Ghetto Living in LA (Indio, Palm Springs: low income, section 8, affordable apartments)

[donater]

I am single , 22 and don't have many expenses and want to save money so I can take night classes. I will not have instate residency status for college until next march but I want to start saving as much as possible now. I need to know how low the rent at government subsidized apartments can go.

So far I've been searching for a new place mostly through google/craigslist. I was able to find living room living rentals, shared studios, and other communal living situations in my budget range of $500. Most include all utilities and shared internet but offer very little privacy.

I make a little over $18,000 a year and I believe I may qualify to live in low income housing. My lease at my current place is ending soon and I wanted to know if I should start calling apartments listed in the LAHDs affordable housing roster ( [url]http://www.lacity.org/lahd/affhsgroster.pdf[/url] ) for vacancies. The way the LAHD lists income qualifications is kind of confusing ( http://lahd.lacity.org/Portals/0/Policy/affhsgrosterQA.pdf (broken link) ), so I am not even sure if I qualify or not. But if I do, I believe this would be a better living situation than bedroom/living room sharing situations that I am finding on craigslist. I would get Much more privacy and my own bathroom and kitchen which are big deals to me.

Considering I will have to pay utilities and for internet service I would have to find a place for around $400. This price range for a 1 bedroom/studio seems unreasonable to me but who knows, I have never looked into subsidized housing before.

[CESpeed]

First of all, the Sec 8 (subsidized housing) list is years long. Second priority is given to families. Third anyone who doesn't know these things has no business trying to live in the ghetto. You'll be much better off getting roommate situation until you can afford to start college. You've looked into ghetto living, have you looked into financial aid? There are programs to help people who really want to go to school.

[Dangerous-Boy]

wouldn't be better to stay home at the parents and save money to buy a house?

[SandyCo]

Once you actually have in-state residency and are actually signed up for school, then you can look into housing programs for students. In the meantime, I don't think $400 is going to get you much of anything, even with a roommate. You might be able to rent a room in someone's house if you're lucky, but that's it. Where are you living right now? Is that such a bad situation that you can't stay there for another few months or a year?

Oh, and welcome to City-Data!

[ebreezy]

if you thought about applying for public housing my best best is too apply outside of califorina were the waiting list is not as long.

[timelesschild]

OK, how about living in a cheaper part of California to establish your state residency? It's a big state and almost all of it is cheaper than LA.

[happ]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

OK, how about living in a cheaper part of California to establish your state residency? It's a big state and almost all of it is cheaper than LA.

Good point. If a person can stand the heat there are many very affordable apartments/small houses in the Coachella Valley [Palm Springs\Indio/ Mecca\ El Centro]. Winters are great but summers are 6 months long.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by donater

I am single , 22 and don't have many expenses and want to save money so I can take night classes. I will not have instate residency status for college until next march but I want to start saving as much as possible now. I need to know how low the rent at government subsidized apartments can go.

So far I've been searching for a new place mostly through google/craigslist. I was able to find living room living rentals, shared studios, and other communal living situations in my budget range of $500. Most include all utilities and shared internet but offer very little privacy.

I make a little over $18,000 a year and I believe I may qualify to live in low income housing. My lease at my current place is ending soon and I wanted to know if I should start calling apartments listed in the LAHDs affordable housing roster ( http://www.lacity.org/lahd/affhsgroster.pdf ) for vacancies. The way the LAHD lists income qualifications is kind of confusing ( http://lahd.lacity.org/Portals/0/Policy/affhsgrosterQA.pdf (broken link) ), so I am not even sure if I qualify or not. But if I do, I believe this would be a better living situation than bedroom/living room sharing situations that I am finding on craigslist. I would get Much more privacy and my own bathroom and kitchen which are big deals to me.

Considering I will have to pay utilities and for internet service I would have to find a place for around $400. This price range for a 1 bedroom/studio seems unreasonable to me but who knows, I have never looked into subsidized housing before.

Dude, get a better job. There are a bajillion. Wait tables in a decent restaurant and you'll double your income. If not that, remember, you're in the land of opportunity. I was a hooker with a tray the last time I went to college and cleared 40k a year.

[Mike121]

"Ghetto" in LA isn't really about subsidized housing and section 8. (The subsidized housing supply is very small here.) It is more about four or five recently arrived guys living in a $1000 one bedroom apartment. Bunk beds rule!

I second the "get a better job" vote. Factory workers at American Apparel can make over $24k as do people that work full time at In-N-Out burger.

[woman of wisdom]

Anything is possible if you believe in yourself . Explore your options little more carefully and weigh your pros and cons. Most impotantly pray that god will help you in this decision. the word of god says In all thy way aknowledge him and he will direct your path. think Optimistic, and It will happen.