Disrespectful Residents Taking Over Affordable Housing There are great options available to lower income individuals and families for affordable housing. The options include public and section 8 housing through the city as well as affordable housing through private ownership. Residents have opportunities depending on income, size of family, and senior citizen status. The problem that arises frequently in these housing developments is a common theme of residents that have no respect for the property. This observation comes from a personal standpoint based on my own experience of living in affordable housing, family members residing in public housing, and a personal contact with a rental property owner that accepts section 8. The lack of respect
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Per the office manager, Connie Wise, the owners receive a tax credit to offset the reduced rental rate that is charged. My rent is approximately $100 less than the going rate for a three bedroom apartment in Zanesville. The application/qualification process is lengthy. The owners require all personal information of all tenants including income verification and school attendance information. In order to qualify to live here the applicant must not make over a certain amount (Wise, 2015). I chose this complex because I am a single mom with children that is only able to work part-time due to attending school full- time. The buildings are newer and the interiors are very spacious and clean. This also is a great location for my children and myself to commute to school and work easily. To the outside spectator it looks like a nice, decent, and quiet complex to live. But living here I have seen the similarities of other low income apartment complexes. I have family that lives in other low-income apartments and have heard similar tales of neighbors that trash the apartments and complex. Another similarity in both public housing and my apartment complex is that they both require home inspections for cleanliness. I am sure this reduces the amount of tenants that do not keep a reasonably clean home. However, because the inspections are not …show more content…
The negligence will continue and good tenants like myself will be forced out of sheer aggravation of living in chaos, filth, and disrepair. I propose a solution that will not only help the property owners keep the areas clean and trash free but provide the tenants with the opportunity to learn new skills and have a new understanding of property maintenance. This new respect will then be carried on to teach their children respect of property and skills they will need when they purchase a home. The idea is simple, make it mandatory as part of being approved to live in affordable housing that the residents be required to do community service. The department of Job and Family Services of Ohio has similar requirement for individuals receiving cash assistance. They are required to be actively working, receiving education toward employment, or serve community service in order to receive a monthly cash benefit (ODJFS, 2015). The requirements would be outlined as
Per the office manager, Connie Wise, the owners receive a tax credit to offset the reduced rental rate that is charged. My rent is approximately $100 less than the going rate for a three bedroom apartment in Zanesville. The application/qualification process is lengthy. The owners require all personal information of all tenants including income verification and school attendance information. In order to qualify to live here the applicant must not make over a certain amount (Wise, 2015). I chose this complex because I am a single mom with children that is only able to work part-time due to attending school full- time. The buildings are newer and the interiors are very spacious and clean. This also is a great location for my children and myself to commute to school and work easily. To the outside spectator it looks like a nice, decent, and quiet complex to live. But living here I have seen the similarities of other low income apartment complexes. I have family that lives in other low-income apartments and have heard similar tales of neighbors that trash the apartments and complex. Another similarity in both public housing and my apartment complex is that they both require home inspections for cleanliness. I am sure this reduces the amount of tenants that do not keep a reasonably clean home. However, because the inspections are not …show more content…
The negligence will continue and good tenants like myself will be forced out of sheer aggravation of living in chaos, filth, and disrepair. I propose a solution that will not only help the property owners keep the areas clean and trash free but provide the tenants with the opportunity to learn new skills and have a new understanding of property maintenance. This new respect will then be carried on to teach their children respect of property and skills they will need when they purchase a home. The idea is simple, make it mandatory as part of being approved to live in affordable housing that the residents be required to do community service. The department of Job and Family Services of Ohio has similar requirement for individuals receiving cash assistance. They are required to be actively working, receiving education toward employment, or serve community service in order to receive a monthly cash benefit (ODJFS, 2015). The requirements would be outlined as