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Resident voices: "Job
Training and Other Hassles" I moved to another housing place in 1992. They started mentioning Hope VI in 1998-1999. I was doing construction then and I had a good babysitter. When the Hope VI stuff came up lots of people felt like their homes were being threatened, which is valid. They were talking about gentrification, and people getting kicked out and the greatest fear was becoming homeless. I'm now looking for other places to go. We were sent a letter for another housing place. About 80 showed up for a meeting about new townhouses. Once we got the paper work we realized that only 12 units were available for low-income folks. They told us we had to do the application and do a training, but by the time we finished looking at the applications a lot of people were turned off by all of the red tape and questions. They ask about your children's behavior, and I think that is discriminatory. It was very invasive. At there. I've been to three of the re-entry classes. They said if you fall below 80% participation it would be reported to the rent office. I didn't understand it. They wanted us to do resumes. In the class they gave us an outline that said that we had to attend 5 classes a month, and if you miss one you have to make it up on a Saturday. There was a class that was supposed to be career training, but it ended up being "How to dress for success" and stuff like that. As if none of us had ever had a job. There was only one lady in there that hadn't had a job. The value they put on some of the houses are $250,000. You'll be able to rent for a year or two but if you can't buy you have got to go. Before I got moved out of that place I went to one of the meetings and they said that we had first priority to get a house when they are fixed. But then they just up and did a lottery. I am not confident at all about getting a place. I just can't handle those gas and electric bills on top of rent and still feed my family. It looks like a no win. Even when you're trying to get off your feet and work hard and stay out of trouble your still up the creek without a paddle. Being displaced again, this time from Arthur Capper, is very disturbing. I don't make enough to buy a house, or pay regular rent being a single mom with three kids. Honestly it's scary. The thing is that they see that you work and they think you got money. The thing is your kids got to eat, your bills have got to get paid. It's hard. My children eat before I eat. About Hope VI at Arthur Capper, I think a lot of people will get displaced. I might be one of them. You just don't know where you can turn. It's like were just being set up for failure. When I was pregnant I volunteered a lot at the hospital and then I got a job in construction for a year. I got laid off and I went to the unemployment office to see about classes they offer. I went to classes their for a few months and I noticed everyone who was on welfare got jobs real quick. So I got on food stamps and Medicaid and got a job quick. I'm in the welfare to work program now and I have been working for the department of transportation for three years now. I have gone from making $14,444 to $23,000 now. I plan on moving up soon too. From having already gone through the Hope VI stuff once, I would tell people the most important thing to do is keep yourself informed. |
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