I can't believe what has happened to my beloved home state of Colorado during my six year absence. You would not believe what I have experienced in the last two weeks, trying to find affordable housing.
How about the shanty town amidst all the tourists and shoppers? One block away from a major tourism shopping district. Ten "cottages" crammed into a small lot. No insulation whatsoever (single wall construction). Too tiny for furniture. Built-in narrow bunkbed. If a window broke, good luck replacing one... they quit making 'em like that probably 60 years ago. Ripped-up linoleum, circa 50's. I'm guessing these places were 100 sq. ft. apiece, maximum.
The "leasing agent," whose appearance indicated that the current economy is working for her, pulled up in a brand new truck with temporary tags. Informed me that rent was $479, including utilities. Wanted a 12-month lease.
*SIGH*
The "cozy cottage" advertised in the local major newspaper I viewed earlier had no insulation in the walls, either. The owner (the first non-realtor or leasing agent I've dealt with in 2 weeks) told me the cottage was 118 years old. He demonstrated how to heat the place: turned on all 4 burners on the gas stove, and then turned on the exhaust fan above the stove... then he instructed me to feel the heat being distributed by the exhaust fan, assuring me that the fan distributed the heat throughout the cottage. He wanted $400/mo., plus utilities. 12-month lease.
These places made the thin-walled dive with the broken windows and the leaking, partially collapsed roof 40 miles away in the mountains look like a mansion. This place goes for $400/mo., as well.
Or $400 a month will rent a room in a house, living with strangers. Or a "victorian" apartment (read 10 apartments crammed into a "vintage" house)... No dogs allowed. And plenty of noise and lack of privacy.
$400 a month won't even get you into a mobile home around here. Lot rent average is $450/mo. Plus utilities. Plus the mobile home rental. But mainly they want you to buy something ancient and over-priced that "needs work"... so then you have your payments, your lot rent, and your utilities.
$400 a month is half my income. It is INSANE that there are so many empty homes and apartments around here and yet there is no affordable housing for the poor!
Check this out: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30216739/ "Despite Housing Downturn Renters Get No Relief -- Studies Show Costs Are Not Going Down -- Lowest Income Tenants Hurt Worst."
Check this out: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459965,00.html "Miami Activist Moves Homeless Into Foreclosed Homes"
Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-TmYyOWqk "Tent City Homeless Vacate Notice By Police - i-care-America"
The "market" (as it is referred to) is glutted with a plethora of over-priced apartments, all managed by realtors, property management companies, and "leasing agents". You can't get into anywhere without dealing with these people, and as a group -- I've come to dislike them as much as politicians and lawyers. They all want to check your credit, which every time your credit is checked, it lowers your rating score. All of this to hear your neighbor sneeze next door or to hear someone else walk across your ceiling. Not to mention screaming unattended children, loud T.V.'s, arguments....
All the cheaper dives have horrible reviews from tenants at apartmentratings.com. All the pricey complexes have great reviews. Go to craigslist and check out housing in Colorado.
The ironic thing is, if you can afford something over $800 - $1000 a month, it BUYS YOU RESPECT. Dogs allowed? Sure! Go ahead, smoke in your apartment! Low damage deposit, you bet! Security, pools, racquetball, motion detectors, wifi included..... SOUNDPROOFING. It is ASSUMED that if you have money that you respect your crib more than the poor folk.
Money buys you privacy, respect, soundproofing. It buys you sane, decent housing.
When you're disabled, housing is always an issue. How about the 11 years that I lived like an animal, sponge-bathing out of a roasting pan and my only heat was a wood-burning stove... I had to set the alarm clock every two hours during the winter months to feed the fire. How about doing your laundry in a trash can, using a plunger for an agitater? Or how about the HUD housing with the paper-thin walls and the invasive inspections, heavy-handed threats and outrageous rules? Then I lived in a travel trailer in Needles, CA. Imagine living in a tin box at 130 degrees in the summer?
So now I'm back in my beloved home state. I will live in my car with my dog and keep my belongings in the storage unit (I don't even have furniture). I'm too old and grumpy to room with strangers or put up with thin walls. I can get thin walls in my car, for free.
I will have internet access until mid-week, next week. After that, who knows? It will be sporadic, to be sure.
Most Americans are clueless about the 37 million or so of us Americans living below the poverty level. The stories we could all tell. If only people would listen. And do something about it. Because we're doing what we can.
TENACITY
By (Avatrix)
Published & copywritten in my non-Avatar name
©2002
Living a life of poverty
Daily struggle for necessities
Hopeless life-long penalty
Endless journey of misery
Every day new adversity
Minor things bring calamity
Colors all I do and see
Weary dread of reality
Nothing ever comes easily
Lifetime full of drudgery
Swallowed by obscurity
Binding chains of captivity
Sub-class woman no validity
Cast-off throwaway casualty
Enforced decree of inequality
In this land of opportunity
Salted wound, see the wealthy
Care-free in their prosperity
Modern-day Pharisees
Doctrines full of hypocrisy
Scream inside at the blasphemy
Pretense love and empathy
Twisted hollow ministry
Token feel-good philanthropy
Stolen hope and dignity
Full of despair and apathy
Repressed rage at disparity
Overwhelmed by the enormity
Drowning in deficiency
Surplus of inability
Sleepless nights of anxiety
Weighted heart so heavily
Trampled dreams have atrophied
Cruel torment of frailty
It is hard to fake bravery
Stubborn savior my tenacity
Rest assured that I am not a one-dimensional person. This is simply one aspect. More blogging to come. Hopefully, as internet access permits.
Take care. And thanks for reading.
