Move Evicted Blind Students
Donation protected
On May 1 we got our eviction notice - 16 blind students had until May 31 to leave the student apartments we've had for years. The management would not renew our leases.
Our students aren't just everyday people who can find another place to live. They're part of our Orientation to Blindness Program, learning independence skills through BLIND, Inc., our training center in Minneapolis, and they need to live together, support each other, and get their questions answered by our onsite staff.
Why the forced move? Economics. Turning affordable apartments into high rent ones and displacing people who can't afford $2,000 or more per month. It's happening everywhere. But no tears shed - the apartments weren't in the best shape, and they weren't wheelchair accessible.
We thought ahead and got ahead of the changes we knew were coming. One of our graduates works in a dormitory-style apartment building near the University of Minnesota. She thought it would be a great place for our students to live, and we agreed. After a lot of negotiating, we got a decent price.
The problem is, our rents went up, and so did the damage deposits. It's going to cost us a lot more, but our students (see picture) are worth it. The new place has furnished two, three, and four bedroom apartments with in-apartment washer, dryer, and dishwasher, a bathroom for each student, basic cable, and Wi-Fi. There's a computer study room, exercise room, and other common areas in the building.
The cost of the move has hit us like a ton of bricks, and we need your help! Can Stephanie, Rachel, Dominic, David, and our other students count on you? Your money will go for moving expenses and to help defray the high cost of damage deposits. We've got to move on June 1st, so anything you donate will go to work immediately.
My name is Dick Davis, and I work for BLIND, Inc., where your money will go. If you share your contact information, we'll give you a tax deductible receipt, since we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more about us at www.blindinc.org.
Our students aren't just everyday people who can find another place to live. They're part of our Orientation to Blindness Program, learning independence skills through BLIND, Inc., our training center in Minneapolis, and they need to live together, support each other, and get their questions answered by our onsite staff.
Why the forced move? Economics. Turning affordable apartments into high rent ones and displacing people who can't afford $2,000 or more per month. It's happening everywhere. But no tears shed - the apartments weren't in the best shape, and they weren't wheelchair accessible.
We thought ahead and got ahead of the changes we knew were coming. One of our graduates works in a dormitory-style apartment building near the University of Minnesota. She thought it would be a great place for our students to live, and we agreed. After a lot of negotiating, we got a decent price.
The problem is, our rents went up, and so did the damage deposits. It's going to cost us a lot more, but our students (see picture) are worth it. The new place has furnished two, three, and four bedroom apartments with in-apartment washer, dryer, and dishwasher, a bathroom for each student, basic cable, and Wi-Fi. There's a computer study room, exercise room, and other common areas in the building.
The cost of the move has hit us like a ton of bricks, and we need your help! Can Stephanie, Rachel, Dominic, David, and our other students count on you? Your money will go for moving expenses and to help defray the high cost of damage deposits. We've got to move on June 1st, so anything you donate will go to work immediately.
My name is Dick Davis, and I work for BLIND, Inc., where your money will go. If you share your contact information, we'll give you a tax deductible receipt, since we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more about us at www.blindinc.org.
Organizer
Richard Davis
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN