5 people to a one bedroom apartment - is this the new norm? (Los Angeles: section 8, apartment complexes)

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by greggd

I agree with you on the nice car/live with parents comment. Thats what starts the whole me me me train of thought.

But when you say an army of immigrants to take their place, who exactly are you referring to? I can't really differenciate. To me, I've noticed a trend of young people in the work force that want it all now and dont want to work for it. It's a game and they bounce from job to job, whoever offers more, lacking hard work ethics and no loyalty, especially to the ones who have trained them. Then another trend of bailing the education to go low income. Of course everyone is not like this but it certainly seems more prevelant. Maybe I'm just getting older.

On the bottom rung, it's the Latinos. On the upper rungs, it's the Indians and other south Asians. The young natives who do want to work hard don't seem particularly interested in work that's not going to get them the big bucks or the prestige. The rest appear to be getting stoned in Mom's basement.

Loyalty is a 2-way street - companies haven't held up their end of the bargain very well in the past few years either. The employer / employee dynamic is a lot more fluid today than it was in the past.

[Tilden Educated]

Many middle income individuals are living in 1 and sometimes 2 bedroom units with 5 or more persons someetimes as a family or as friends because of economics. Here in the great golden San Francisco area it is not unusual that 5 to 7 people can live in a 975 square foot apartment where rents command $3000 to $4000 per month. No matter where you go here in the SF Bay area, rents begin at $1800 for a studio and more for that "1" bedroom space. Wake up folks we live in a different era where politics are dirty and affect our economy and we pay the price of our standard of living whether we live in the ghetto or the pristine upper crust of gated apartment communities. Life is no longer paradise when we were celebrating our 3 bedroom apartments in So Cal and No Cal for $600.00 per month, or that lucky 1 bedroom in the Wilshire District for $175.00 per month in 1979 which today commands $3000.00. Yes folks that is why 5 people or more live in a 2 bedroom, that is why so many are homeless, it is not the alcohol, it is spelled "ECONOMICS" and "DIRTY POLITICS". Beginning with our illustrious president George Bush, this country has been bent over and then some. The hole gets deeper and the lies only get worse as we tune to CNN. It's called "ECONOMICS" and "DIRTY POLITICS".

[UB50]

A lot of those fancy cars are leased, not owned. They can't afford the house and they can't afford the car -- so they rent and lease.

I agree that a lot of it is economics. Prices have gone up on everything and salaries just haven't kept pace.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by Tilden Educated

Many middle income individuals are living in 1 and sometimes 2 bedroom units with 5 or more persons someetimes as a family or as friends because of economics. Here in the great golden San Francisco area it is not unusual that 5 to 7 people can live in a 975 square foot apartment where rents command $3000 to $4000 per month. No matter where you go here in the SF Bay area, rents begin at $1800 for a studio and more for that "1" bedroom space. Wake up folks we live in a different era where politics are dirty and affect our economy and we pay the price of our standard of living whether we live in the ghetto or the pristine upper crust of gated apartment communities. Life is no longer paradise when we were celebrating our 3 bedroom apartments in So Cal and No Cal for $600.00 per month, or that lucky 1 bedroom in the Wilshire District for $175.00 per month in 1979 which today commands $3000.00. Yes folks that is why 5 people or more live in a 2 bedroom, that is why so many are homeless, it is not the alcohol, it is spelled "ECONOMICS" and "DIRTY POLITICS". Beginning with our illustrious president George Bush, this country has been bent over and then some. The hole gets deeper and the lies only get worse as we tune to CNN. It's called "ECONOMICS" and "DIRTY POLITICS".

I agree that life is getting tougher for the middle class. Recent stats from food banks bear that out.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by LALady

I agree that life is getting tougher for the middle class. Recent stats from food banks bear that out.

Dont know about food banks but yes things are quite crappy right now and won't get any better for a long time. And its not just an LA problem.

[Christine Joan]

I heard on the news that the cost of living has doubled recently: grocery prices and gas prices are much higher than they were last year. Although home prices appear to be falling for purchasing a house, I haven't seen any corresponding drop in rental prices, at least not in my area. Also, I haven't noticed that people's incomes have been rising with the prices. When many people are only making about $25,000 to $40,00 and the cost to purchase a home is well over four hundred thousand dollars, it does not surprise me that many familes with children are forced to live in a one bedroom apartment.

I keep hearing people in government say they are going to do something to provide affordable housing to middle income familes in LA, but I never see any actual results. I wonder when someone is going to do something? I guess we'll have to wait for the next earthquake to clear out some of the overcrowding here.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

I keep hearing people in government say they are going to do something to provide affordable housing to middle income familes in LA, but I never see any actual results. I wonder when someone is going to do something?

What's the government supposed to do? Fix the price of housing? Build giant housing projects?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

I heard on the news that the cost of living has doubled recently....

What news programs do you listen to?

I keep hearing people in government say they are going to do something to provide affordable housing to middle income familes in LA, but I never see any actual results. I wonder when someone is going to do something?

To whom do I write my check?

The government = me.

[Christine Joan]

The government does not equate to me. I am not employed by any governmental agency. I vote for representatives to work for us. Those elected, and many who are appointed, control government resources and authority, such as the authority to grant permits to build new housing developments and can require that a certain percentage of units from each new project be set aside for low income and middle income families or they can create other methods to set aside some housing for middle income and lower income families. As a single individual who can barely afford my own housing, I lack the resources and authority to accomplish what those in government are elected to do which is serve the people who elected them.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

The government does not equate to me. I am not employed by any governmental agency. I vote for representatives to work for us. Those elected, and many who are appointed, control government resources and authority, such as the authority to grant permits to build new housing developments and can require that a certain percentage of units from each new project be set aside for low income and middle income families or they can create other methods to set aside some housing for middle income and lower income families. As a single individual who can barely afford my own housing, I lack the resources and authority to accomplish what those in government are elected to do which is serve the people who elected them.

Sister, I am the government. Where do you think the government gets it's money? From me. So I am supposed to pay for housing for you? If you can't afford your own housing either make more money or buy less housing. Nevada, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Louisiana are more affordable than California (assuming that is where you are living now). Have you considered moving to somewhere that doesn't cost as much?

I vote no on yes.