Dallas or Stone Mountain, Georgia (Atlanta: rent, crime, home)

[heartbroken]

I'm a Katrina evacuee and I have a chance to move to Atlanta without having to pay rent for 18 months thru the Fannie Mae program but I'm scared because I don't know which would be the better choice here in Dallas where I'm at now but have not been able to get a home here and if I stay I will have to pay my own rent.... Either way it goes I've always worked and I'm going to need a job so I can get back on my feet to take care of my family just haven't been able to get out of the depression. Please let me know what do you think out there!!!!!!!

[GoPadge]

I use to live in Rome, GA, about two hours away. From what I recall Stone Mountain is a nice area. There are a lot of tourists because of the park, so there's some increased opportunity for theft over other areas, but I don't recall any major crimes taking place there.

Traffic in Atlanta is worse than here, but as with any city that often depends on where you live and work. Traffic wise you definately don't want to live anywhere north along I-75 or GA-400 and I-285 on the top side is also a nightmare. But Stone Mountain is off to the east and as long as you work in the area it shouldn't be too bad.

The weather is similar, though the humidity is on average higher in Atlanta. But with you being a Katrina evacuee that shouldn't be a big change. Both cities are inclined to have icestorms during the winter more so that actual snowfall. The hospitality should be similar, as should the job opportunities.

In the end I think you need to weigh what's best for you and your family (assuming you have one). But 18 months of free rent sounds good. One thing to consider is whether you'd be living in a complex with a number of other Katrina evacuees. If so be aware that anecdotal evidence from the 04 huricane season in Florida indicates an increased crime rate, and higher level of stress and depression in communities made up of evacuees.

[momof2dfw]

OMY. Do you have a job in Dallas? Do you have one lined up in GA? I'd hate to leave somewhere if I already had a job to go somewhere w/o one lined up. The free rent is great but I would hate for you to get there, not be able to find a job at all and then have to move again when the free rent period is up. Especially w/ kids and all. I know the Dallas area has a lot of people that came here then and the great number that have stayed (was it something like 17K they said the other day?). While I know there are jobs here in Dallas it is not always going to be jobs that everyone is qualified for, can get to, or pay the bills. I believe the "can get to" has been the biggest issue w/ the Katrina evacuees. Having been to N.O., I myself would not drive a car in that place. No parking anywhere or it cost a fortune and there is plenty of public transportation and you could walk to just about anything or everything you needed. (That is why I had a hard time anytime I heard someone say something about the people themselves not leaving on their own. UMMM, THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR!) Okay, off my soapbox .

If you are interesting in staying in the Dallas area but are looking for a job, let me know. I know we are hiring right now and some others that are too. All of our open positions require one have a CDL (that has been the killer as we can not hire someone w/o it).

Good luck and I hope all works out for you and your family.