- K
- M
- C
Today is my 15 year disability anniversary (pedestrian hit by a car in 2007). 13 years of that I've been applying to Permanent Supportive Housing all over the country as it became obvious despite much hard work and tremendous progress I would still need some help with activities of daily living. This is a highly competitive lottery based process with years long waitlists that only open occasionally every few years. Only one in four people who needs these supports is ever able to get into a program, the need is so great and the supply so limited. After a very long wait and navigating multiple agency requirements over the years, we have FINALLY been accepted into not one but two programs as of this week! We will accept one and release the other slot ASAP to another lucky person.
We look forward to sharing more of our journey from 30 years in the private rental market into a supportive nonprofit environment and will also be serving on a taskforce to share our lived experience with policy makers.
In trying to keep up with rental markets and being taken advantage of with unsanitary and unsafe housing, we have already moved four times in the past six years alone, each move a nightmare in a competitive housing market not to mention the energy and expense. We are exhausted! While we are very sad to leave our present home, knowing we are blessed to even stay housed at all these past 15 years when too many in similar situations cannot, we know that permanent supportive housing will help so much with caring staff and programs, a rent that is tied annually to our fixed disability income and a community of others in similar circumstances and hopefully help us be able to age in place with much less stress.
We are excited for this next phase of life and to see how this can hopefully bring change for the better, not only for us but for the many others out there waiting and hoping.
We are seeking help from broader community for travel/moving expense, rent/deposits (we will be paying double part of this month and next and current rent alone after a recent large increase is more than our monthly check) and to help make a very empty and utilitarian 400 or so square feet into a cozy, comfortable home full of love and good energy.
Thanks so much for anything you can do to help! ️