Katrina came to see me yesterday. She was confused about her February rent bill. She had made her normal monthly payment by the due date, but got a notice that she had not paid the full amount. She had contacted the office to find out why. She was told she had been sent a notice of a rent increase for an additional $40 a month. Se had not received the letter informing her of the change, so asked for a copy of the letter. She was given copies of two communications and they were both different. One was a year old. Strangely, it was the higher price. She read in one of the letters that the funding for this subsidized program would run out at the end of 2012. To even last till that point, rents had to be raised.
On the average, seniors received a social security increase of $35 a month this year. As soon as it was announced, we all wondered if we would have any more money with this increase, or would it all be taken away. The rent increase will consume it all and a little more. With the increase in income, several lost some of the food stamps money. Food had gone up. Most are literally further behind than last year.
We expected this. We were emotionally prepared for this. The rent increase is significantly higher than expected, but no one is shocked. Well, I am! Not at the rent increase that consumed the raise, but at how it is being handled. I will not be affected until November as I signed a year lease. But Katrina is the second person I know of who did not receive the notice of her rent increase and was asked to pay more, with the comment that they should have received notice. Maybe they should have, but they didn’t
Something is screwy in headquarters. We have always felt like they believed we were lucky and should be thankful that we have such a nice place to live. We are both lucky and thankful, but I believe we need to be treated as human beings — customers, not necessary evils. We are here because we need the financial assistance. That’s true, but it’s no excuse for treating us like we are a problem to them. If we left, they could fill our apartment immediately. So what. We all deserve respect, humane treatment, and kindness and dare I say love. All have suffered loss. Most are widowed. They have never been on their own before getting here. Many have never handled their finances. Many do not understand what is going on or why these things are happening and management is not telling anyone anything. “Read your contract” does not help. It may give them the right, but many don’t understand why the increase is so steep, or why no one will talk to them. This is the generation of direct and personal communication. They don‘t email and they don’t text. When they write a letter, they expect and answer. Being ignored is annoying.
I have been here three years. I have never met a board member and have not met the new hosing director or any of her immediate staff and she has been her since September, in another building of course. Our on site manager may not listen to us about any problems or concerns we have. It must be in writing so it can go to the big boys and girls. No one who has ever done that has had a response.
They are currently looking for applicants to serve on the Housings Board of Directors. They sent an application to everyone, but did not include a job description or outline of expectations. No one knows what the board does. If I believed there was even the slightest possibility of making life better for our people, I would apply even though I am “committeed” out after the hundreds I had sat in on. Too much talk and not enough action! The resident committee member is appointed. All the rest are elected. Most likely more concerned about reelection than people. I’m an old Christian education pastor and teacher. I still believe everything is about people, not programs. Regretfully we have no sense that the people here matter at all. Government — you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.
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