#tenant eviction assistance

[lawofficeofryansshipp]

Martin County Eviction Attorneys | 561.699.0399

Martin County Eviction Lawyers If you’re a property owner in Martin County, Florida, grappling with tenant problems, consider Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC for reliable legal support. Our seasoned team specializes in both residential and commercial evictions, adept at handling the nuances of landlord-tenant law and delivering prompt, effective solutions. Why Opt For Shipp Law For Eviction…

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I think I’ve written before about how we were illegally evicted during 2020’s eviction moratorium. This has had four years’ worth of far-reaching effects, plus my becoming physically disabled during all that time. We are lucky to be staying with a family member, however, this can’t be a permanent situation. It’s not great long term for us or for them.

I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to “move on” from our lives being derailed, when we have $0 in savings (and are disincentivized from attempting to save due to the assistance programs we are currently receiving but won’t be after next year or so when we lose eligibility) and rent everywhere has doubled and tripled. I literally do not know what to do.

Not homeless enough to qualify for anything that could get us somewhere, and also too homeless for anything that might help. There is a big crack in the system and we fell right through.

I also want to avoid living in an apartment situation again if it can be avoided at all. Stairs are going to destroy me physically, hearing noise all the time from other tenants aggravates my anxiety and mental health conditions which in turn messes up my physical health pretty badly because I lose sleep. The silver lining of the current situation is realizing how badly I was affected by the places we had been living and how at least that part of my health has been more controlled.

I just. Feel so frustrated. How do people do this? I am sure we aren’t the first couple in this country to both suffer a bad health decline almost simultaneously, while losing housing, and so on. Lightning doesn’t strike twice except when it does, and it did.

I just need like. A foothold. Somehow. Those videos of people converting buses into homes are wildly impractical and yet I’m so envious of a place that’s yours, that can’t really be taken away on someone’s whim, that you can just pick up and plant elsewhere when need be. I just want to live in a hut that doesn’t cost a quarter million dollars, that can be paid off, so we can at least try and rebuild.

I am basically screaming into the void here, but the clock is ticking on how much longer we get any kind of assistance and I need to start thinking of ideas now before that runs out. I’m researching grants, which we mostly don’t qualify for, because I’ve just got absolute nothing to work from. I feel like an insane person going over and over and over the same things I’ve already read hoping to find something I missed, but there’s just nothing.

Don’t have a bad landlord, and don’t have bad luck, I guess.

[conretewings]

The Paths We Cross

-Viktor, needing a part for his newest invention, seeks assistance from a shop of good reputation.

-Set a couple decades before the events of Arcane season one, a young Viktor and my oc Rosemary meet. Just a fun idea I had bouncing around in my head and decided to write for fun and as a gift to the lovely @grumpyoutlaw ❤️

Sticking close to the buildings for safety and an easy escape into a shop if needed was an essential lesson and skill Viktor had learned long ago, one that he was using again this day as he wove his way through the crowded, dank and damp streets. All around vendors hawked their wares from stalls, carts, or even from bulging bags, people milled in front of bars, brothels, or hurried on their way to whatever business they had and everywhere teemed the chaos of the Undercity.

Pausing to re-shoulder his bag to a more comfortable angle across his hip, one where it's weight helped steady his limping gait instead of worsening it, Viktor glanced up at a couple landmarks to note his location and which street to turn down next toward his own destination.

"Let's see...it was-"

Feeling a couple rapid taps on his shoulder, he instinctively clutched his bag and rotated his hand to grip his cane at the perfect angle to defend himself if need be; it wouldn't be the first time.

Whipping his head around at the same moment, he found himself face-to-face with a squat little man in patchwork garb and a seemingly friendly, yet too friendly, grin so wide his crooked teeth poked out. A well-worn bag nearly his size and adorned with various items was strapped to his back, and in his grubby hands something was concealed.

"Greetings, yes most welcome greetings this day young man!" he started in a likely well rehearsed speech, "Tell me yes, tell me, are you hungry? Does your stomach yearn for a tasty morsel? Yearn no more! I have here the solution yes! For a mere two coin I offer the finest fruit one can find!"

With a flourish he opened his hands to reveal an apple clearly past it's prime, brownish soft spots dotting it's surface. Viktor had his suspicions that it likely also housed an insect or two and not wanting to either waste his money, nor evict any possible tenants, he shook his head, managing a polite half smile.

"Thank you sir, but I already ate..."

The man's eye twitched, but maintained his salesman smile, "Goodness my boy but you're thin as that stick you're using yes, poor thing, so thin! Wouldn't a bit of extra food do you well yes? It's such a good deal! A bit of lunch!"

'I'm sure it is, if one wanted to lose their lunch' Viktor thought sarcastically, but carefully started to move away as he said again, "No, thank you, but I wish you luck..."

His smile finally dropping into a sour pout, and grumbling about how he's 'missing out' the man shoved the sad fruit into a pocket and turned to shuffle off. Releasing a sigh of relief, the man's words about his weight nonetheless echoed in Viktor's mind until he bitterly shoved them away and gripping his cane, felt a renewed sense of resolve to find the place he sought and finish the project currently residing in his bag. To that end he stood as tall as possible and went on his way.

A young woman leaned on a heavy, paper-strewn wooden counter with a gnawing sense of boredom, absentmindedly tapping a pencil as she stared at a broken clock she'd been planning to fix sitting next to her. It seemed to reflect and even mock her feeling that time was, in fact, at a standstill. Normally she was proud to be in charge of her family's business, yet today, all she wanted was escape. Looking around the rest of the packed shop with it's shelving and cases of mishmashed parts, half-finished mechanical items, and antiques, nothing sparked her interest. Perhaps she'd dig through the trash again for parts to weld together. That was usually fun. Usually...

Turning her head she shouted, "Dad! Can I shove off early?"

"Absolutely not!" came a bellowed reply from far behind a curtain that served as a divider between the shop and their living quarters, "Your brother has his shift 'n so do you!"

"But I just wanna scrounge up some parts-"

"Birdie, I really need ya to mind the shop. Ya can run about with your friends 'n that beau of yours later! Now lemme finish fixin' the stove please."

She exhaled in exasperation and lowered her head, wishing something, anything would happen. As if by some divine miracle, a few moments later she heard the creak of the heavy door mixed with the musical chime of the bell attached to it. Instantly she snapped into professional mode, standing up tall and putting on a welcoming grin.

"Good day! Wares and Repairs! You break it we can probably fix it! What can we help ya with?"

Using his shoulder to hold the door open while he awkwardly made his way through it, a teen who looked to be around fourteen, though with his prominent limp and slight build it was difficult to tell, let the door shut behind him as he paused to gaze around.

Viktor gaped at the sheer number and amount of items stuffed into the large room which, somehow, was clearly organized in it's own way. Yes, this was certainly the place he'd been told about. The corner of his mouth twitched into a half-smile, feeling a sense of hope and even excitement at the prospects; surely somewhere the treasure he sought lay waiting. So absorbed was he it took a moment for the greeting he'd received to register, and he snapped his attention back to the woman behind the counter.

"Ah, yes, hello," he started, shifting his bag again and approaching, "I've been told this place can fix anything and sells almost anything as well..." planting his good foot for leverage he carefully heaved the bag onto the counter, wincing when a dull metallic thud sounded, "So I would like to know if I could ask for some assistance with this."

"Oh? And what is this?" the woman inquired, her hazel eyes alight with an eager, inquisitive sparkle that somehow set Viktor more at ease. She looked to be somewhere in her mid twenties, with thick chocolate brown hair and clad in well-worn but sturdy looking work overalls, arms covered in bandage wrappings with canvas gloves. Something about her looked very familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Undoing the snaps on the bag, Viktor carefully slid a metal box onto the counter in front of her, a gesture which only seemed to fan her curiosity's flame, as she leaned forward a degree. He turned it around and opened a lid to reveal a carefully painted bird made of tiny pieces of metal and wood atop a wire 'branch'. A hollow area in the center was lined with a worn but still soft piece of velvet.

"A music box!" she inhaled with delight, looking from it to Viktor, "It's lovely! Where did ya get it?"

He cracked another, more proud smile and stood a little straighter, "I made it. It's for my mother, but it's not working yet. Something's off with the gears, and the sound mechanism-"

The woman gaped at him, leaning closer, making to touch it but quickly pulled her hand back, "You-made it?! Freakin' hell lad! This is some sophisticated work!"

The angle at which she was now stooped over the counter accidentally gave Viktor the perfect view of her ample cleavage, an effect that in her enthusiasm she was evidently unaware of. Out of respect and to stop the threat of his cheeks growing warm he quickly flicked his gaze to her face, "Th-thank you. I was hoping you might have the parts and tools I need to complete it."

Grinning she stood, planted her hands on her hips and flicked a stray chunk of hair aside, "If we don't have what ya need, no one does! We've got this ummm," she tilted her head, "Sorry kid what's your name?"

"It's Viktor." he replied with another smile, her energy rubbing off a little, "And you?"

"Name's Rosemary! Now let's get this train movin'!"

It may have been mere minutes, it may have been hours that flew by, neither could truly say nor did they care as they worked together to tear through the shop's extensive collection. Gears and bits and bobs were selected then discarded, or placed on the counter for further inspection until they had a generous pile to work with as they carefully undid the music box's inner mechanisms to test them out.

As they worked they chatted, mostly about their mutual interests in creating or fixing things and experimentation. Rosemary told him the story of her family's business, how her great-grandfather had started it and, proudly, how eventually it would belong to her and her brother. Viktor shared his dreams of scientific discovery, of building new and innovative things to better people's lives.

"I guess we have that in common." said Rosemary softly during a slight lull in conversation.

Viktor lowered the screwdriver he held, "Hmm?"

She gently touched the tiny mechanical bird, "We want to make things better."

Eventually, after a generous amount of trial and error, Rosemary crossed her fingers as Viktor carefully opened the lid-and the bird came to life, spinning and making tinny 'chirping' sounds.

He grinned happily as she cheered with a loud 'woo hoo!' They watched it until the spring-loaded mechanism ran out of tension and the bird's movement ceased.

"Thank you so much for all your trouble," he paused, "And for talking with me. It...means a lot."

"Ya kiddin' me? I've been havin' a great time Viktor!" she chuckled, picking up tools and parts to start putting them away, "I love workin' on stuff! Plus, not everyday I meet someone clever as you!"

He gave a small, unsure laugh as he carefully slipped the box back into his bag and dug into a small coin pouch, counting out what he hoped would be adequate, "I suppose my projects aren't too bad."

Watching Rosemary practically dance about the room with graceful movements and singing softly, that familiarity he'd felt earlier came back, burning at the front of his brain but he still couldn't quite recall where he'd seen her. Shaking his head to focus he held out a hand to her, "Here is my payment. I realize we never discussed it, but this should be enough."

She took the coins, nodding as she counted, "Aye, this'll do..." then cleared her throat, "Actually, I'm not so sure."

Viktor clutched his bag and felt his stomach drop; surely it was adequate for what he'd needed! Was she really not as kind as he'd thought? He didn't really have any more to spare, what about the food he was supposed to pick up on the way home? What about-

Abruptly she snorted, clapping a hand over her mouth, "Ah no I-I was only messin' with ya! It was a joke this is fine! I'm so sorry oh your face lad you're pale as a ghost!"

Releasing the breath he'd been holding in a loud, shaking sigh, he dryly replied, "Yes, yes. Hilarious."

"Tell ya what. I'll make it up to ya; swing by anytime you're workin' on another project and I'll help...and give ya a steep discount. Deal?"

Viktor met her gaze, and seeing the remorse and sincerity there, cracked a slight smile again, "Deal."

"Well, in that case," Rosemary swept an arm around, gesturing to the room, "We thank you for visiting Wares and Repairs and I hope you'll visit us again for your fixin' needs! No guarantees."

He gave a brief laugh, "I'll keep that in mind. Farewell, and thank you again, Rosemary." Securing his bag and adjusting his cane to a more comfortable grip, he headed to the door, and was reaching for the handle-when it unexpectedly flew open, a mountain of a man taking up the entire doorway.

"Oy Rosie! I-oop!"

He skidded to a halt, having just about run smack into Viktor, who gasped sharply, moving quickly but ungracefully to one side before cautiously glancing up. The larger man, who seemed to be about the same age as Rosemary, was looking at him curiously but not unkindly with steel-blue eyes and his thick, muscular arm still held the heavy door open with no apparent effort. He also looked very familiar, but again Viktor couldn't quite place him.

He jerked his head in a 'go ahead' gesture, and Viktor mumbled thanks before quickly starting to walk out. The man was so tall Viktor passed easily under his raised arm.

Pausing in the doorway to readjust his load after that mishap, he watched Rosemary's face light up as the man strode up to her where she had retreated behind the counter and leaned an elbow on it opposite her, the pair engaging in rapid, hushed conversation.

Abruptly he realized where he'd seen the man before; a gathered crowd, indignant shouts, calls for change...and at the center, standing on a pile of crates and junk, there he was. He raised his fist high as his deep voice boomed off the surrounding buildings, two other men at his side. He spoke of pushing back, of standing up for themselves, of a more independent city. Viktor had paused briefly to watch and listen before his father had encouraged him to keep moving. As they left, Viktor heard applause and cheering before the noise faded entirely.

Unexpectedly he felt a seething, burning knot of jealous anger twisting in his gut; this man, with his sheer size and confident charm, probably didn't have to worry about constantly watching his back. He didn't have to hobble around, seeing everyone run about with ease while he was constantly left behind. He probably had lots of friends. He didn't have to hear the whispers, the cruel laughs, the insults. Viktor gripped his cane so hard he thought it may break and spun to leave.

Walking as fast as he could manage, the anger slowly petered out until he only felt a cold numbness where the rage had been, like a lead weight in his stomach. He paused to breathe, finding a relatively safe spot to do so as he gathered his thoughts and tried to calm himself. It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair...

Self-pity was not something he normally indulged in, finding it pointless and unproductive, but for a miserable few minutes couldn't stop the racing thoughts. Why was he like this? Why couldn't he run and jump like others? Why was he always sick? Why had fate pointed it's cruel finger at him?

Looking up, he saw in the distance and high above, the proud spires of Piltover's Academy, the late afternoon sun shining off their facades. Slowly, the anger morphed into steely determination and he made a vow to himself-

Someday, somehow, despite his abilities, despite his origins, he would be in those rooms, gazing out over the city and feeling this same sunlight warming his face as he worked toward his dreams...

[beardedmrbean]

The Florida Legislature unanimously passed a bill that would allow police to immediately remove squatters — a departure from the lengthy court cases required in most states.

"It gives me a real feeling of positive hope that we still have the ability to discuss challenges in our society and work with our legislatures in a bipartisan way," Patti Peeples, a Sunshine State property owner who was barred from her own home after squatters refused to leave, told News4Jax.

The legislation, which passed both chambers earlier this month, would allow police to remove squatters without a lease authorized by the property owner and adds criminal penalties. Landlords, under the current law, typically have to wade through a long and expensive legal process to remove squatters.

FLORIDA SQUATTER VICTIM LAUNCHING WEBSITE TO ASSIST OTHER LANDLORDS WITH ILLEGAL OCCUPANTS

"Imagine for a moment that you leave from your day of serving the citizens of Florida as a senator and you return to your home," Peeples told the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee in February. "But when you walk in, there are strangers sitting on your sofa, watching your TV, eating your food."

"You ask who they are and what they are doing, and they tell you that they have rented this house and present you with a lease," she continued.

An advocacy group, Florida Rising, initially opposed the legislation, fearing landlords could abuse the measures to quickly boot legitimate tenants. But the group took a neutral position after amendments were added to protect legal occupants, a spokesperson told News4Jax.

The bill, now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, would also allow wrongfully evicted tenants to sue to regain access and recover attorneys’ fees and damages.

Last year, it took weeks for the squatters in Peeples’ home to get evicted. They had produced a lease and claimed they were rental scam victims — a strategy the squatters used previously, court records show.

By the time they were ousted, Peeples’ house was left with thousands of dollars worth of damage.

"I've had so many emotions," Peeples told Fox News in April. "I've had just intense anger, I have felt defeated, I felt wronged by the legal system, I felt wronged by the police system."

The squatters never faced criminal charges.

If the Florida legislation becomes law, intentionally presenting a phony lease would be designated as a misdemeanor, and selling or leasing someone else’s property would be a felony, as would causing more than $1,000 in property damage.

Flash Shelton, a handyman-turned-squatter hunter, recently told Fox News that squatting laws needed to become stricter so landlords could more easily boot illegal occupants. He pointed to Atlanta, where, according to the National Rental Home Council, around 1,200 homes have been taken over by squatters.

"If we were to criminalize it, that would enable us to send in the National Guard to sweep that whole neighborhood and get those 1,200 houses clear," Shelton told Fox News in February.

[ashestoashesjc]

“So,” said their landlord with her lips pursed, her legs crossed, her glasses dipped down the bridge of her nose. “Explain your situation to me. Again.”

“Right,” said Ben. “No problem.” 

Sophie sat beside him on the couch, her hand in his. She gave it a gentle squeeze. Ben hadn’t realized how fast his heart was beating. He squeezed back. 

“There’s not much to explain, really,” he said. “Soph and I are as happy as ever. Happier.” That much was true. 

Sophie added: “And we’re neighborly to a fault. Isn’t that right, Ben? We’ve basically got an open-door policy.” Which was less than true but from the heartiness of Ben's nodding, you’d never guess. 

The landlord sighed. “You’ve said as much.” She pulled off her glasses and pinched the space between her eyes. “Now I’ve never made a habit of laying down rules for guest stay lengths and the like. I trust my tenants to not try and pull one over on me by letting unauthorized persons take up residence in their apartments.”

Sophie and Ben traded shocked expressions, looked at the landlord incredulously, then back to each other. 

“I can’t believe anyone would…” began Sophie, covering her mouth, trailing off, turning away. 

Ben shook his head. “You think you know your neighbors.”

“Yes,” said the landlord, “speaking of your neighbors.” Then flicking out a folded sheet of paper, she stated, “I’ve received numerous reports over the last few months of a man, late 20s, early 30s, seen entering and exiting the complex, your unit specifically, at strange hours, and in various states of undress. Does that sound familiar?”

Sophie caught Ben’s eye and in the space of a millisecond, through the enigmatic power of marital telepathy, they shifted gears. 

“Oh, Mark?” said Sophie, with an air of total relief. 

Ben nodded. “Ah. Yeah. Gotta be Mark.” 

“You know him then?”

“Hardly,” said Ben. “He’s a friend of a friend we let crash occasionally. Uh, down on his luck sort. You know how it is.”

“But our being good Samaritans doesn’t mean we're taking in men off the streets,” said Soph. “We’re not that good.”

“And the suitcases? The bags?” 

“Laundry,” spouted Ben in the same instant as Sophie's wholly confident: “Donations.”

“One, then the other,” said Ben.

“The needy deserve fresh linens too.” 

“Hm,” hummed the landlord. Then “hm” again. “Hm” went on for so long Ben was beginning to worry they’d need to put in a request for a replacement model. Does maintenance cover landlords? 

When she did speak again, it was a strained: “Alright.” But she was adamant that washer and dryer services are only available to residents. She’d be charging them extra for the past several months. If there was nothing else, she was leaving, but she was happy to hear about their “open-door policy” for the next time the complex is in search of event hosts. Oh, and to suggest to their friend that “if he stopped donating so much, he’d have plenty of shirts to wear.”

With that, she was gone. And not a moment too soon. 

“Must’ve just missed her,” Mark said as he plopped onto the couch between Ben and Sophie. Wrapping an arm each around their shoulders, he breathed deep and exhaled loud. “Ahhh. Home sweet home.” 

Mark was a professional temp; construction one day, system-wide file transfers the next. This week, he was assisting a welder, whose usual assistant was on a brief sabbatical while their finger finished reattaching. 

“Not too loud or you’ll get us evicted,” said Ben, prompting Mark to slap his hand over Ben's head, ruffling his hair and blocking his eyes. 

Ben could feel Sophie lean into Mark’s side, could hear him kiss her head. Then Sophie asked, “So, what’s for dinner?” and they spent the next half hour debating whose turn it was to cook, before deciding none of them wanted to move from right where they were.

[oh-nostalgiaa]

what i absolutely love about living in this complex is how willing the rental agency is to work with their tenants, especially when they need a little time to gather the full rent amount. /sarcasm

got a notice today that if i don't pay the remaining $393 posthaste, they're gonna start the eviction process. as i don't have the $393 currently and do not start work until the 12th (as i understand it), this is a bit distressing.

yes, i have been trying to contact rental assistance agencies, but most simply don't have the funds and aren't accepting new clients and the ones that might have funds haven't called back even though i've left messages.

so. please keep reblogging my gfm post and sharing it elsewhere for maximum visibility. there's only so far i can go and most people i know from rl have the tendency to uh ignore me. just this one little hurdle and i'll soon be on the right path.

i know i've asked for a lot and i'm sorry. hopefully soon i'll be able to start paying back what i owe.

[libraryofcirclaria]

The 1301 Crisis

Library of Circlaria

Blog Posts

Map of Remikra, 1264-1308

Article Written: 3 October 1452

1301-02

The economy, up to this point, was prosperous in the Early Retunian Republic, having fully recovered from the 1290 downturn. This recovery was the result of Prime Minister John Waltmann's economic reform measures, renewed prospects of deep-trade reform, and the expansion of the lightfire industry in Ancondria.

However, this economy was more vulnerable than ever, for about 90 percent of it was financed by loans from the Big Five Banks in Hasphitat. Numerous businesses and even privately-owned estates were either paying operation costs with these loans, or were profitable enough to do so without the loans and were now paying those loans back. Many individuals had also taken loans out, primarily for paying rent, which had become unaffordable for many entry-level workers without some form of financial assistance.

Upon receiving critical testimony from foreign powers regarding the outlook of lightfire investments in Ancondria, the Big Five Banks decided to invoke a clause from the 1276 Resolution and liquidate all loans previously made to businesses invested in the field. This happened in June 1301 and led to the shuttering of many businesses as a result of defaults. This also led to a dramatic fall in the stock and tradestone markets, leading other businesses to either shutter or pare down on operation and labor costs. The resulting mass-layoffs left people unable to pay back loans or rent, causing them to lose homes and property. The resulting explosion in poverty led businesses to lose large numbers of clients, and were also forced to shutter, laying off even more employees and worsening the cycle.

This economic collapse also had an impact on privately-owned estates, many of which were startups and were paying back bank loans. When loan liquidation failed to yield as much payback as needed, the banks faced financial pressure to liquidate estate loans. When the estates defaulted, the banks liquidated their properties, evicting landlords and tenants. This meant that many tenants were evicted even if they paid their rent faithfully.

Such loan liquidation and stock collapses occurred in the midst of the Big Five Banks contracting, which forced the branch banks to fend for themselves when it came to providing cash for those requesting to withdraw their savings. But mass panic ensued, and many people flooded the banks to attempt to withdraw their savings, which led the branch banks to run out of funds and eventually shutter.

In the beginning of 1302, in the midst of this chaos, Prime Minister Waltmann enacted a measure provided by the Remikran Union to build emergency housing to house those who were suddenly left homeless. This addressed the homeless crisis but the living units were basic, lacked comfort, and were often dangerous. In fact, there are many accounts of walls and ceilings collapsing as well as structural fires.

Mervin Teller, a Provincial Domain Governor General having served under former Prime Minister Jackson, announced his run for the Prime Minister election of 1302, blaming Prime Minister Waltmann for "mismanagement" in the midst of the economic crisis. Teller presented an agenda to re-invest in international trade to create jobs, a seemingly appealing plan. However, it was later in his campaign when Teller stated that he would end the emergency housing program in order to re-balance the government budget, prompting backlash from the population and causing him to lose the election to Waltmann.

1303-06

Through negotiations, Waltmann convinced bank leaders in the summer of 1303 to make cautious investments in the market surrounding Ancondria, and enacted stimulus measures to re-establish businesses. This had relative success, and it appeared the economy was en route to recovery.

In February 1304, however, the Linbraean Royal Trust made negative testimony against Ancondrian investors from Middle Remikra and withdrew an essential credit line, which sent the Middle Remikran markets crashing again. In the summer of 1304, Waltmann, again through negotiations, convinced the Five Big Banks to make cautious re-investments in Ancondria, as the embassy and Retunian territories in Ancondria were formally established along with an emerging market in the Ancondrian city of Silba. The economy re-stabilized as a result, but then crashed again in the beginning of 1305 amid fears stemming from international intervention involving the Great Northern Duchy of Ecnedivelc. However, trade in Ancondria continued to grow, and the economy re-stabilized beginning in 1306. With the promise of growth in the future, businesses in the mainland of Middle Remikra re-emerged while unemployment was at its lowest rate since the 1301 Crisis began.

1307-09

And then came the crash of 1307. Precipitated by a fallout in the Ancondrian trade market, it was the largest market crash since the beginning of the 1301 Crisis and erased the progress made in 1306. Again, people were unemployed as more of them were forced into emergency housing. Protests broke out in the cities while Prime Minister Waltmann encountered stiff resistance from the banks during negotiations.

Walter Scott Mason, President of the Rotary Legion of North Kempton, announced his run for Prime Minister in 1306 for the 1308 election, running as a candidate for the Diplomatic Party. Initially, his wild rhetoric in evangelism and ultra-nationalism made him the least popular Diplomatic Party candidate, as he seemed to stand no chance against the leading Diplomatic Party candidate: Woodward Madden, the incumbent governor of Gymia. However, when the 1307 crash happened, Mason began preaching to numerous crowds that Waltmann was enacting policies to favor the Holz Finzi Darkfire Community and award them economic privileges over everyone else. This claim turned out to be false; nonetheless, a large majority of the conservative Retunian population, desperate for answers, immediately turned their support toward Mason. And thus, Mason won the Diplomatic Party primary election in September of 1307. And loyal Rotary Chapters across the Republic united to form the "Knights of the Common Good," or the KCG, under Mason's leadership.

Meanwhile, another significant portion of the population turned their support toward Holz Finzi, who had, up to this point, been regarded with fear for his power in darkfire practice. However, emerging studies at the time had shown darkfire to have practical benefits needed for the present economic situation. Furthermore, accounts came to light detailing those either deeply involved in darkfire or having innate darkfire conjuration tendencies being subject to measures of harsh oppression during the Early Republic. This bolstered support for darkfire legalization, which almost came to fruition in 1308.

Despite sharing a common interest for a better economic future, Finzi supporters and Mason supporters were fiercely opposed to each other to the point of violence. When he lost to Waltmann in the controversial 1308 election, Mason continued his campaign, refusing to concede and continuing to rally his supporters. He was about to host a meeting in the Chemkan city of Tandowyn that November when he was assassinated. KCG leaders blamed the assassination on Finzi and his supporters, and launched a nationwide act of vengeful violence against the Finzi Darkfire Community, bringing the Early Republic very close to a civil war.

And thus, in the beginning of 1309, it was Prime Minister Waltmann serving as the only force preventing the two dueling nationwide political factions from engaging in an all-out conflict. In September 1309, Waltmann gestured for the Banks to engage in a possible deep-trade opportunity in Ancondria. However, that opportunity proved false and sent the Retunian markets crashing again; and this time, for the first time in history, the Retunian government declared bankruptcy. This prompted nationwide protests while Waltmann got involved in a scuffle with his appointed Governor General, William Irving, who pulled out a pistol and shot Waltmann dead. The Retunian government moved to instill Marshall Noland as the Interim Prime Minister, but at a critical moment, the officiation was interrupted by a missile shot by the KCG, forcing the government of the Early Republic to cease functions.

And so began the 1309 Revolution, over which Finzi and his supporters would ultimately prevail on 7 September 1309. The KCG and their allies fled to Gymia, which had declared autonomy from what would become the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun. The former Gymian territory became the Reformed Federal Estates of Retun and would declare a war on the Commonwealth in 1311, but would lose to the Commonwealth the following year. Meanwhile, Finzi and the Commonwealth government enacted sweeping policies that eradicated the financial economic woes of the 1301 Crisis.

[thepoeticbubble]

It just takes beautiful courtesies to move a heart, to completely displace it form its grounds, not a huge hustle but just beautiful courtesies like - hello , how have you been. Is life treating you well or I am to sue it for being unpleasant. May I lift your bad luck off your shoulders so you can breathe. Is loneliness taking toll on you -I'm good at evicting impudent tenants. Allow me to assist you in clearing the clouds off your hope so your life feels alive. (I could be your optimism)

Hello, are you fine , is the air clean around you or I may put the atmosphere to repair ( : are people around you fine or I need to give them a lesson)

Can I make a coffee to cancel the dizziness from you eyes - may I carry your eye bags.

Should I let you be, should I leave, should I go should I go should I go go go go away , go far away when you say so or stay and make you belive I'm not one to leave no matter what the circumstances.

-tabish.j

[freeleyenrashespeakstruth]

REAL TIME NOW

PLEASE READ: 

Good morning Ms. ......! Attached please find the denial letter from EA concerning the temporary rental assistance that I so desperately need in order to get the very necessary medical treatment for my 2 injured shoulders and my injured back, legs and feet that I have not yet been able to recover from because of a similar denial that occurred 9 years ago on the job. I need to appeal as soon as possible, so as not to be sent into the street as homeless again for the 2nd time in less than 10 years.

According to the letter, what I am being told to do is to stay in my present address, my home that I have fought so hard to obtain, until the landlord pays the legal system approx $1000 to file for my eviction that he knows he will not get back, a tax right off. So he will lose $1000 if he files for eviction. He will not do that. Nobody in their sane right mind would.

Then once the owner of the property, the landlord, has paid his $1000 to the legal system, then it becomes an emergency. I then am required by this decision to remain in my home for an additional 2 plus months at $800 per month until social services finds me a room in a roomming house to live in. By making that decision they are telling me that I need to stay in a potentially dangerous situation with a man who has paid my rent out of his own pocket for the past 6 months since my injury and my unemployment benefits ran out. And I need to live with him and walk by him and see him every day as I live rent free on his expense, as the electricity goes off, tv gets shut down and he himself struggles financially until he gets action by my leaving his home, my home too presently. I already owe this man almost or over $5000 that basically he lost according to the letter, and he is required by law to lose another $1000-3000 until the action of removing me, his physically disabled roommate, from his home. I can see for sure how this situation could easily blow up to a violent confrontation. I hope you and the court can see this also.

So, the landlord and roommate, who I am already indebted to for $5000 will need to lose another $3000-5000 just to see justice performed in the United States of America. Thats great! Why? Because prior to this both the roommate and landlord leaned to the left politically and now see the crimes being committed against the citizens ARE in FACT true and happening right before our eyes. They also see that the crimes being committed are not only against the white citizen, which many do agree with and appreciate, but the crimes are also against the brown citizen, as the 2 are now required by law to pay and lose almost $10,000 just because a tenant/roommate has been injured and can no longer continue to work and support himself.

I am only 2 years before my official retirement age. I have worked all my life, beginning at 10 years old. I have supported myself, my son, my family, lent and or gave money to those in need, and helped many, many people who I know can never pay back what they received. And I have paid taxes to this nation all my life, with the exception of 3 years when I was first made homeless by the State of New Jersey because of the injuries I sustained 9 years ago. So I have actually paid for the benefits I am now being denied for the 2nd times in less than 10 years. What is happening to me right now is a crime. It is a crime against my civil rights as a citizen of the United States of America, it is a crime against my basic human rights as a human being being committed by a goverment  who claims to fight the very crimes against human rights that they are, and have, committed. It is also a crime of deception by deceiving the owner of this property I now live at to think he will get justice after filing the eviction paperwork with the courts, and it is a crime of deception to deceive my current roommate to think that the goverment will force him to continue to pay my share of the rent, that he will never get back, just so that justice can be served. It is a crime of deception to me, the now disabled citizen who can no longer work just shy of 2 years til retirement, to tell me that I need to go through social services, not temporary disability, when I become injured as the bridge to gap work to disability. Nine years ago I was made homeless for the same reason, so these crimes have already been committed against me once, but I continued so my roommate could see the truth for himself. Now he knows.

I am asking you to appeal this decision on my behalf and to right the wrong that has been committed, the crimes, against me now, the 2nd time, and against millions of other American citizens. To create a society of poverty where citizens have to fight for their lives literally, and force roommate situations and roomming houses, how can the same goverment then deny help to people who live with roommates or in roomming houses? Illegally is the only way, unless this is no longer the America we claim to be. We have sa serious identity problem if this is legal and ok.

[iamprchung]

The X-Couple: Vea Evictus

Walter Skinner's idyllic weekend at his apartment takes a turn for the bizarre when his landlord arrives with a stack of eviction notices. Apparently, strange happenings like blinding lights, helicopter landings, and small grey creatures roaming the halls have become a regular occurrence, courtesy of Skinner's mysterious roommate, Cancer Man.

Things escalate further when a mysterious new piece of furniture appears and levitates Skinner against his will. It seems Cancer Man might be more involved in the apartment's odd events than he lets on, and finding a decent lawyer might be the least of their problems.

Will Skinner escape eviction and the clutches of his otherworldly roommate? Will Cancer Man ever learn to use a coaster?

Crystal City, Virginia Walter Skinner's Apartment 1:28 p.m. Saturday

"Warnings?" Walter Skinner repeated the most striking word in his landlord's last sentence. "What warning?"

As the stocky landlord began unfolding the paper in his hand Cancer Man appeared in the hall, turning the corner with a rumpled paper sack cradled in his arms and an unlit cigarette in his lips.

"Trouble, Wally?" he asked, looking smug lighting his cigarette.

"Do you know anything about some warnings?" Skinner directed the question at him pointedly, causing a flicker of minute surprise to cross the man's sober expression.

"I wouldn't know what you're talking about," he replied before pushing past Skinner into the apartment, glancing at the landlord as he went.

"I find that hard to believe," the landlord responded as he reviewed the document in his hands, "to date there have been five warnings served due to numerous complaints, not including the one today from Mrs. Mullholland up on twenty-three."

"What are you talking about?" Skinner was perplexed.

The landlord handed over the document.

The ex-assistant director of the FBI read silently for a moment before the landlord began to recite it, "strange blinding lights in the middle of the night waking people. The building violently shaking people awake in the middle of the night. Black helicopters landing on the roof... waking people in the middle of the night..."

"Small humanoid creatures running in the halls and playing in the stair wells," Skinner read aloud now, Cancer Man straining infinitesimally to see over his shoulder.

"Fist fighting in the stairwells," the landlord took over, "bodies flying off balcony, people handcuffed to the balcony, and... bees."

"Bees?" Skinner looked up at the man.

"Bees," he affirmed.

Skinner shot a glare at Cancer Man, catching sight of something out of the corner of his eye. Something was moving toward them in the hall. He looked once, then twice, cringing at the sight of a gray scampering toward them down the hall on a big wheel. He turned his eyes up to the ceiling. Why? He thought.

"And then," the landlord breathed, "Mrs. Mullholland, that poor woman, she has enough to be concerned with without her granddaughter being abducted and cloned."

"Cloned?" Skinner exclaimed.

Cancer Man coughed.

"Yes," the landlord said and as if sensing something behind him turned- a fraction of a second too late to catch sight of the alien powered big wheel shooting vertically up the hall wall. "Damn kids..." he mumbled to himself. Skinner flinched.

"Where was I?"

"Cloning." Cancer Man helped.

Skinner gave him a warning glare that drove him back into the apartment.

"Well, that's aside from the point right now," the landlord said glancing up- too late to see the big wheeling gray cruise by overhead on the ceiling.

Skinner cleared his throat drawing the landlord's attention back down. "Do we have any recourse here; I mean can we make some type of amends?" he asked.

The man shook his head. "I'm afraid not, the tenant’s association has already voted, and the decision is a thirty day vacate order," he handed Skinner another piece of paper.

Skinner looked at the eviction notice and grimaced.

"I'll be contacting my attorney about this," he informed the landlord.

"Yes, our attorney!" Cancer Man parroted from inside the apartment.

The landlord nodded. "I understand, that's your right. In any case, you are served."

As the landlord turned to go Skinner went back inside the apartment, slamming the door behind him. "Our attorney?" he questioned Cancer Man.

"We're both involved in this," he replied sitting his beer down on the coffee table to light another cigarette. "I assumed we would use the same attorney."

"Will you use a coaster for God's sake?" Skinner declared heading to the coffee table to slip a cork coaster under the beer can. "We don't need any more unclassifiable furniture repairs around here."

"I wouldn't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you wouldn't," Skinner shot back, palms planted firmly on hips.

"Just like you don't know anything about the warnings-" he broke off suddenly looking at a large armoire in the corner of the room. At least it looked like an armoire but hadn't been there earlier. "Where did this come from?" he asked, heading to inspect it more closely.

"I wouldn't go near that if I were you..." Cancer Man warned too late.

"Wha-wha-whoo," Skinner stammered as his feet lifted off the floor and he began to levitate.

"Hmm," Cancer Man said to himself scrutinizing the situation as he drew on his cigarette. "In essence, this could be a humorous development."

Arms flailing uselessly in the air, Skinner screamed, "don't tell me you don't have any knowledge of this!"

"Well, now that you mention it, I do... Now, where is that remote...?"

Cancer Man began to shift magazines and empty Chinese food cartons, ashes from his cigarette drifting down into the clutter.

"Is there a problem here?!" Skinner shouted, a solitary vein in his temple beginning to pulsate.

Cancer Man pulled a mysterious black device from under the clutter and looked at it thoughtfully. "Now, which button is- oh, yes," he said pressing a lavender button on the control pad of the device.

A humiliating thud sounded across the room.

Cancer Man looked up seeing Skinner getting to his feet, glowering.

Putting out his cigarette, he told Skinner, “You’ll have to remind me to get a clapper for that."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Next: "The Politics of Dating"

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[lboogie1906]

Bayard Rustin (March 17, 1912 – August 24, 1987) was a leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights.

He worked with A. Philip Randolph on the March on Washington Movement to press for an end to racial discrimination in employment. He organized Freedom Rides, and helped to organize the SCLC to strengthen Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership and teach about nonviolence; he served as an organizer for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He worked alongside Ella Baker, a co-director of the Crusade for Citizenship, and before the Montgomery bus boycott, he helped organize a group, called “In Friendship,” amongst Baker, George Lawrence, Stanley Levison of the American Jewish Congress, and some other labor leaders. “In Friendship” provided material and legal assistance to those being evicted from their tenant farms and households in Clarendon County, Yazoo, and other places. He became the head of the AFL–CIO’s A. Philip Randolph Institute, which promoted the integration of formerly all-white unions and promoted the unionization of African Americans. He served on many humanitarian missions, such as aiding refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia. At the time of his death, he was on a humanitarian mission in Haiti.

He was a gay man and due to criticism over his sexuality, he acted as an influential adviser behind the scenes to civil-rights leaders. He became a public advocate on behalf of gay causes, speaking at events as an activist and supporter of human rights.

He joined other union leaders in aligning with ideological neoconservatism, and President Ronald Reagan praised him. President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As a student at Wilberforce, he was active in several campus organizations, including the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He was expelled from Wilberforce after organizing a strike and attended Cheyney State Teachers College. Cheyney honored him with a posthumous “Doctor of Humane Letters” degree.

Higher Ground Productions, founded by Michelle and Barack Obama, announced the production of Rustin, a biopic about his life. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #omegapsiphi

[lawofficeofryansshipp]

St. Lucie County Eviction Lawyers | Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC

St.-Lucie-County-Landlord-Lawyers Are you a commercial or residential landlord in St. Lucie County, Florida, facing tenant issues that require eviction? Look no further than Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC. Our experienced team understands the complexities of Florida eviction laws and is committed to helping property owners, landlords, property managers, and investors, navigate these…

[kny111]

City Council, Homeless Services Providers and Advocates Call on Mayor to Sign All CityFHEPS Bills, Passed by Veto-Proof Majority, into Law

Bills provide solutions to record homelessness and worsening eviction crisis

In response to Mayor Adams’ executive order suspending the rule that requires individuals to stay in a homeless shelter for 90 consecutive days before qualifying for a CityFHEPS housing voucher, the New York City Council, homeless services providers and advocates called on the Mayor to sign all of the recently-passed Council bills into law. The four bills were passed by the Council on May 25 with votes of 41 to 7, far more than a veto-proof majority.

First heard in January, the bills were overwhelmingly approved by the Council after nearly one year of inaction by the Administration to eliminate the 90-day rule, despite first pledging to end it in June 2022. As the city continued to welcome tens of thousands of people seeking asylum in the U.S. throughout the past year, the Council continued to call for the Administration to eliminate the rule in statements, hearings, and reports, as a solution to better assist New Yorkers in transitioning out of the shelter system to permanent housing. 

According to data for the first four months of Fiscal Year 2023 in the most recent Preliminary Mayor’s Management Report, the average length of stay in shelter was 802 days for adult families, 485 days for families with children, and 441 days for single adults. The Mayor’s Housing Blueprint estimates that it cost the city nearly $8,773 per month to house a family of two in the shelter system in 2022. A CityFHEPS voucher for the same family would cost a maximum of $2,387, and likely less, resulting in a lower total annual expense.

At a time of record homelessness, the Administration has also left thousands of apartments vacant. It has failed to place homeless New Yorkers into over 2,000 vacant supportive housing apartments, while cutting funds from and understaffing the agencies responsible for making the placements. It has also cut funding from NYCHA to help fill vacant apartments, when over 6,500 remain empty and unavailable for tenants. Meanwhile, the Mayor’s administration has failed to intervene as the number of evictions has skyrocketed, surpassing 100,000 cases in the courts.

“Passing legislation to reform city policies that have blocked New Yorkers’ access to CityFHEPS housing vouchers was a critical and long overdue step to help people move out of shelters, find and maintain stable housing, and reduce homelessness,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The 90-day rule is just one of several counterproductive barriers that the Administration failed to take action to eliminate, leaving too many New Yorkers stuck in shelters far longer than necessary. The efforts to transition people from homeless shelters to permanent housing have been inadequate, straining the City’s shelter capacity under additional pressures. While we welcome the Administration finally seeming to drop its opposition to end the 90-day rule, the Council’s legislation importantly codifies the change and provides a more comprehensive approach to remove other obstacles to housing vouchers that can help protect New Yorkers. The only reliable path forward to truly confront the city’s eviction and homelessness crises is for the Mayor to sign the entire package of legislation.”

“The policies and systems we have in place right now to address homelessness within our city do not work,” said Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. “Rather than reforming the system to prevent families from becoming homeless, our current policy is to force New Yorkers into the shelter system before we agree to help them. It doesn’t make sense and the City Council acknowledged that. We collectively took a stand and passed a package of bills aimed at addressing the issue. I ask the Mayor to join the City Council in putting the needs of New Yorkers first.”

“We are at a critical juncture in our city’s housing and homelessness crisis, with record levels of individuals and families affected, especially as we welcome new New Yorkers,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “My district knows the heartbreaking consequences firsthand. One in ten households of Bronx community district 5 faced eviction last year. This has meant more children forced to commute over 90 minutes from shelters in Queens or Brooklyn to the Bronx, severing vital social bonds and support networks that are crucial for their development. As we welcome new New Yorkers, we need solutions that ease our over-burdened systems and stabilize our communities. This is why our Council passed Int 893 and Int 894, which position CityFHEPS as an upstream eviction prevention tool. Int. 893 would end the requirement that a family become homeless before they are eligible for a voucher, keeping families in their homes and out of shelter. Int. 894 will ease work and income requirements, again, preventing folks from entering shelter in the first place. These bills are fiscally prudent. Per the Mayor’s Housing Blueprint, it cost the city nearly $8,773 per month to house a family of two in the shelter system in 2022. A CityFHEPS voucher for the same family would cost a maximum of $2,387, and probably less, resulting in a lower total annual expense. Signing these bills would represent commitment to fighting for housing and against homelessness. I urge the Mayor to sign these bills into law.”

“A comfortable, reliable home is the essential pillar of a dignified life, and a key foundation of true public safety, not to mention public health,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “The bills recently passed by Council, taken together, constitute an important step toward a city where the purpose of the housing system is guaranteeing all New Yorkers housing, not maximizing profits for corporate landlords and billionaire developers. In the interest of safety, health, and dignity, the Mayor must move swiftly to sign this critical package of bills into law.”

The bills, which include elimination of the rule that requires individuals to stay in a homeless shelter for 90 consecutive days before qualifying for a CityFHEPS housing voucher, also help ensure vouchers can prevent evictions, do not undermine economic advancement, and are adequately valued to include utility costs.

Introduction 878-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would remove shelter stay as a precondition to CityFHEPS eligibility. This would remove eligibility barriers, reduce lengths of stay in the shelter system and prevent new shelter entrants. [1]

Introduction 893-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would remove certain eligibility restrictions for CityFHEPS to allow applicants at risk of eviction or experiencing homelessness access to vouchers. [2]

Introduction 894-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would change the eligibility for a CityFHEPS voucher from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 50 percent of the area median income and remove work and source of income requirements that make it difficult for individuals to pursue employment and housing concurrently. [3]

Introduction 229-A, sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, would prohibit the Department of Social Services from deducting a utility allowance from the maximum amount of a CityFHEPS voucher, except in limited circumstances. [4]

Alongside the CityFHEPS bills, the Council has pushed for increased funding for the city’s affordable housing capital budget, right-to-counsel program, and agencies responsible for homelessness and housing, like the Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources Administration, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and New York City Housing Authority. 

“Low-income and immigrant New Yorkers are struggling to deal with the increasingly drastic affordability and shelter crises – but with the bold action taken by the City Council, there is a path forward to permanent housing and self-sufficiency,” said Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of New York Immigration Coalition. “Mayor Adams is rightfully ending the 90-day rule for the CityFHEPS voucher program, but this step is not enough to address the magnitude of our current situation. If we continue putting forward half-measures and band-aid fixes, we are destined to perpetuate the longstanding problems of our City’s overburdened shelter system. Mayor Adams must sign the entire City Council package, to expand eligibility to vouchers and help New Yorkers skip entering the shelter system altogether. With these cost-effective policies in place, New York families will be able to move out of the shelters and streets, and into permanent housing where they can begin to build the lives they deserve.”

“We must remain focused on implementing solutions that prevent homelessness, rapidly rehouse homeless New Yorkers, and avoid petty distractions in the form of a Mayoral veto,” said Celina Trowell, Homelessness Union Organizer at VOCAL-NY. “If we had a real partner at Gracie Mansion, the administration would have ended the abhorrent 90-day rule unilaterally instead of the Council having to force the Mayor’s hand by passing Int. 878-A. We hope this executive action honors the full scope of Int. 878-A and strongly urge the Mayor to sign the CityFHEPS reforms passed by the Council, including Int. 229-A, Int. 894-A and Int. 893-A.”

“Temporary suspension of a bad policy is fine, but permanent legislation to end it is much better,” said Jose Lopez, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. “We urge the Mayor to immediately sign the Council’s strong CityFHEPS package, which includes several measures that will help get New Yorkers out of the streets and shelter system, and into permanent housing.”

“We welcome this decision by the Adams Administration to suspend the arbitrary and punitive ‘90-day rule,’ an overhaul we have long advocated for,” said Judith Goldiner, attorney-in-charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “However, this should not supplant enacting the package of comprehensive CityFHEPS reforms recently passed by the Council that would improve housing stability for the thousands of New Yorkers who are experiencing or on the verge of homelessness. Following Albany’s failure to advance any significant housing policy this session to address the state’s unprecedented housing crisis, it’s now incumbent on Mayor Adams to sign these crucial bills into law immediately.”

“While we applaud the Mayor’s decision to take quick executive action to eliminate the 90-day rule, this reform alone is not enough, said Catherine Trapani, Executive Director of Homeless Services United. “Our City is facing an enormous crisis and we need the response of our government to match the magnitude of the need. The package of bills passed by the City Council not only addresses the 90-day rule but also makes several other critical changes to streamline eligibility for housing assistance for those living in shelter while also improving our ability to prevent people from having to enter shelter in the first place. Taken together, once enacted, these reforms will greatly reduce pressure on our overburdened shelter system. We urge the mayor to sign the Council’s bills and move to implement all of them as quickly as possible.”

“Housing vouchers are one of the best tools we have to support homeless families, but we all know they can be more effective. This crisis requires creative solutions and I was proud to work with the City Council on historic legislation to improve CityFHEPS vouchers — especially repealing the 90-Day Rule — so we can help homeless New Yorkers move out of shelter faster, creating more capacity for those seeking asylum and saving the city millions of dollars,” said Christine C. Quinn, President & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families with children in New York City & the nation. “While I applaud Mayor Adams for repealing the outdated, illogical 90-Day Rule more must be done to break the cycle of homelessness — and I stand with the Council in urging him to sign the entire package of housing voucher reforms.”

“The groundbreaking CityFHEPS bill package passed by the New York City Council on May 25th provides critical improvements to the efficacy of the voucher program for New Yorkers in need of housing and at risk of eviction. These four pieces of legislation will together expand eligibility, eliminate requirements that currently hinder efficient access to assistance, and ensure that the full value of the voucher can be utilized. While we appreciate the administration’s move to eliminate the 90-day waiting period for those in DHS shelters to apply for CityFHEPS, this is just one of several critical changes these bills would enact. We urge Mayor Adams to sign the entire package into law and implement it as quickly as possible. Multiple tools are needed to successfully combat homelessness, and effective vouchers that allow households to both obtain and maintain housing in the community is an essential one of those tools. As we celebrate the City Council’s bold move to alleviate homelessness, we recognize that the City cannot do this work alone. The State and Federal governments must provide support to ensure these efforts can be sustained into the future,” said Frederick Shack, Chief Executive Officer of Urban Pathways. - - City Hall NY

Blog Admin K, notes: [1] Imagine seeing your financial situation clearly spell next unhoused crisis entry, having the proof of this and still not be able to be approved for a housing voucher because the city requires that you go through homelessness for that approval. I went through this myself and I'm currently in over $20k in rent debt since I can't afford to pay because I had to stay in this apartment. There wasn't a lot of legal help and still isn't around this. This is literally abusive and torturous. This measure can help against this. Governments shouldn't be legalizing forcing others to experience being unhoused for housing resources. [2] This is great because it opens eligibility standards to include people who are in such debt that they clearly need financial assistance with housing before legally allowing them to be sent to the streets only to overpolice them and provide them with fucked up medical care. [3] Again, the less requirements for people to receive housing help because the government and city can account for people by providing and not ask about income the better since most of the housing provided are still beyond "affordable" housing. [4] So would this then prevent people who are receiving help with utilities from the city to have this remove how much that can receive for overall housing assistance? If so, awesome. If not, feel free to add your comments and opinions on these posts.

[propertyrecordsofcalifornia]

The San Diego City Council recently passed an ordinance proposed by Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera aimed at protecting renters from eviction. The new ordinance provides renters with safeguards against eviction as long as they continue to pay their rent and comply with their lease agreements. The ordinance was passed with […]

[beardedmrbean]

I testified Thursday against the City Council Fair Chance for Housing Act, my second time in Council Chambers. The first was in May 2019 when I spoke personally and passionately about protecting New York City’s specialized high schools.

The bill, also known as Int. 632, is another City Council measure designed to protect lawbreakers at the expense of the law-abiding. It would prohibit criminal background checks on prospective tenants and buyers of residential housing.

After testifying, I left City Hall. It wasn’t until hours later that I heard the racist response to my testimony from Douglas Powell, who spoke on behalf of city-funded nonprofit Vocal-NY. He and his organization want individuals such as Powell, who has a criminal record and is a level 2 registered sex offender, to be able to access housing without criminal background checks.

His testimony laid out his criminal-justice experience and his lived experience of anti-black discrimination at Asian stores — culminating in a racist attack on the Asian community where he lives. In his three-minute tirade, he called Queens’ Rego Park the most racist neighborhood because it is majority Asian. “It’s not their neighborhood — they from China, Hong Kong,” he said. “We from New York.” 

Convicted sex offender spews anti-Asian slurs during NYC Council meeting — and pols do nothing to stop him

This anti-Asian, perpetual-foreigner, “You don’t belong here” rhetoric is dangerous hate speech that incites violence. Unprovoked attacks on Asian New Yorkers are on the rise.

Powell’s racist rant was delivered in the presence of three councilmembers without interruption or admonishment. Committee chair Nantasha Williams even thanked Powell for his testimony. It’s as if his anti-Asian hate speech in the chamber was unremarkable white noise. It took hours, after online pressure from constituents, for those present to issue generic disapproval statements, retweeting other electeds’ condemnation, and say “both sides” share blame for systemic racism.

Like many Asian Americans, I am a property owner and small landlord. When I graduated, my parents encouraged me to live at home, pay off my debt and save to buy a property. I lived at home for a few years and paid off my student loans as quickly as I could. Decades later, I bought my first investment property. I rented mostly to young men and women at the start of their careers. As a landlord, I treated my tenants the way I wanted to be treated: fairly and responsively. I’m fortunate real-estate brokers and condo management could conduct criminal and credit checks, not only for my benefit but for the safety of neighbors in the building.

Powell spewed hateful, anti-Asian rhetoric at the council meeting.Stephen Yang

Asian Americans have the highest rate of home ownership in the city, 42%. The stability of owning property as a means of building wealth is deeply rooted in Asian culture. New York’s pro-tenant policies, especially the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, have resulted in heartbreaking stories from small-property landlords. The laws, intended to help tenants, some of whom lost jobs during COVID, disproportionately hurt immigrant landlords. Not only have they not been paid rent for three years; some living in multi-family units are terrorized by tenants who know they can’t evict. Many Asian property owners are working class, and their modest rental income helps pay for the mortgage, property taxes and unit upkeep.

While bad tenants existed before this bill, it would make things worse. Private-property owners should not bear the burden of unknowingly renting to convicted arsonists and murderers and letting them live next door to New Yorkers who want a safe place after a long day braving our unpredictable city streets and subways. We worry about higher insurance, liability in endangering other tenants and frivolous lawsuits in tenant-friendly courts. That becomes a cost-benefit question for owners — whether it’s worth it to rent with little profit.

Like most landlords, I don’t live in the building I rent, but I do worry about the tenants I rent to. I think of the kindhearted young Asian professional who pleaded with me to let her have a Hurricane Sandy rescue dog. I worry about the wheelchair-bound young man grateful to find independence in living in an accessible building and appreciative of me letting him install an automatic door opener for his convenience. I want them to have the peace of mind that when they return to their small haven in the city, they will be safe, among neighbors who won’t pose a risk to them.

The fight to save specialized high schools that brought me to council the first time galvanized many Asian voters who had never been involved in city politics before. I am one of those newly politicized voters. This year, I co-founded Asian Wave Alliance to make sure that Asian-American New Yorkers’ needs are not ignored by the very councilmembers who sat quietly and listened to Powell’s racist attacks.

This time, I went to council to convince the Committee on Human and Civil Rights and the bill’s sponsors that the Fair Chance for Housing Act is not “fair” at all to small landlords and already-existing tenants. Getting rid of reasonable safeguards like criminal background checks is not “fair” to the city’s law-abiding citizens and will put people in danger. True fairness requires listening to all New Yorkers and prioritizing safety and transparency. 

[freedomofthemoon]

Ugh ugh ugh. Of course this whole eviction situation is happening while I'm out of the country, so Roommate 1 has been dealing with it basically on her own. I'm sitting in an airport awaiting the first of three flights to get home, and get this update:

"I'm at work and I just had the most saddest frustrating conversation with the lady at the office about the apartment. At first I just got the office assistant and she wouldn't pass me to somebody who I could speak with more directly. And then when she called me back she was very combative and basically yelled at me the whole time. It took me 25 minutes to get her to stop yelling at me. And basically she said it's not acceptable even to have a visitor that sleeps over even if you're close family it's only acceptable if somebody's from out of town or something like that and that that apartment would never be approved for three people although she did at the end say if I wanted to renegotiate the lease we'd have to apply to live in the apartment as three people but she could refuse us and we would lose our apartment. And if she didn't refuse us we would be starting at the 17 or 1800 from scratch and they probably wouldn't even give us a regular lease they probably give us one of those stupid leases that people are getting now "

Edit: "regular lease" = periodic; "stupid lease" = fixed-term. Almost all new leases since the rent cap was put in place are fixed-term because of the massive loophole making it unenforceable on those (by design?) and the total lack of regulation around choosing a lease type.

I realize they are within their rights not to allow an extra person, and it's our fault for being stupid enough not to get it in writing before this.

The thing is, though, that we were SO CAREFUL to make sure they were okay with it before I moved in! We had verbal approval confirmed numerous times! We checked with the tenancy board to make sure it wouldn't trigger the need for a new lease! She arranged a parking spot for me! I was the one who met with them when they were doing their walkthrough before the last repairs! None of this was done sneakily or behind their backs.

Also, it is a large 2 -bedroom, and 2/3 of us are a long-term couple. It is very much not an overcrowding issue and very much a "we don't want tenants on pre-covid-priced leases' issue. The 'no overnight visitors thing is all bluster and not a legal lease condition in NS. When a visitor becomes a tenant is not explicitly defined. They do have the right to deny applications for new tenants, but my current understanding is that they are theoretically supposed to need to provide a good reason.