't mind at all. I mean what righteous man or woman would be against a program that provides housing for those who are less fortunate and in need of assistance?

Because at some point, it is time to be responsible and productive- not be a burden on society.

Most of these tenants (and welfare recipients in general) tend to reproduce WHILST they are on welfare... Why? because not only are they not responsible, but the good ole' democratic party rewards them with each additional irresponsible birth. They get more food stamps, free daycare, more welfare cash, gas vouchers and a larger section 8 home.

Time to stop rewarding irresponsible behavior.

Originally posted by newcovenant

Originally posted by fictitious
Would I be okay? NO.

I've worked hard to make enough money to be able to live where I live. We all know the crime rates in areas like that. Fully integrate society?? No thanks. Everyone was born different for a reason. I happened to rise up and get out of the "ghetto". I don't want it coming to me.

edit on 4-4-2012 by fictitious because: (no reason given)

What if you were kept from using the beaches because they were reserved for the wealthy?

Would that class distinction be OK with you? If you can prevent someone poorer than you from occupying your neighborhood there will indeed come a day when you are kept off the beach.

Then that would be an incentive to become wealthy.

Originally posted by ButterCookie

Originally posted by newcovenant

Originally posted by fictitious
Would I be okay? NO.

I've worked hard to make enough money to be able to live where I live. We all know the crime rates in areas like that. Fully integrate society?? No thanks. Everyone was born different for a reason. I happened to rise up and get out of the "ghetto". I don't want it coming to me.

edit on 4-4-2012 by fictitious because: (no reason given)

What if you were kept from using the beaches because they were reserved for the wealthy?

Would that class distinction be OK with you? If you can prevent someone poorer than you from occupying your neighborhood there will indeed come a day when you are kept off the beach.

Then that would be an incentive to become wealthy.

Yes absolutely, kind of like withholding or overpricing medical treatment might be an incentive to stay well!