Did you not read post #27?

No, I have a pathological fear of odd numbers.

What is section 8? Is that something like HUD?

Yeah, I should move out of MY neighborhood, in which I've lived for 28 years, just so some rich guy can make a few more bucks by bringing in a bad element. I don't think so!

 

It's not your neighborhood, it's your house. The neighborhood is open to anyone who can afford to live there.

What is section 8? Is that something like HUD?

 

Yup, government-subsidized rent.

It's not your neighborhood, it's your house.

That's the kind of attitude that I'm talking about. People who take ownership of (and responsibility for) their neighborhood, make good neighbors and good citizens.

^ I agree BF, but fair housing laws say that just about anyone has the right to live just about anywhere.

Someone above suggested putting together a homeowner's society to establish neighborhood regulations and requirements. I agree with this idea.

Yup, government-subsidized rent.

 

I see. Here in the country we have a very similar albeit, imo, worse problem. We have virtualy no zoning laws. In my neighborhood, for example, many of the longtime residents are elderly and are dying or moving into assisted living quarters or nursing homes. Their children are selling the homes to people who are not only renting the houses but also moving in two or three older house trailers onto the large lots. These are then rented to people with HUD paying varying shares of the rent. Once proud neigborhoods have gone downhill at an alarming rate.

 

In my opinion, it is not discrimination to bar HUD housing from various neighborhoods. People are allowed move in as they like, but they have to pay just as the current residents do.

 

I wish you could see the section 8 housing in Barbourville. It consists mainly of communities of two family dwellings very neatly maintained by the city. Even the lawns are mowed, trimed, and mulched by city employees. It's like living in a condo community only in this case one must be low income to be eligible.

If you don't like your neighbors - move. There are plenty of neighborhoods that are priced too high to have any sect. 8. The only way to segregate yourself is to put up the cash that those less fortunate can't afford...

That's a poor argument and I'd venture to say you wouldn't feel that way if it was your neighborhood.

My neighborhood is a mixed-income neighborhood. Probably wouldn't notice much of a difference.

 

Look, it's not like longtime residents don't have it within their means to preserve their neighborhoods. It's not like you can't join up with your neighbors, go meet with the landlord and "gently" impress upon them to do a better job of keeping their tenants and properties in line. By the same token, you can also "gently" impress upon your new neighbors to keep their noses clean. Thinly veiled threats can be a powerful motivator for change.

You rent or own? Big difference if you rent.

 

Try telling that to all of the neighborhoods that have had a large influx of Section 8 and are now ruined and their property value as fallen though the basement. It's not anywhere near as easy as you propose.

Did you not read post #27?

That's not a solution, that's not even a bandage.

It's not your neighborhood, it's your house. The neighborhood is open to anyone who can afford to live there.

They can't afford to live there, they're getting it for free or next to nothing. You've got to come up with better arguments than this.

That's not a solution, that's not even a bandage.

 

I guess not, if you're willing to just sit on your hands and complain, rather than taking an active role in preservation.

 

You rent or own? Big difference if you rent.

 

Try telling that to all of the neighborhoods that have had a large influx of Section 8 and are now ruined and their property value as fallen though the basement. It's not anywhere near as easy as you propose.

 

Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy.

 

I rent, and our neighborhood is mixed with renters and owners (not high-dollar rents, either). The house right across the street from me would probably go for around $400K if it were put on the market, and the apartment complex at the end of the street is public assistance, I believe.

My neighborhood is a mixed-income neighborhood. Probably wouldn't notice much of a difference.

 

Look, it's not like longtime residents don't have it within their means to preserve their neighborhoods. It's not like you can't join up with your neighbors, go meet with the landlord and "gently" impress upon them to do a better job of keeping their tenants and properties in line. By the same token, you can also "gently" impress upon your new neighbors to keep their noses clean. Thinly veiled threats can be a powerful motivator for change.

 

In most cases doesn't work. IF you can even find the owner they often do not care. That's why they take section 8 in the first place. The tenants don't care either in most cases I've dealt with. It's a very frustrating experience. Often a dangerous one also if you're not careful.

I guess not, if you're willing to just sit on your hands and complain, rather than taking an active role in preservation.

 

 

 

Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy.

 

I rent, and our neighborhood is mixed with renters and owners (not high-dollar rents, either). The house right across the street from me would probably go for around $400K if it were put on the market, and the apartment complex at the end of the street is public assistance, I believe.

 

If you have public assistance nearby and the house across the street would go for $400k, it's probably worth $500k without the public assistance down the street. It does have a huge impact. Ask anyone who invests in real estate.

That's a poor argument and I'd venture to say you wouldn't feel that way if it was your neighborhood.

 

It happened in my old neighborhood. I moved.