I hope I history hasn't repeated itself (Salt Lake City: apartments, lease)

[Fresh start guy]

Good morning everyone.
This post will be long so please forgive me.
I'm seeking advice not pity. A little
Back history. In September of 2017 I attempted to relocate to another state,and ended badly. After contacting my apartment building right away I was able to return after paying. $4000
For this I got an eviction notice. Was forced to get a one shot deal. This allowed me to remain in my apartment but was forced to having to go on public assistance.

After a while I found work and everything was fine. In January of 2018 my building sued me saying I owed them $1000 this turned out to be incorrect and the amount was only $100.
For about 18 months every thing was fine, except I was very unhappy living in NYC. Most of my friends moved away to different states. I began searching the fourm searching for a less expensive state where I could start over and chose Utah
For its affordable cost of living. I started saving money for my relocation, I was delighted to see on a whole how friendly the people of Utah are. I did lots of reading on the Mormon religion
and was surprised to see how it had a lot in common with the Jewish religion.

As I continued to save money and prepare for my eventual relocation, I received a letter from the management office this past August, saying I owed $700. Thinking this was a mistake
I called and was shocked to hear that the amount wasn't $700 but $2000. When said that this was impossible I was told that
My rent was raised by $158.00. In July of 2018. When I asked why I never received a past due payment notice, I was told it was not the building's responsibility to inform me.

I was told to go back to HRA Apply once again for public assistance and get another one shot deal. This was something that I was unwilling to do as I was brought up to never seek out this service (I was very grateful for this service as it kept me out of a shelter) sorry for being so long just wanted tell all the facts.

in October a notice was pasted on my apartment door telling me I was being sued in housing court. Terrified I went to court and received enough time to save some more money. And last Thursday went to the management office relinquished my
Appartment. Some information about me I'm in my 50s although look much younger have strong computer skills.

Having A+ Network+security +Cisco ccent and Microsoft legacy certs. I also am a tech graduate with a diploma in network engineering. I also have retail management experience, great customer service skills and a terrific reference letter from my last employer where I was employed as an asset protection specialist.

Now some not so great stuff about me. I have a less than desirable credit score and no driver's license. I know that I probably will have to rent a room. In the beginning instead of an apartment some of you might be thinking why did this person come here we have enough problems with homelessness.I assure that won't be the case with me as I didn't move here to become a burden to anyone.

I'm looking at both retail and the IT industry and would be happy to start at the bottom and work my way up I might also add I was a computer instructor for kid's as well as seniors and got lots of satisfaction helping others. I was looking at Southtown shopping center for possible retail employment
And was wondering if there was public transportation to and from?

So there you have it any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Don

[SWFL_Native]

Originally Posted by Fresh start guy

Good morning everyone.
This post will be long so please forgive me.
I'm seeking advice not pity. A little
Back history. In September of 2017 I attempted to relocate to another state,and ended badly. After contacting my apartment building right away I was able to return after paying. $4000
For this I got an eviction notice. Was forced to get a one shot deal. This allowed me to remain in my apartment but was forced to having to go on public assistance.

After a while I found work and everything was fine. In January of 2018 my building sued me saying I owed them $1000 this turned out to be incorrect and the amount was only $100.
For about 18 months every thing was fine, except I was very unhappy living in NYC. Most of my friends moved away to different states. I began searching the fourm searching for a less expensive state where I could start over and chose Utah
For its affordable cost of living. I started saving money for my relocation, I was delighted to see on a whole how friendly the people of Utah are. I did lots of reading on the Mormon religion
and was surprised to see how it had a lot in common with the Jewish religion.

As I continued to save money and prepare for my eventual relocation, I received a letter from the management office this past August, saying I owed $700. Thinking this was a mistake
I called and was shocked to hear that the amount wasn't $700 but $2000. When said that this was impossible I was told that
My rent was raised by $158.00. In July of 2018. When I asked why I never received a past due payment notice, I was told it was not the building's responsibility to inform me.

I was told to go back to HRA Apply once again for public assistance and get another one shot deal. This was something that I was unwilling to do as I was brought up to never seek out this service (I was very grateful for this service as it kept me out of a shelter) sorry for being so long just wanted tell all the facts.

in October a notice was pasted on my apartment door telling me I was being sued in housing court. Terrified I went to court and received enough time to save some more money. And last Thursday went to the management office relinquished my
Appartment. Some information about me I'm in my 50s although look much younger have strong computer skills.

Having A+ Network+security +Cisco ccent and Microsoft legacy certs. I also am a tech graduate with a diploma in network engineering. I also have retail management experience, great customer service skills and a terrific reference letter from my last employer where I was employed as an asset protection specialist.

Now some not so great stuff about me. I have a less than desirable credit score and no driver's license. I know that I probably will have to rent a room. In the beginning instead of an apartment some of you might be thinking why did this person come here we have enough problems with homelessness.I assure that won't be the case with me as I didn't move here to become a burden to anyone.

I'm looking at both retail and the IT industry and would be happy to start at the bottom and work my way up I might also add I was a computer instructor for kid's as well as seniors and got lots of satisfaction helping others. I was looking at Southtown shopping center for possible retail employment
And was wondering if there was public transportation to and from?

So there you have it any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Don

Might I suggest you polishing up on your lease agreements (terms and conditions), tenant rights, and preparing for the exit/walk through process appropriately. There are many slimy slumlords out there that will take whatever they can get from you. There are also terrible filthy tenants that deserve to pay through the nose for the damages they have caused.


https://www.hud.gov/states/utah/renting/tenantrights

Best of luck!

[Katzpur]

Don, it sure sounds as if you've had a round of bad luck with apartments, etc. Our bus and train company is Utah Transit Authority. You can reach an actual human being by calling (801) RIDE-UTA (801-743-3882) Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can tell you how close the TRAX or Front Runner stations are from each of the mail shopping malls in the Salt Lake City area. In addition to SouthTowne, consider retail possibilities at Fashion Place Mall, City Creek Center or Valley Fair Mall.

For job openings of all kinds, check out KSL.com.

[Fresh start guy]

Thank you so much

[kavm]

All the best to you! Seems like your main challenge is to find a job; the accommodation etc., definitely challenging in the short term, will take care of itself. There might be some short-term seasonal jobs around for the time being. For the long haul, you'd be better advised to focus on leveraging your technology skills. Retail industry, still employing a lot of people, is unfortunately struggling. So, you should keep and build on your technology skills.

Wish you the very best!

[Fresh start guy]

Thank you for your kind wishes and advice

[Katzpur]

Consider signing on with a temp agency. That way you'll have "temporary work" long past the holiday season. And proving yourself as a reliable and capable temp may well lead into something permanent.

[Fresh start guy]

I will definitely look into that thanks for the advice

[parentologist]

Don, as a NY Jew who lived for five years in Salt Lake, and then came back to the Northeast, I can tell you this:

People in SLC are overall friendlier. Mormonism is NOTHING like Judaism - really. It's becoming much more expensive to rent in Salt Lake than it used to be. There's a lot less public transportation than in NYC, and your options will be very limited if you do not drive. There are very few Jews there. It's pretty easy to get a minimum wage job, and if you have skills, the job market is starving for workers. But if you don't have a car and drive, you'll be limited in where you can work.
Unfortunately, the public safety net is nowhere near as comprehensive as in NYC. Plus the housing courts are far more landlord friendly. What I'm saying is that if you have bad credit, you're going to have a difficult time finding decent housing, and if you get behind on the rent, you'll be out on the streets pronto, as opposed to in NYC, where the housing court will give you delay after delay after delay, and some assistance agency or other will give you a helping hand, just to try to keep you housed.

What I'm trying to say is that being poor and marginally housed in SLC, and dependent upon public transportation there, may not be a soft landing.

[Fresh start guy]

Thanks