Chicago or Atlanta (Smyrna, East Point, College Park: section 8, apartment complexes, lease)

[Demetricerocks]

Hello there! My name is Demetrice and I am thinking about moving to Atlanta at the end of July. I was doing research and have not found anything about the city or suburbs. I and my 2 kids currently live in Wheaton,IL and just want to leave Illinois. Can you guys give me some suburbs to look forward to. I am African American (I have not lived in a ghetto since 1999) and would really love a friendly diverse town. I heard Atlanta is great place and I am really looking forward to it if I can find a nice suburban area. Someone please give me some serious advice.

Note: I'm on sec8 (no racist/rude comments please!)

[atlantagreg30127]

Unless you already have a job lined up here, it's not a good time to move. Atlanta is just as hard hit as anyplace else if you are starting fresh with nothing lined up. That being said, you need to specify budget, etc.

[Mgyeldell]

There are a lot of places outside of the ghetto in Atlanta wherw the landlords takes section 8 craigslist is a good place to look. SOme Places I can think that I saw were East Point, College Park, Smyrna, Dekalb County. i would only suggest is stay out of apartment complexes in these area because they are not good places to raise kids.

And I can understand why people need Section 8. THere are circumstances that lead people to need help from the government. It was brave for you to even put that on this forum with these very judgemental people

[blondandfun]

Originally Posted by Demetricerocks

I was doing research and have not found anything about the city or suburbs.

here's a start to learn about the cities:

Chicago - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atlanta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can't move to either one and know where the best place is by research (unless you want to limit yourself to different people like gays, hispanics, hippies, etc..)

You have to move here with short term lease and give yourself time, 3mo-6mo. lease.

[gaflsc]

Originally Posted by Mgyeldell

And I can understand why people need Section 8. THere are circumstances that lead people to need help from the government. It was brave for you to even put that on this forum with these very judgemental people

..but does not overshadow the issue of someone on gubmint assistance coming here to "mooch" off of the taxpayers here. Understand, in this day & age of overtaxation & a poor economy, no one here is jumping for joy over the prospect of another burden.

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by gaflsc

..but does not overshadow the issue of someone on gubmint assistance coming here to "mooch" off of the taxpayers here. Understand, in this day & age of overtaxation & a poor economy, no one here is jumping for joy over the prospect of another burden.

Augusta will welcome you... they are in the process of building new fancy government housing and more section 8.

[JoeP]

Understand, in this day & age of overtaxation & a poor economy

It is unfortunate that the conservative dream blew up in all of our faces. Now the adults have to clean up the mess and it will take years. Now back to the topic - yes some people need some assistance and while you don't hear about it on am radio entertainment for idiots, many of these people get on their feet and yes it also involves them working hard and they do work hard.

As for the original poster - are you sure you want to move to such a backward place where "gubmit" is expected to support and subsidize an elite few and where there's contrived outrage when policies are put in place to help the rest of the country...

[blondandfun]

Yes, back to topic. If I were on section 8 I would also have a hard choice.

Chicago and Atlanta are both fairly cheap big cities to live in. But Chicago has an edge if you're poor because you can walk there and there is more access to public transit.

But for raising a family there are definitely more drugs, gangs, and violence in Chicago than Atlanta.

[blondandfun]

Another term I like Is "social capital". You'll find a stronger community backbone in Chicago than Atlanta.

Atlanta is the king of gated cookie-cutter gated apartment complexes, with very little pedestrian access other than an abruptly ended sidewalk right outside the property.

Tough choice... I guess.

[AutumnRose]

I lived in Chicago for 18 months before we moved here... I would say if you want to escape the snow ATL is a good place for you. I personally really miss Chicago, there is nothing like it. But I think what I miss mostly is the 'city' vibe which I don't get here because we live in the 'burbs. I am sure if we lived in Chicago we'd have moved out a little further since we had kids and I'd miss it anyway.
Atlanta has a nice vibe all it's own and certainly better weather, come check it out for a few days. Not sure how the housing thing works but I agree, don't come here without a job it's tough out there for a lot of people. Good luck in your decision!