Posted on 01/05/2005 7:28:24 PM PST by Ellesu
We live in a society where cash comes before being human
Dear Socialist Worker, I am a single woman, currently unemployed, with a home-based business that is barely bringing in any income. I have always supported myself by working in nightclub industries as a promoter and makeup artist, and writing resumes (my business).
In September, when I was about five-and-a-half months pregnant, I could no longer work in the nightclub industry, which was 90 percent of my income and allowed me to afford my rent and pay most of my bills. I tried to look for a job, but a lot of places would not hire me because of my pregnancy.
I fell three months behind on my rent--about $3,300. I have lived in my apartment for seven-and-a-half years and have always paid the rent. My landlord recently gave me an eviction letter asking me to come up with the money or leave in three days. I wrote a letter explaining that I was due to give birth and, as of January 1, would be back to work and caught up.
I explained and apologized for any inconvenience that I may have caused. But he and his lawyer went ahead and started the eviction process.
I am at my lowest low. I cry every night because I have no support. The social service people said they will not provide any rental assistance because my rent is too high. But my rent is standard for a New York City apartment in a decent neighborhood.
I just can’t believe that in this country, there are people made homeless everyday, and that the law will allow a landlord or a judge or a lawyer to evict a pregnant woman and contribute to homelessness.
I could understand if I was working and refusing to pay rent. Then I would think that was the right action to take on his part. But I am showing an effort to pay, and I have a good reason.
It is sad that we live in a society where cash comes before being human. It is sad that we live in society that contributes to homelessness because someone has suffered a financial crisis or major setback.
I have called every charity in my area. Most of them tell me they have no funds or don’t provide funds. I called a lawyer to assist me in court. I explained that I am getting evicted, and all he could say to me is “I could represent you for $600.” I just told this man that I am being evicted--that means I have no money.
I was not able to afford an attorney, and the landlord got the upper hand. I was given the “choice” of coming up with almost $6,000 by February 28--that will include January and February rent and the back rent I owe. I have to start making a payment in the next 20 days of $500. If I am a day late, they will send the marshal to evict me. So, I am basically still in the same position.
I have been to the charities that I was told to go to. A lot of them say there is no money. The Salvation Army said they could only give me $600, but that is only if I could show them proof that I can come up with the rest. I tried to get a one-shot deal, but they said I needed to have a job to qualify to show how I will pay them back. If I had money and a job I would not be going to them! They made no sense.
We have billions to use for war, but no help or funds for individuals in need. It is sad that we call ourselves the richest country in the world. We are the poorest, because of our poor sense of humanity. Anonymous, New York City
I have no idea. This was from a link that came up when I googled "liberal".
You did fine, kiddo. I understood that the letter was from the Socialist blahblahblah and not from you. And I don't think there's a FR rule that one MUST write a commentary.
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The letter is bogus! It's commie propaganda, designed to jerk your chain. Some schlub with more time than brains wrote that crap!
This woman is full of it, I work in real estate in NYC.
Unless her landlord has the powers of god, getting somone evicted fast is not happening, it takes months and months, and thats if they are healthy and have jobs and just refuse to pay.
Also note, NYC currently has a shortage of Marshals to do evictions.
Maybe she should move out of New York?
$1,100 a month rent sounds like a pretty decent apartment.
LOL! I thought the same thing. I'M tired of the "I'm single, pregnant and who's going to pay?" dilemma. Like it's society's fault she's pregnant. Hope she puts the kid up for adoption.
Hear. Hear.
They all want to be Captain of their destiny... till they're fifty yards from the rocks!
The Kingsbridge Story: Changing a Whole Environment
In the 1990’s the largest of the intake or assessment shelters for women was lodged in the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, where Care for the Homeless had been arranging primary care for many years.
Bringing our knowledge of what was needed at Kingsbridge to bear, we formed a unique partnership with Tolentine-Zeiser Community Life Center, a Bronx-based agency that provided day-care, after-school, senior, immigrant and homeless services. In June 1996, we began operating the Kingsbridge Women’s Assessment Center and turned an uncaring, often violent, environment into a temporary home where homeless women found a respite, some dignity, and got a fresh start. Each year we provided food, shelter, social services, and a safe environment for 1500 to 1800 homeless single women of the nearly 4,000 women we interviewed and who entered the shelter system through Kingsbridge ‘s intake office. Over the years, we received a 99% fitness rating and doubled DHS’s goals for placing residents in housing and in more permanent settings
But the Armory in which the shelter was itself housed was deteriorating around us and Kingsbridge was closed in June 2000. The women were dispersed to several older, less client-friendly congregate environments.
“I’m so happy and appreciative of the help that I received while I was at Kingsbridge. And I’m happy to see that there’ll be continuing help for others out there who need it. And it’s definitely needed. So I’m glad that this project is on it’s way. Hopefully, I’m making some contribution.”
Princess Gibson entered the homeless system for the first time in 1998 at the Kingsbridge Women’s Assessment Center where she met Care for the Homeless. She has worked her way up from assessment through a transitional shelter program to an SRO program where she awaits a Section 8 voucher for her own apartment.
This story has more bull then a fleet of bulldozers to handle.
Here in NYC, evicting a tenant for non-payment is about as quick and easy as seperating Senator Schumer and a camera.
Off the bat, the city has a shortage of marshalls, so even if everything goes well through the courts for the landlord, it still ain't happening anytime soon, and NYC is so tenant friendly that the chances of her being booted out inside of 6 months are slim and none, and slim is flying somewhere over germany right now.
The fact that she's pregnant, means 6 months is now more likely a minimum then a maximum.
However, the thirty thousand dollars in taxes I paid this year have convinced me that socialists deserve to freeze to death in the streets.
Toodles.
>>>It amazes me to no end, how lying and dishonest some of these leftists are to further there own cause.<<<
Every time I think nothing they do or say can surprise me anymore, something they do or say surprises the heck outta me!
I think you're right; it's BS. Who was that black "journalist" who was fired for making up stories? Maybe he's got a new job writing crap for the Socialist blahblahblah to rile up the rank and file. "It's not literally true, but it COULD be true. It's a compilation." Stunning, eh?
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If you are crying wolf...well, don't hurt those who are standing ready to help...we are not easy...but we do listen...
>>>I think she left out the part about dancing around a pole occasionally.<<<
LOL. I think you're right!
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as of January 1, would be back to work and caught up.
I was not able to afford an attorney, and the landlord got the upper hand. I was given the “choice” of coming up with almost $6,000 by February 28--that will include January and February rent and the back rent I owe. I have to start making a payment in the next 20 days of $500. If I am a day late, they will send the marshal to evict me. So, I am basically still in the same position.
Where's the problem? She said she'd be able to be paid up by January; they gave her till the end of February to be paid up.
Something here doesn't make sense.
Why are you posting this claptrap?
Everyone makes decisions, some of them life-altering FOREVER. You want to live in the Ritz, do the work.
Or are you just gathering your DU friends to look at how "hateful" we Conservatives are?
I always love that. Abundance (and thus charity) comes from wealth. Wealth comes from capitalism. QED, Charity comes from Capitalism. People with no money can't help anyone.
It's not written by her!
"And the father is where?
Not to worry. The father already has public housing.
On Riker's Island.
Look, I'm all for helping those who help themselves, but those that do nothing but continually put themselves in situations like this and then expect the governemnt or handouts to pay their way really get my goat.
It was more the attitude than her situation that irked me. Good people can make bad decisions and I wouldn't want anyone reading this to think that people don't care and that help is not out there. It is hard to be pregnant and alone but IMO she's looking in the wrong places and expecting to be maintained in her lifestyle.
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