Dear Supervisors:

I was present at the hearing on July 22 of this year, and I want to let you know the problems that it would cause me if I lost the subsidy. During the hearing, they did not mention a lot of the things that affect us as low-income families in the rental subsidy program.

I am a mother of three. My children are different ages: nine, four, and two years old. I started receiving a rental subsidy three months ago and now my husband has more time to spend with us, especially our children. Before receiving this subsidy, we lived in a studio with no bed and no furniture. We had to sleep on the floor and it was very stressful for my children and me. The bedbugs and cockroaches were also part of the family. These living conditions had a very negative impact on my children. Since my daughter has eczema and my son has asthma, it was terrible for them to sleep on the floor. After many years of fighting for decent affordable housing, in 2006 we won 300 rental subsidies. When the Supervisors approved $2.3 million for the rental subsidy, the subsidy changed our lives. We live in a bigger space, my children spend more time with their father, he plays with them more, and the stress has gone away. We have been through a lot because we didn’t have decent housing.

My fear is that when the subsidy is gone, I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. (more…)

Dear Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco:

My name is Maria Aviles. I am a widow and I have four children. My oldest child is 18 years old, the second is 17 years old, I have a 15-year old son, and my youngest daughter is 13. I used to live in an SRO hotel in the Tenderloin. We had one small room and no kitchen. We lived in the SRO hotel for eight years.

As my children got bigger, we needed more space. I decided to accept help from the subsidy program because with the money that I earn, I can’t pay a high rent by myself. It’s the first time I have ever received any type of assistance and I’m not receiving any other type of help. I’ve always made it on my own with my kids. I’ve never expected help to fall from the sky because I’ve always had to fight on my own.

I’m currently participating in the subsidy program. I moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Potrero Hill in June 2007. Our lives are a lot better now. Things are better because we have two bedrooms, the living room and the kitchen.

The $500 subsidy is a big help. It alleviates our situation a little bit and allows us to live in a bigger space. But it does not resolve my situation in the long run. We’re much better off now, but my fear is that when the time comes for them to withdraw the subsidy, I won’t be able to pay the rent. What am I going to do if I can’t pay the rent on my own?

(more…)

Well, we all know that the Governator is tightening his fiscal belt, so to speak. Not just wanting to cut wages on government workers at the capital in Sacramento, he’s also casting an eye on those on a guaranteed low income—folks who look forward to a little financial boon around the holiday season. So the Governator with a quick flick of the BIC has cut the homeowners’ and renters’ assistance programs. So these folks that normally would be receiving $340 to help defray bills or as a little extra spending money for holiday cheer, are instead receiving “Sorry!” letters to inform them that there will be no rebate this year.

I talked with one Mr. Roberto Silva who told me that this was the first time in seven years that he wasn’t receiving the assistance of $340 which he depends on for a little help in the fall and the holiday season. “This will be a hardship: I’ve always counted on this money.” His rent is $220 a week, and the money that he receives in Social Security Disability doesn’t take him through the end of the month.

This is just one case scenario. On a brighter note, in an action on October 22, senior citizens from Seniors Organizing Seniors brought the contention public with a street theatre presentation, letting Arnold know just what those checks meant to them.

I’ll close this article by wishing you a great day!