What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?California
Can anyone help me give a friend of mine some advice or direction? Please read her comments below (sorry for the length):
"Okay, I mean HELP!!!!!!!!
I haven’t found any similar “scenarios” on the web or anywhere else for that matter, where people’s personal dilemmas are made known so that other’s who may be experiencing the same or similar circumstances can seek guidance and help. Nope. No one goes “public” with this kind of predicament. They are usually “put in their place” and figure there is nothing that can be done about it anyways. I mean, for example, how often does one read in the newspaper a situation about how the Health and Human Services Department (welfare) has screwed someone? Huh? Who would really care anyways? It’s just some low life anyways, right? Someone getting something for nothing and then thinking they could possibly have some right to complain about it! The nerve.
Your life is truly blessed if you feel that way and if you never have to deal with or ever had to deal with any public assistance programs. But there are many of you out there who, like me, are less fortunate and have had to turn to public assistance for whatever reasons. And, thank God it has been there to help. I think the key word here is “help.”
As briefly as I can possibly put it, this is my story-
I have received rental assistance from Section 8 since 2002. I am a single mother with 2 children still living at home; a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl Per Section 8 regulations, our family composition qualifies us for a “voucher” size of a 2 bedroom unit. Recently our family composition changed with the addition of my 2 granddaughters- so basically I now have 4 children. Per Section 8 rules and regulations, this increase in family size qualifies me for voucher increase in unit size, from a 2 to a 3 bedroom.. Earlier this year my landlord informed me that she was selling the rental I was living in and that I would have to move. I asked my Section 8 “housing specialist” what I needed to do to move into a 3 bedroom unit. I was informed I would have to show proof of court awarded custody of my granddaughters. I complied and went through the painful process of acquiring legal guardianship. After all was said and done, I was denied the voucher size increase due to “funding cuts” effective April 1. (All of this was in motion and completed prior to April 1. I was never notified of this upcoming policy change or funding cuts.) To boot, my “housing specialist” denies even being aware that I needed and asked for a voucher increase. Oh, the story is far more complex, but I am trying to make it as brief as possible. I have copies of all e-mails, documentation of all the calls, print outs of all the referenced rules and regulations, everything which would prove I am not delusional, yet still they refuse to increase my voucher size. To jump to the end of my nightmare- well it hasn’t ended yet, believe me—it is like this: I haven’t received assistance for the past 4 months-not from Section 8 at least. My friends and family were as outraged as I am and they have helped pay my rent during this time. I have been trying to get this problem corrected, to no avail. It’s hard for me to believe this has all happened because they outright screwed me over. My “housing specialist” was well aware of what was going on and never informed me of any problems with my situation. I asked for an informal hearing and was told no. I can’t understand how they can get away with this. How do you fight this? Today my Section 8 Voucher expired and I am now terminated. I received a 3 day pay or quit from my landlord. Tomorrow will be day 3. I have 4 children and I am inches away from being in the streets.
I am not psychotic. I am not stupid. I needed something. I asked who I was supposed to ask how and what was needed from me. I complied and did what I was told I needed to do. Then I was told I couldn’t have what I asked for. There is nothing, no policy effective prior to or after April 1, 2005 that can effectively support the housing authorities decision to deny me. I am awaiting my termination notice so that I can file a request for an informal hearing. I am asking for any legal advice or assistance. I have done a lot of research and feel I am totally justified but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME?"
Can anyone help me give a friend of mine some advice or direction? Please read her comments below (sorry for the length):
"Okay, I mean HELP!!!!!!!!
I haven’t found any similar “scenarios” on the web or anywhere else for that matter, where people’s personal dilemmas are made known so that other’s who may be experiencing the same or similar circumstances can seek guidance and help. Nope. No one goes “public” with this kind of predicament. They are usually “put in their place” and figure there is nothing that can be done about it anyways. I mean, for example, how often does one read in the newspaper a situation about how the Health and Human Services Department (welfare) has screwed someone? Huh? Who would really care anyways? It’s just some low life anyways, right? Someone getting something for nothing and then thinking they could possibly have some right to complain about it! The nerve.
Your life is truly blessed if you feel that way and if you never have to deal with or ever had to deal with any public assistance programs. But there are many of you out there who, like me, are less fortunate and have had to turn to public assistance for whatever reasons. And, thank God it has been there to help. I think the key word here is “help.”
As briefly as I can possibly put it, this is my story-
I have received rental assistance from Section 8 since 2002. I am a single mother with 2 children still living at home; a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl Per Section 8 regulations, our family composition qualifies us for a “voucher” size of a 2 bedroom unit. Recently our family composition changed with the addition of my 2 granddaughters- so basically I now have 4 children. Per Section 8 rules and regulations, this increase in family size qualifies me for voucher increase in unit size, from a 2 to a 3 bedroom.. Earlier this year my landlord informed me that she was selling the rental I was living in and that I would have to move. I asked my Section 8 “housing specialist” what I needed to do to move into a 3 bedroom unit. I was informed I would have to show proof of court awarded custody of my granddaughters. I complied and went through the painful process of acquiring legal guardianship. After all was said and done, I was denied the voucher size increase due to “funding cuts” effective April 1. (All of this was in motion and completed prior to April 1. I was never notified of this upcoming policy change or funding cuts.) To boot, my “housing specialist” denies even being aware that I needed and asked for a voucher increase. Oh, the story is far more complex, but I am trying to make it as brief as possible. I have copies of all e-mails, documentation of all the calls, print outs of all the referenced rules and regulations, everything which would prove I am not delusional, yet still they refuse to increase my voucher size. To jump to the end of my nightmare- well it hasn’t ended yet, believe me—it is like this: I haven’t received assistance for the past 4 months-not from Section 8 at least. My friends and family were as outraged as I am and they have helped pay my rent during this time. I have been trying to get this problem corrected, to no avail. It’s hard for me to believe this has all happened because they outright screwed me over. My “housing specialist” was well aware of what was going on and never informed me of any problems with my situation. I asked for an informal hearing and was told no. I can’t understand how they can get away with this. How do you fight this? Today my Section 8 Voucher expired and I am now terminated. I received a 3 day pay or quit from my landlord. Tomorrow will be day 3. I have 4 children and I am inches away from being in the streets.
I am not psychotic. I am not stupid. I needed something. I asked who I was supposed to ask how and what was needed from me. I complied and did what I was told I needed to do. Then I was told I couldn’t have what I asked for. There is nothing, no policy effective prior to or after April 1, 2005 that can effectively support the housing authorities decision to deny me. I am awaiting my termination notice so that I can file a request for an informal hearing. I am asking for any legal advice or assistance. I have done a lot of research and feel I am totally justified but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME?"