Housing for $30 a month!

2009-09-12 20:15:26

#1

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

I have been doing some digging into a local housing project. I have been asking several tenants there about the make-up of the other residents. I have been trying to rathionalize my view point on social programs to see if I am wrong. I was actually hoping to find out I was skewed on my viewpoint. Perhaps that things were actually closer to a grey area at least. What I am finding out is interesting.

Their estimates:

1) 40 percent could get jobs but aren't even looking.

2) 90 percent pay only $30/month.

3) Many watch what they earn to stay under certain the income brackets.

4) Less than half are of retirement age.

In summary, over half are of working age. Of those, over 75% are not actively looking for work. I asked them if they felt like these people were choosing to live there because it was easy. They said yes. I obviously was calling them out to a good extent. I know, evil.

Discussion points:

1) What other questions should I ask them?

2) What experiences do you have with lower income people/families?

3) In your view what is the percentage of abuse?

4) Am I wrong, do I live in a freakish outlier area where all the slackers live?

5) Is it worth taking care of underachievers to catch those few that truly need the assistance?

Disclaimer:

These are opinions only, there are no actual facts. I am not about to conduct a real study thingy. Just simple questions to those who I thought would be defensive of the people that live there.

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-12 20:17:39

#2

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6994|67.222.138.85

The thing is most proponents of welfare have no issue with these facts/simple conclusions to your questions.

2009-09-12 20:27:34

#3

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

That makes sense.

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-12 20:32:25

#4

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6962|Canberra, AUS

In this country there are rules saying that if you are able to work and aren't, you can only collect certain payments if you can prove that you're looking for a job.

Similar there or not?

Last edited by Spark (2009-09-12 20:32:34)

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2009-09-12 20:40:23

#5

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6994|67.222.138.85

similar

2009-09-12 21:09:30

#6

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6698|'Murka

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
similar

But fairly easy to spoof and not well-enforced.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2009-09-12 21:13:48

#7

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6836|San Diego, CA, USA

LividBovine wrote:
1) What other questions should I ask them?

Ask them

Are you happy? Do you like being poor?
Do you feel society owes your lifestyle choice? (probably want to phase it better)
Where you parents poor?
And their parents? How many generations?
Do you think society is keeping you where you are at? Encouraging you?
Do you vote? If so whom?

LividBovine wrote:
2) What experiences do you have with lower income people/families?

I was relatively poor as a kid (lived in military housing), but became middle class by my teenage years. I don't have regular contact with the poor, I'm upper middle class.

LividBovine wrote:
3) In your view what is the percentage of abuse?

70%

LividBovine wrote:
4) Am I wrong, do I live in a freakish outlier area where all the slackers live?

Its what they know and been brought up. Everyone around them essentially teaches them to stay where they are. They probably also are encouraged not to succeed (i.e. make fun of smart people or hate successful people).

LividBovine wrote:
5) Is it worth taking care of underachievers to catch those few that truly need the assistance?

That's hard to say. If you can properly identify the underachievers then yes.

2009-09-12 21:14:21

#8

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

This is my beef overall. We keep looking to help people out but let people take advantage of the system. I am by no means against assistance for those that need it.

These people are very open about what is going on. Kind of shows ya how easy the system is.

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-12 21:19:19

#9

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
similar

They have to report every other week as to what they have been doing. If they (unemployment) sets you up with an interview you have to go to it or they stop paying benefits.

Edit: In Fl.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-12 21:29:47

#10

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

Harmor wrote:
Are you happy? Do you like being poor?

Asked them that. They were happy. Very content with there situation.

Harmor wrote:
Do you feel society owes your lifestyle choice? (probably want to phase it better)

Kind of touched on that a bit. They at first felt like they had little choice in there station in life. They are good at rationalizing to themselves, but not out loud to others. Especially not to a right wing bible thumping self righteous mono-thinker.

Harmor wrote:
Where you parents poor?

I like it...next round will include this.

Harmor wrote:
And their parents? How many generations?

And this

Harmor wrote:
Do you think society is keeping you where you are at? Encouraging you?

I challenged them to think about why they were there. Did they feel like they had other options. They said, at first, No! Then I asked them what was keeping them there. They said lack of opportunity to better themselves. I asked them what was holding them back specifically. Nothing! They realized on there own, though simple questioning, that they had made the choice to be where they were.

Harmor wrote:
Do you vote? If so whom?[/list]

Yes they do. They vote Democrat. At least they used to. They have to put up with my rantings almost daily. I think I have a few of them convinced that they need to be more questioning of all the politicians and think about the topics more on their own. They will probably vote democrat again though. Makes their life easier in the long run.

Last edited by LividBovine (2009-09-12 21:32:45)

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-12 21:31:54

#11

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

Kmarion wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
similar
They have to report every other week as to what they have been doing. If they (unemployment) sets you up with an interview you have to go to it or they stop paying benefits.

Edit: In Fl.

This is true of unemployment in MN as well. This situation was just dealing with low income housing. I have some research to do on welfare and unemployment. Actually, the unemployment thing will be first on my list because I lost a hearing to a guy recently that still bugs me.

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-12 21:37:44

#12

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

LividBovine wrote:
Kmarion wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
similar
They have to report every other week as to what they have been doing. If they (unemployment) sets you up with an interview you have to go to it or they stop paying benefits.

Edit: In Fl.
This is true of unemployment in MN as well. This situation was just dealing with low income housing. I have some research to do on welfare and unemployment. Actually, the unemployment thing will be first on my list because I lost a hearing to a guy recently that still bugs me.

You also have to have had income within a certain amount of time. You have to earn income credits. It's actually pretty tough to get unemployment here. I had a friend who lost their job of 20 years. Luckily he recently found another job.. lower pay.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-13 03:56:59

#13

LividBovine: The Year of the Cow!; +175|6667|MN

I have heard 3 stories of this stipulation being used by union member who have been laid off: "Members of a referral union that are not allowed to seek employment on their own, will meet the work search requirement by remaining in good standing with the union." Each of them has had unemployment benefits for over a year and 2 had received it for over 2 years. Apparently, as long as the job you held is not permanently gone you don't even have to look for a job. In fact, I was told by one person that their boyfriend would lose his good standing with his union if he looked for a job. So, get a union job, get laid off, profit. I wonder how many people are just sitting on their cans right now waiting for that call.

I think I need to stop asking questions, I am getting too frustrated with how easy it is to scam the system. In this case, there isn't even any scamming. It is the law. Can someone tell me why this is OK? We have people getting paid unemployment for over 2 years because they may get there job back.

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation" - Barack Obama (a freshman senator from Illinios)

2009-09-13 03:59:36

#14

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6393|eXtreme to the maX

, get a union job, get laid off, profit.

That takes the biscuit.

OTOH My Welsh uncle has been on the dole for over 30 years. He came to the realisation he'd have a better life not working.

Fuck Israel

2009-09-13 11:37:14

#15

nlsme1: Member; +32|5705

LividBovine wrote:
I have heard 3 stories of this stipulation being used by union member who have been laid off: "Members of a referral union that are not allowed to seek employment on their own, will meet the work search requirement by remaining in good standing with the union." Each of them has had unemployment benefits for over a year and 2 had received it for over 2 years. Apparently, as long as the job you held is not permanently gone you don't even have to look for a job. In fact, I was told by one person that their boyfriend would lose his good standing with his union if he looked for a job. So, get a union job, get laid off, profit. I wonder how many people are just sitting on their cans right now waiting for that call.

I think I need to stop asking questions, I am getting too frustrated with how easy it is to scam the system. In this case, there isn't even any scamming. It is the law. Can someone tell me why this is OK? We have people getting paid unemployment for over 2 years because they may get there job back.

Chances are this is not "unemployment". Rather paid by a union fund. No provisions provide more then 12 mnths benefits through unemployment. And that is after extensions.

2009-09-13 15:02:09

#16

Zukabazuka: Member; +23|6973

Well I'm currently in a group that will pay me until I get a job. but then I only get around 500€ could you say, and after a year they reduce it. The thing is having a twin brother you instantly get 500€ more and can live a life. So yeah been able to slack of for 2 years living in an apartment without much trouble. Note the rent we have is around 400€ so we don't get so much over after we bought food.

The problem is, if you never had a job for 2-3 years the employer will most likely put your letter aside, so the longer we wait the harder its to get job so we just focus on getting in on a course.

2009-09-13 15:43:19

#17

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6692|North Carolina

We could always go for this route.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Estate#First_Estate

BF2S Forums Housing for $30 a month!

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