[JViello]

Originally Posted by TiZZ

This is ridiculous. Can a single discussion about low-income families go by on this board without somebody poor-bashing??

Someone with a working member of the family asking for a rent subsidy on a $1500.00 a month apartment is not "poor-bashing".

[KH02]

Its a matter of wanting to try.

My sister and BIL make combined about 50K a year, would they qualify for something like that probably? But they DONT. They work hard sometimes working more then one job and own their own home, maybe not in the best town, but its better to accomplish things yourself rather then take handouts for it.
If they can make it work then i think most people making that can make it work.
AND they are college educated with 4 year degrees but have YET to find a job in their field...so they do other jobs instead.

Please dont pity people like them for working "poor" jobs as you say. They dont want you're pity or you money. Only those who abuse the system (which are most) tend to want your handouts. What a waste off money..

[TomDot]

I hear ya' jviello.
A buddy of mine has an ex-wife who has a son and daughter (Not my buddy's kids) in a 1600/month apartment, paid for by you and me. She comes from an entire family of free-loaders. Her parents are on welfare and all her siblings are on some kind of assistance.

[wanderintonc]

Originally Posted by JViello

EXCUSE ME sir but what do you think I do for a living? What do you think my wife does for a living? I'll give you a hint...they are both in your list of "lowly's.”

What do YOU do for a living that puts you in a place to "downgrade" those in that list to "poor working class"?

Liberal elitism as it's best right there. "Lets help the poor mindless janitor/daycare worker/maintenance guy etc. Perhaps he was disadvantaged as a child or just not as smart as the rest of us to make it."

.

Here's an idea. Why don't you ask your wife what one of her childcare workers makes-then, based on that figure, go find yourself housing. Let me know how that goes for you! Don't forget, you have to buy gas to get to that job, and heat your apt too. Have fun!!!

[TiZZ]

Originally Posted by JViello

Someone with a working member of the family asking for a rent subsidy on a $1500.00 a month apartment is not "poor-bashing".

poor-bashing means bashing the poor. im not sure what you mean by your response to my statement?

but to actually offer some helpful advice to the OP....Deerfield Apartments in Windsor are all section 8 approved and occupied. The neighborhood might look beat but it's bark is much worse than it's bite, believe me...i lived in the area for 5 years and my brother has lived across the street from the complex for 25 years...you will be fine...LOTS of kids in the area.

to be fair however, you might not have an easy time securing s8 in connecticut with a working family member...in my experience connecticut's s8 program favors the disabled and unemployed before anybody else

[kidyankee764]

OK, I've read the whole thread and have a bit to add. JViello - great posts for the most part. . I couldn't agree with you more regarding those who abuse section 8, though I'm pretty unfamiliar with the whole deal. There should be more strict guidelines for those who 'need' assistance, maybe along the lines of random home visits from state officials to be sure users are living within their means.

That being said, this discussion makes me think of two specific acquaintances. One is (well, was), oddly enough, a daycare worker. She was not an owner, nor a director. She earned minimum wage in Danbury and waited tables on Saturday nights, earning about $400/wk total. She spent conservatively, did not have cable TV or internet and struggled to pay utilities. Living in a studio apartment, one would think it's easily affordable, but for $800/mo, it hardly was. The $800 figure is before utilities. At the time this was the cheapest rent Danbury had to offer. She was evicted for failure to pay rent as every month was a catch-up game for her. Just this past week, she had no choice but to move in with her parents (at 24) in Virginia.

The other acquaintance is just the opposite. She grew up in Greenwich, went through prestigious private institutions and got pregnant at 22. As a newlywed, she now lives with her husband's parents in a million dollar Newtown home, drives an Acura RSX, vacations often and can afford to buy her child designer clothing and accessories. She has an apartment on the side for when she needs to "get away" from her in-laws. Guess what? She uses section 8.

It's sad and angering to see that there are people who abuse section 8 when there are so many others who are eligible for it, don't know it's available and end up on the streets.

JViello - while I agree with much of what you say about those abusing the assistance, because I see it myself, what you need to understand is that there are so many folks out there who have it worse off than you did. It does sound like money was tight in your childhood, but you can't possibly say with confidence that your former situation was the worst out there. You had a mom - I know kids with no parents who are alone and struggling. I work with them daily in Connecticut's poorest cities and towns. These kids are bright, motivated and personable. They just don't have money, nor do they have the parental figure to constantly tell them to do their best, and that their only hope is for their child to do better than they did. If you don't think this makes a difference, well, it does. No matter how bad you think you have it, someone always has it worse.

Just to clarify, there's a huge difference between daycare workers/landscapers and the people who own or run them.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

Here's an idea. Why don't you ask your wife what one of her childcare workers makes-then, based on that figure, go find yourself housing. Let me know how that goes for you! Don't forget, you have to buy gas to get to that job, and heat your apt too. Have fun!!!

Here is a better idea. Realize that she was a teacher ("Childcare worker" as you called it) for 5 years of her 11 year career and worked HARD to get her director position. That is available to anyone who wishes to set a goal. I know exactly what the "regular" folks make there - they are considered friends as well as "workers". I know it's hard to imagine rubbing elbows on the weekend with the unwashed but it's not as bad as you think. You should try it sometime instead of shaking your head in disbelief at how the "poor people can possibly survive".

They/We all have one thing in common though. They all have the ability to go to night school, get a degree in early childhood education and/or work within her company to get a needed certification and move into an assistant director position and into a director position if they wish.

Maybe we should just thank them for their effort, realize they are too stupid to ever make anything out of their lives and just pay their rent. That would be easier I suppose.

Some are already pursuing this in my wifes center and some could care less and are happy where they are. You can't live someones life for them. Free people make free choices and it's not the state's position to live their life for them either.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by TiZZ

poor-bashing means bashing the poor. im not sure what you mean by your response to my statement?

I think you are misunderstanding me.

1. Someone looking to move into a $1500.00 a month apartment and then asking for subsidy is not "poor". That's almost how much my home mortgage is.

2. I am actualy an advocate FOR the "poor". I believe in self empowering people to live lives of their own making. The state has taken over a paternal role in many regards and taken a lot of "reason" and "motivation" away from people to better their lives.

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

JViello - while I agree with much of what you say about those abusing the assistance, because I see it myself, what you need to understand is that there are so many folks out there who have it worse off than you did. It does sound like money was tight in your childhood, but you can't possibly say with confidence that your former situation was the worst out there. You had a mom - I know kids with no parents who are alone and struggling. I work with them daily in Connecticut's poorest cities and towns. These kids are bright, motivated and personable. They just don't have money, nor do they have the parental figure to constantly tell them to do their best, and that their only hope is for their child to do better than they did. If you don't think this makes a difference, well, it does. No matter how bad you think you have it, someone always has it worse.

Just to clarify, there's a huge difference between daycare workers/landscapers and the people who own or run them.

To clarify on my end - I do understand what you are saying more than you think. If you saw where/how I grew up you might be surprised. Having a mother and having one coherent are two different things. BUT this is not a pitty party so let me say that I do agree with you on many fronts.

Yes, you HAVE to be compassionate towards those who are truly destitute. Especially children and elderly as they really have no way to help themselves.

Lets also remember we are talking about someone shopping for a $1500.00 a month apartment with a working "husband" asking for rental help. That is NOT the situation you described above.

And on the "owners" vs "workers" mindset - most managers/owners in these small businesses shoveled sh*t for many years before getting off the truck/floor/classroom. Believe it. *I* still am on my hands and knees doing work like I did when I started at times and do come home with my arms dragging and nasty @ssed dirty. I lead by example and my workers respect me and understand I sacrificed a lot to get this company where it is and GIVE THEM a job to support their families. My guys are more than employees to me and they know it. When one of them has an unexpected "problem" come up like two tires gone bad etc and I know they can't afford it...sometimes an extra or couple $100 bills finds it's way into the pay envelope because I know they work hard and they know I appreciate and value it.

[wanderintonc]

Originally Posted by JViello

Here is a better idea. Realize that she was a teacher ("Childcare worker" as you called it) for 5 years of her 11 year career and worked HARD to get her director position. That is available to anyone who wishes to set a goal. I know exactly what the "regular" folks make there - they are considered friends as well as "workers". I know it's hard to imagine rubbing elbows on the weekend with the unwashed but it's not as bad as you think. You should try it sometime instead of shaking your head in disbelief at how the "poor people can possibly survive".

They/We all have one thing in common though. They all have the ability to go to night school, get a degree in early childhood education and/or work within her company to get a needed certification and move into an assistant director position and into a director position if they wish.

Maybe we should just thank them for their effort, realize they are too stupid to ever make anything out of their lives and just pay their rent. That would be easier I suppose.

Some are already pursuing this in my wifes center and some could care less and are happy where they are. You can't live someones life for them. Free people make free choices and it's not the state's position to live their life for them either.

Well, did you find an apartment yet, on the salary of the childcare workers in the center? You live in the real world, right? Right???

[JViello]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

Well, did you find an apartment yet, on the salary of the childcare workers in the center? You live in the real world, right? Right???

What are you talking about?