Why?????? (Austin: low income, section 8, apartments) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

orahageorge · 06-10-2009, 02:01 AM

On 06/04/09, I arrived to Austin to live here, but this city very prejudice against low income people, they told me if the rent is $500 a month for a room, you need to make at lest $1500 income?
never heard of that before only in TX.
how about the people on SSD, how makes about $800 a month, is that mean they are out of luck, yes there is a low income housing, but the wait is about 2 years?
also I looked at some apartments in Austin they look very old and bad shape.
there is so many buses, and they go around and around, let me tell you, I was in Austin for only 2 days, they realy give me a hard time, the apartment mangers are liars and they will tell you come over with no worries, then after you get there, they tell you about the income.

1mintjulep · 06-10-2009, 05:04 AM

The requirement for rent to be 1/3 of your monthly income is fairly standard practice - that isn't being prejudiced, that's making sure you'll have the money to pay your rent. Also, $500 a month is on the low end in terms of apartment rent - anything you'll find in the $375-$500 range is going to be either really small or older and in a not-so-great part of town. I had to make do with roommates and crappy apartments for the first few years I lived in Austin and wasn't making very much money.

Jennibc · 06-10-2009, 06:58 AM

Yes, everyplace I've lived (four different states) have required 3to 1 ratio for rent. No prejudice against the poor, as upscale luxury apartments with 1500 month rent will require the same.

FueledByBlueBell · 06-10-2009, 07:05 AM

In NYC they require 48x your monthly rent in income or something

nmnita · 06-10-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orahageorge

On 06/04/09, I arrived to Austin to live here, but this city very prejudice against low income people, they told me if the rent is $500 a month for a room, you need to make at lest $1500 income?
never heard of that before only in TX.
how about the people on SSD, how makes about $800 a month, is that mean they are out of luck, yes there is a low income housing, but the wait is about 2 years?
also I looked at some apartments in Austin they look very old and bad shape.
there is so many buses, and they go around and around, let me tell you, I was in Austin for only 2 days, they realy give me a hard time, the apartment mangers are liars and they will tell you come over with no worries, then after you get there, they tell you about the income.

How many places have you lived? This isn't unusual, the management just wants to make sure you are able to pay your rent so many have the 1/3 policy. It certainly makes sense to me. Maybe you should have checked this out before you decided to re-locate. Austin is not considered a prejudice city at all, pretty much the other way. Do you have a job? Can you get your employer to vouch for you? Did you check any of this out before deciding to move to Texas?

For $500 a month, you are not going to get anything very nice, where have you lived that has nice apartments for $500 a month?.

Yes, the wait for section 8 housing can be long, I don't think it is 2 years, but I do not know that for certain.

Sorry, I don't feel sorry for you, I understand the managers side of this. It has nothing to do with prejudice, it has to do with good business sense.

Nita

jobert · 06-10-2009, 07:33 AM

Austin is the most expensive big city in Texas to live in. Living here for only $500/month is a great deal, I wish I could.

BentBow · 06-10-2009, 08:20 AM

You can find something over in East Austin, but you will be in with all the illegal aliens from Mexico.

For me to live in this town, my bills are around $4000 a month, and that is no frills or spending money included.

SASgeek · 06-10-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BentBow

For me to live in this town, my bills are around $4000 a month, and that is no frills or spending money included.

Good lord! What are you spending $4000 a month on with "no frills or spending money?"

I spend $1000 on rent, and another $1000 on food, gas, clothes, insurance, utilities and miscellaneous, and live very comfortably...

Jennibc · 06-10-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SASgeek

Good lord! What are you spending $4000 a month on with "no frills or spending money?"

I spend $1000 on rent, and another $1000 on food, gas, clothes, insurance, utilities and miscellaneous, and live very comfortably...

All I could figure was he has about six kids.

CptnRn · 06-10-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SASgeek

Good lord! What are you spending $4000 a month on with "no frills or spending money?"

I spend $1000 on rent, and another $1000 on food, gas, clothes, insurance, utilities and miscellaneous, and live very comfortably...

Some people consider alcohol, tobacco and drugs essentials. Also there is the gas, payments and insurance on the 2 ton, 4 WD ATV.