Question on how to get section 8 renters out of neighborhood (housing, insurance)

[Greenchili]

This is in an HOA? hmmm...not a very good one then.

Greenchili

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Greenchili

This is in an HOA? hmmm...not a very good one then.

Greenchili

Yes, I thought the purpose of an HOA was to keep the riff raff out.

My neighborhood does a good job of keeping riff raff out without an HOA.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by 1930boop

Ok I want to start off that I don't think all section 8 renters are bad by any means. When I bought my home in 2001 everyone on the block was a homeowner. Now as time has passed and the homeowners are leaving and accepting the renters vouchers we have had problems in the neighborhood, from fights in the middle of the street, to house windows being broken, the yards look like s**t, most of them are rude, and yet still drive nicer cars then most. Over the weekend there was a shooting 5 houses down from mine. I'm to the point either I move or they do. I would like to find out how our block can get rid of these people. Do I contact the homeowner? The HOA can't do anything about it. There are a lot of kids on our block and this kind of stuff can not be happening. I'm so sick of it. Can I call the housing authority and turn them in for to many people living there? I really do need some help on where to go with this.

FED UP!!

Why not contact the homeowners directly and prevail upon them to do the right thing and get rid of such poor tenents? Some might not care, but maybe some would?

[MMichelle]

I think you need to try the "all of the above" method.
First, I question that your HOA can't do anything. Noise, trash, etc. are usually items addressed in the CC&Rs. Contact the HOA managment and attend a few Board meetings.
Next, contact the owners of the rental properties and offer to email photos of their houses. It's always interesting to see what's happening to a property you own.
Finally, contact Housing. Section 8 is between the landlord and the tenant. Section 8 provides payment for an amount of the rent - depending on the qualification of the tenant. That said, they have their rules. If an unauthorized person is living in the home - it's a violation. The tenant can loose the funding. If there is drug activity - etc.
Don't forget to call the police! File reports of the activity. Ask for drive bys and explain your concerns.
Above all - document everything. Photograph everything you can. License plates of cars, people, etc. Record the date and time - keep a log. Make notes on a calendar - it's easy. No you can't get in trouble for taking a photo of a car or person. No one has an expectation or privacy if they are in full view of the street or sidewalk. Take care of yourself. Stay safe.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by MMichelle

Above all - document everything. Photograph everything you can. License plates of cars, people, etc. Record the date and time - keep a log. Make notes on a calendar - it's easy. No you can't get in trouble for taking a photo of a car or person. No one has an expectation or privacy if they are in full view of the street or sidewalk. Take care of yourself. Stay safe.

Good stuff MMichelle. The part about photographing license plates and people bothers me. It's obvious and could backfire on the photographer.

Keeping a log makes sense.

I am aware of some areas in greater Chicagoland where multiple investors have each bought 10-25 foreclosed homes in some sub divisions and its all about Section 8 renting. In a matter of a few years, some of these areas have become almost war zones. Most of these sub divisions are not within HOAs.

These municipalities are overwhelmed by reduced sales taxes, substantially decling property values and inadequate police protection, given the evolving enviornment.

It seems to me that any concentration of subsidized housing, of employable people, has a tendency to beget problems.

[Briolat21]

Just FYI - in some areas it is actually illegal to discriminate against section 8. That doesn't mean you have to tolerate trash or noise or safety issues, but it does mean that depending upon the area, you can't just say "section 8" and get rid of the problem.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Briolat21

Just FYI - in some areas it is actually illegal to discriminate against section 8. That doesn't mean you have to tolerate trash or noise or safety issues, but it does mean that depending upon the area, you can't just say "section 8" and get rid of the problem.

Section 8 renters are not a protected class under federal law. Local laws can and do vary. I believe NYC is one of those areas.

Most people would be very surprised by the number of quiet/respectful Section 8 rentals within their local community.

[1930boop]

Ok so I found out that we have a unit here in Denver called Public Nuisance Abatement Unit. This Unit deals with that "one problem neighbor" that everyone complains about. My husband wrote them an email and copied our council member to the email as well. When I got home from work that day an officer was waiting at my house to talk to us and our neighbors about what we had seen and what's been going on with the problem neighbors. The next day he called to let us know that if the owner will not kick them out they can go as far as seizing their property. He also called the housing authority and now they have been served with a 3 day eviction notice. It's very nice to see how fast this unit worked for me and my neighbors. So i'm happy to report they are already moving out of the house....Woooo Hooo Score one for the homeowners!!!!

[bowian]

Originally Posted by 1930boop

Ok so I found out that we have a unit here in Denver called Public Nuisance Abatement Unit. This Unit deals with that "one problem neighbor" that everyone complains about. My husband wrote them an email and copied our council member to the email as well. When I got home from work that day an officer was waiting at my house to talk to us and our neighbors about what we had seen and what's been going on with the problem neighbors. The next day he called to let us know that if the owner will not kick them out they can go as far as seizing their property. He also called the housing authority and now they have been served with a 3 day eviction notice. It's very nice to see how fast this unit worked for me and my neighbors. So i'm happy to report they are already moving out of the house....Woooo Hooo Score one for the homeowners!!!!

That's some great news! Good for you. I wonder if areas that are hit by a high number of foreclosures will experience some of the same issues. It only takes one problem renter to make things bad for all the others.

The next step is to do something about that ineffective HOA. You don't have to exclude section 8 renters, but you should have solid enforceable rules in place and be aggressive about the enforcement.

[alwayzthinking]

Im so sorry you are going through this. i have section 8 and live in the suburb . im very quiet person and my boys are too. i love to live where it nice and clean .i hate the fact that section 8 people do this, because they ruin the chances for me to live in a nice community with my boys. I can report them to housing and tell them what has been going on. Get the names of the person or address and call the housing and ask to speak to the head person for the caseworker. Let hosing know the amont of people living in their homes. Section 8 will definitely open a case ,and take section8 away. i hope this helps. p.s dont tell section8 who u are, because they write on there notes. just tell them you are a concern citizen.