Brandy:

I think as more people struggle and government spending increases, more will find they can not rely on government assistance. It's up to us to help ourselves as best we can and help each other as well.

Very good point. I'm going to seriously think this over.

I wanted to add that I also think we will be seeing more people making unconventional choices as housing and living costs can be so expensive these days.

Children sharing housing with parents after they are adults has been looked down on for sometime but I see it becoming more common as so many young adults can't afford to dream about moving out when they are first starting out in adult jobs. They are fortunate if they can get jobs right away.

Unrelated people sharing housing when they are young and single has long been common but it was still odd to see married couples or even families electing to have multi-family homes. This too is being seen in rising number.

Cheaper and smaller houses are becoming a more popular choice than stretch as far as you can and get as much house as you can.

Cheap and small can sometimes mean outside the box on housing as well, like living in a travel trailer/RV, using a shed structure for a home or the like.

It's a different world than we faced just two or three years ago.

Pat:

I'm going to seriously think this over.

If you are seriously tossing this around, check your local ordinances to see if living in a travel trailer/RV is allowed. Some cities restrict this and others don't.

Brandy:

It's a different world than we faced just two or three years ago.

How true that is! We need to be creative in housing as well as many other things. I don't advocate depending on the government for everything, but there are times when that seems to be a first choice. If they can't (and so far, it looks like they can't) get help there, then other methods will have to be tried.

Dear Pat & Brandy & All, The way t hat I got on Section 8 housing (1/3 of my countable income -- after medical expenses -- that I pay for rent; the Government pays the balance) was as thus:  my number came up in a lottery after I had been waiting for 7 years.  There were plus factors added into the lottery:  (i)  my living in San Francisco htee whole time, (ii) my being completely & totally disabled.  I think but am not sure that people who are homeless goo to the head of the line.  I think but am not sure that they only hold the lotteries once every several years.

It is absolutely teh truth that in TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families - "general assistance/welfare") & in Section 8/Public Housing, tehre is a plllus factor in having children but being unmarried.  Such a shame.

Yours in HIm, Deb

Deborahmichelle:

It is absolutely teh truth that in TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families - "general assistance/welfare") & in Section 8/Public Housing, tehre is a plllus factor in having children but being unmarried.  Such a shame.

It is very much a shame. Those married with children don't need housing?

Thanks, Deb. I don't think they can hold out for 7 years, so we'll be looking elsewhere for a solution.

 A thought - sometimes, elderly persons who wish to to stay in their homes will want a family (or someone) to come live with them in exchange for maintaining the house and helping them.

Maybe the Senior Center, or another resource, might be worth a try?

 Seaturtle great idea. Babs

Seaturtle's idea is a good one - but again, check local ordinances and make sure that there's no violation - I know the people I bought my house from had extended family living here (14 people), and had some trouble because of it; there are some places that have ordinances about the number of people who can live in a dwelling.  I think the number varies by size of dwelling, and is lower for people who are not related - there are a lot of variables, but I'd check first, before looking for a situation like the one Seaturtle suggested, to avoid possible problems.

we have several housing areas that are empty because  it for the elderly or disabled ... and  in stead of them livimg alone they live with family .. Family living is old old way of life ... 

we have a set of 4 houses that emergency housing we have a family man woman 2 children who cant seem to get anything but a woman with one child got a 3 bedroom 2 bath because she qualivied for emergency housing