The Long Road to Housing

Hi! My name is Carla. I'm 20 years old and Class of 2006 high school graduate. I'm taking computer classes at Crittenton Women's Union Woman to Woman Program. I'm graduating on April 12, 2007. I'm a mother of a 23-month old daughter who will be 2 in April. I'm currently living in a Family Shelter housing over 60 mothers and children in Boston.

I'm writing to you today because I have a concern on Housing in Boston.

My concern that I have today is that the Government and Welfare is not giving us the right fair chance of finding an apartment when you want to stay in Boston and you have only lived and have family in Boston. The way that I see it is, if you make less money for your annual year of being on welfare (I only make $1,404 with my child and me), it is more difficult to get a market-rate two-bedroom apartment in Boston because their dollar requirements are higher. I have been homeless since May 2006 and I have noticed that although I have lived and been in shelter, there are people who have not been there longer than me but have left in less than five months. I have no CORI issues nor any other government issues at all either. For those living where we are, we have different reasons on why we are there today but mainly it is that we have no place to go or other reasons.

I'm new at this but this is my statement to you: how could you help my child and me feel more comfortable in knowing why we can't find housing that fits us?

- Carla

Comments

[Ric Caban]

Is it a must that you have to live in Boston? Are you willing to live on the North or South shores?

[Ardelin De jesus]

Hola, mi nombre es Ardelin, soy madre soltera de un presioso bebe de 6 meses de edad. En la actualidad, mi bebe y yo llevamos casi 7 meses de estar viviendo en un shelter, porque no tenia los recursos suficientes para proveherle a el y tambien para mi las cosas indispensables para vivir: como lo es un techo, la ropa necesaria, la comida de todos los dias. Durante un tiempo me dedique a estudiar en mi pais pero por dificultades que tuve vine a este pais pensando que constaria con el apoyo que necesita para estudiar, pero no fue asi, por lo que me dedique a trabajar pero lo que ganaba no era suficiente. Esa es la razon por la que escribo hoy, para ver si nos pueden ayudar a cada una de las madres que intentan salir adelante con sus hijos para no tener que depender de la ayuda publica, ayudandonos a tener un hogar, a poder prepararnos, para asi constribuir a un pais mejor. Gracias porque se que nos ayudaran.

[Tybrisa Herald]

This is so true! Living in Boston (or *trying* to) seems to be out of reach for most families. Sure, there is new housing being built around Boston, but most are extortionately priced condos.

All forms of housing in Boston, whether renting or owning, is completely unaffordable. I work full time, and am saving up to buy a home one day, but the way housing and rent prices keep increasing, it seems I may never reach my goal of homeownership.

With the reports in news that more and more homes are being foreclosed in Massachusetts (and around the country), I don't feel there is much hope unless the government does something about this growing problem and increases housing subsidies and grants.