Section 8 (Rapid City: low income, apartment complexes, rental)

[foxmstng]

I'm moving to Rapid City late this summer and notice that there are numerous mentions of Section 8 for rental properties. Is that pertaining to low income housing? I haven't been able to find anything on it.

Thanks

[DannyBanany]

Yep. Section 8 is the government program that helps people with low incomes pay rent. If an apartment ad says "Section 8 OK" they accept low income tenants. Most of the Section 8 apartments in Rapid City are on the Northside and then Minnesota Estates and Vista Pointe are the ones on the Southside.

[foxmstng]

Thanks for the info. Are the crime rates higher in those areas? Here in Tucson, the crime maps are heavily shaded around apartment complexes. Then again, almost all of Tucson is heavily shaded!!

[DannyBanany]

Probably. Rapid City's Northside has a higher crime rate than any other part of the city. My general rule of thumb for those moving to Rapid City is to avoid anything above Omaha Street. Minnesota Estates and Vista Pointe don't really seem as bad but they're surrounded by newer housing developments and higher end condos. Minnesota Estates is right across the street from a golf course too.

Some apartments on the Northside are Brentwood Estates, Knollwood Heights, Maplewood Townhomes, and Hainesway. I hear those are the ones to avoid. But it's just hearsay. LaCrosse Estates is on the Northside too but I hear they're pretty nice. They're in a good location too.

[Jammie]

Fox, keep in mind though that our entire state has low crime rates. What we consider to be an area with more crime, would be normal or low crime in a lot of areas of the country.

[foxmstng]

One of the reasons we selected Rapid City was the low crime rate, as well as the Black Hills, lower than average unemployment, and the weather. We are originally from the Midwest, so the winter won't be a shock. As for crime rate, what you say is true, however, here the violent crime rate is 3 times the national average so most anywhere will seem better! Thanks for the info.