We live in a three bedroom apt at our public housing. And since my son is going to be moving out me and my daughter need to move to a smaller apt but they want to send us to a different housing apt in a different city. I need help in trying to convince them to let me stay in a smaller apt in the same housing facilities.
When you say different city do you actually mean different municipalities? I know Chicago is forcing their public housing on some small town in Iowa but that is the only time I have heard of long distance relocation.
Have you even looked into whether there actually is a smaller apartment in the complex available?
When you live off the government and other people's money? You don't have a lot of say in what you get. You realize you're not the only one they are helping right?
If you don't like the move? Find a place you can afford on your own. I'm not trying to be harsh, just honest in my opinion.
Public housing is trying to help a lot of people. It's a juggling act. Moving you to a smaller apartment is needed so they can put a larger family in your current apartment. The truth is you may not have a choice. When you rely on the government to help you, you don't get much say in what happens. That's not me being rude, it's the truth. I agree with the poster who said to find a smaller apartment in your current complex first and then petition public housing to move into that apartment. Good luck.
Welcome to mamapedia!!
I don't think I've ever heard of Section 8 housing relocating people to another city. That's a huge waste of money.
What is their reason for moving you to a different city?
Is your daughter in school?
Will she be changing schools?
If she is going to be changing schools, ask them to keep you in the same district so her life is not disrupted more.
Otherwise? See if you can afford living on your own and look for places you can afford.
There's a very real possibility that you have specific rights regarding where they can relocate you.
(As an aside, section 8 housing is not the same as public housing. Also, it's pretty much a certainty that, based on her income and the cost of living where she is, that her choices of housing are limited. Can we all just be thankful that when times are tough our taxes help pay for this kind of thing so mothers like R. don't end up homeless? Can we keep the judgmental tone to a minimum here? It's pretty insensitive to say things like "Once you're off public assistance then you are in charge of deciding where you live." and "Be thankful you get public housing.")
You should call your local Legal Aid office and meet with someone who can talk to you about what's going on and if you have any legal standing to challenge their decision to move you to another school district, which is the biggest problem I see here. Also, check any paperwork you have from your local assistance office and see if there's an appeals process for this decision, there normally is. Call your caseworker if you can't locate that information. Good luck, keep us updated.
One free service that a lot of people don't know about, or forget about, is their local representatives. They work for you, whether or not you are a member of their political party or whether you voted for them. I'd start with your local state legislator - you can find that person on line. I would start with your State Legislator and State Senator who know the most about your district, and you can find those two people here:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/l...
Ask for constituent services with regard to housing.
You can also work with your Member of Congress (federal) here:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/
If your housing is state run but federally funded, both may be able to help you.
Good representatives/senators work with each other too, so you won't be duplicating.
If you need help writing the actual letter and having it proofread, I'm sure I can help you. But first you have to find out if there is a smaller apartment, to whom you would write, and what the best strategy is. Use your own elected officials - that's their job, and you and other taxpayers pay their salaries. It's an election year, remember, and none of them wants people writing letters to the newspaper about how unresponsive they were! Sometimes a phone call from an elected official can grease the gears on your behalf, but even if they won't do that, they can tell you how to proceed.
Be thankful you get public housing.
I never heard of public housing moving anyone to a different city.
I'd try to look at it as an opportunity.
A new city would be a new start and might have better job potential.
Once you're off public assistance then you are in charge of deciding where you live.
They may not have an available apartment in the town that you currently reside in, most of these programs have very long waiting lists. Also, when you are dependent on the government they can dictate where you live and how much benefits you receive.
There is a difference between public housing and section 8 for the others that have responded. Section 8 housing the tenant can choose where they live if the landlord complies with it, most private landlords do no accept section 8 because they lose money.
They might not have a smaller apartment in your facility. Ask them specifically why they want you to move to another town. Since you already have an apartment you should get priority housing. Even if the waiting list is a year or more long you have priority since they need to move you to get the 3 bedroom list down by one family. They should give you the next 2 bedroom available where you live now, within a reasonable time frame. Otherwise see if son will remain a resident until they have a two bedroom come up.
Explain transportation to schools/changing school districts will be detrimental (will your child be able to get to school? Do they ride a bus now and in that new town they don't offer that option? Does your child play sports for the school and the new one doesn't? Such things as these...)
Doctors, church congregations, travel to and from your current area things that are part of your lives, the cost of moving/gasoline/renting a truck/driving said truck along with all the other cost and stress of moving.
So many things come to mind. I'd tell them no and I would make my son stay at home until this was all sorted out so they wouldn't be able to force you to move.
If he's going off to college or getting married or something I understand but if he's just moving out on his own I'd ask him to put it off a couple of months so that you could get this sorted out. IF, IF, IF he's going off to college but this will remain his home while he's attending college then I'm not sure they can make you move. If he will be home most weekends, summer breaks, winter breaks, spring break, etc...then he is still basically living in your home and will require his own space.
Maybe it's time for you to step it up and remove yourself from government care.
Maybe you can afford a smaller place on your own since your son is moving out ( hopefully on his own and not continued government care)
Government care is to help you through some tough times and not in place to take care of you for an unlimited amount of time.
If you want choices, then make your own way vs living off other people.
I'm sorry but here you are on the Internet ( who is paying for your internet) complaining about your government care. Do something about it by sustaining yourself!
They might not have on available. Just word it from the heart and hope for the best. If you have a job you will lose that would be a good thing to mention.
Wow, is that legal? That doesn't sound right to me. Ask a lawyer at www.avvo.com for free. Moving you to a smaller apartment sounds fair, but to another city or area, seems quite unfair. Especially if they're giving you a limited time to do so.
1: make sure there is a smaller appt avalable in your housing area.
2: check the school district to make sure an appt is avalable in that area
3: write the letter
if you just write a letter and theres nothing avalable you will have wasted your time. if theres something avalable they may move you there instead. or you could always petition to stay where you are till your daughter graduates school then move.
