Don’t qualify for low income but struggling with “normal” prices

TinaM

TinaM

Member
Are you in this boat? My rent is just at the point where I have had to give up a number of monthly things but I don’t qualify for low income housing.

When I peruse apartments online to consider moving, and it could be anywhere because I don’t have family in the US, the affordable ones all have income restrictions. It’s so frustrating. My current place increases the rent by $100 every year but there aren’t any other choices where I would feel safe and can have my pets with me.

Only other choice is a roommate but I have trouble being around other people 24/7 due to an anxiety disorder.

How in the world do people do it?
 

TinaM said:
Are you in this boat? My rent is just at the point where I have had to give up a number of monthly things but I don’t qualify for low income housing.

When I peruse apartments online to consider moving, and it could be anywhere because I don’t have family in the US, the affordable ones all have income restrictions. It’s so frustrating. My current place increases the rent by $100 every year but there aren’t any other choices where I would feel safe and can have my pets with me.

Only other choice is a roommate but I have trouble being around other people 24/7 due to an anxiety disorder.

How in the world do people do it?
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You can take a lodger, but if you only take a 'professional'' someone who works during the day, then you will have no need to be around them 24/7.. put a tv in their room.. stipulate which rooms are for sharing ..( bathroom, kitchen maybe)... and they'll come home, shower, make food, and go to bed..you'll barely see them..
 

I'm not in that situation, but I feel for those of you who are. I had a friend who said her measely income was one dollar more than the criteria for receiving rental assistance. She was blessed that one of her sons helped her with some of her bills. A few years ago, she moved to Tennessee with her ex husband, who has a lot of land. They split the cost of expenses and she still comes out way ahead of what she had left before.

It seems to me the income criteria for eligibility for some of these programs should be raised. I know people who were only getting $16 in Snap benefits. Let the policy makers who come up with these figures try living on those incomes and see what they can buy with $16 !
 
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Inflation is definitely the enemy of anyone on a fixed income.

Keep checking the income limits for SNAP, Heap, subsidized apartments, etc…

In this area many subsidies allow a single person with an income at or below 50% of the AMI which is around $40,000.00.

I’m fortunate that my income is adequate but I do wish that I could qualify for some of the services available to low income seniors on a sliding scale of some sort.

It would be helpful to have someone similar to a social worker available to help us all navigate this business of being old in America.
 
TinaM said:
I’m on disability so no work. My son is also on disability, retired military, and he is moving to south America with his wife’s family because they can’t afford the prices in the US on a military retirement. They are leaving in 2 weeks.
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There are some disabilities that allow one to have a job without giving up anything. I don't need one, but I do qualify for the extras you memtioned, but refuse them so they can help others more in need than me. Here where I live there are some residents who walk disabled residents dogs a few times a day. There are also a few who give rides or clean for residents. This stays between them.
 
dusty said:
There are some disabilities that allow one to have a job without giving up anything. I don't need one, but I do qualify for the extras you memtioned, but refuse them so they can help others more in need than me. Here where I live there are some residents who walk disabled residents dogs a few times a day. There are also a few who give rides or clean for residents. This stays between them.
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I have similar experiences. My best friend works a unarmed security job two graveyard shifts a week to stay under 1.500/months. Another one is an on-call instructor proctor for a local community college. I pay $100/day, pantry/fridge for sitting one cat. Getting someone to iron is impossible.
After son and DIL move there may be time to research everything available locally from housing assistance to cell phones and have nots.
 
Well I've got places that I've applied at that are reduced income housing (30% of income) and I'm still waiting on some replies. I have been told at one place I'm #76 on the list.

I have noticed a lot of places that have two bedroom apartments but I don't apply there because obviously I am a single person. But if I had to I would accept the fact that in order to save money I would be going to have to put up with others and bite the bullet.

Or just suffer until you can't take it anymore...
 
Two and a half years ago my husband and I left our home state of Texas and moved to Kansas
The reason being was our two bedroom two bath apartment was going up to 1700 a month now this was nice not anything really expensive but it was neat and clean and bug free but it wasn't worth no damn 1700 a month
At least was about to run out when my husband's niece who owns a house in Kansas said we could rent it from her $750 a month for a it is way too big for Just the Two of Us but rent here is much cheaper that is the average rent for home in this part of Kansas
 
TinaM said:
Are you in this boat? My rent is just at the point where I have had to give up a number of monthly things but I don’t qualify for low income housing.



When I peruse apartments online to consider moving, and it could be anywhere because I don’t have family in the US, the affordable ones all have income restrictions. It’s so frustrating. My current place increases the rent by $100 every year but there aren’t any other choices where I would feel safe and can have my pets with me.



Only other choice is a roommate but I have trouble being around other people 24/7 due to an anxiety disorder.



How in the world do people do it?
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Can you move to a cheaper city/state?
 
Haha! I did twice. I retired from California. Got an rv lot in New Mexico. Too remote and no medical or WiFi. Moved to an apartment in Missouri. I don’t want to sacrifice a safe lifestyle for cheaper quarters. I can manage for a few more years. I just don’t know how people manage these days.
 
What ever your doing isn't working. You replied fine. What is the problem? Yea having room mates ca be tuff. Your lucky if your chemistry is happening. You know getting rid of cabel TV saves you something. Unnecessary subscriptions? Spending too much on your honey will drain ya fast. :)
 
TinaM said:
Haha! I did twice. I retired from California. Got an rv lot in New Mexico. Too remote and no medical or WiFi. Moved to an apartment in Missouri. I don’t want to sacrifice a safe lifestyle for cheaper quarters. I can manage for a few more years. I just don’t know how people manage these days.
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People review their needs versus their wants and their incoming funds plus down drawing.

Oklahoma meant 2/3 the house, 1/3 of land and 2/3 of utilities/real estate taxes versus our Texas situation. But our move was triggered by SO being courted by an employer. His plan is three more years. Aside from his play dates we could whittle things down to my SS. It would be tight.

Many in our circle between 60-90 still work fulltime or have side gigs. As a friend told me yesterday "I can only babysit my granddaughter so much". She is proctoring tests at a community college. A mentor/employee/friend went back to purple squirrel recruiting five years after a quadruple stroke. Burnout after two years, back on SSI and working graveyard two nights as unarmed guard. It pays for his play dates and splurges and he does not have to deal with people. I have considered house cleaning. Yes! I enjoy the instant gratification of a clean room.
 
dusty said:
There are some disabilities that allow one to have a job without giving up anything. I don't need one, but I do qualify for the extras you memtioned, but refuse them so they can help others more in need than me. Here where I live there are some residents who walk disabled residents dogs a few times a day. There are also a few who give rides or clean for residents. This stays between them.
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It is earnings based as far as I understand.
 
I wish the prices of everything would quit going up so high. It is hard to make ends meet. I am trying to figure out how to cut some of our bills. I really hope that people can get help in these trying times.
 

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