Covid Hell

On a brisk March day in 2021, I was watching the news laughing about how I will never catch COVID while ensconced in a secluded weird albeit effectively isolated dwelling. There was a loud knock on the door. It was Upper Darby Licences and Inspections kicking everyone out of the building. We had an hour to get everything and vacate. There was a senior lady caring for 2 children crying and wondering what to do, an amputee, and a few other hapless individuals wondering where to go.

Yes the owner was a slumlord. Upper Darby L&I did no research as to who was in the building. On the one hand the building is closed. On the other hand, living in the street is not a step up, but at least the Township of Upper Darby is out of the loop.

Biden extended the eviction ban. The "eviction" does not cover this situation. There is verbiage that covers extenuation circumstances, but basically ERAP funding is a waste.

Here in Delaware County our County Solicitor refuses to invoke clauses that would provide mediation in this matter. He is afraid of fraud. The only remediation I have heard in Deloc is the shelter system. Ironically the CDC was instrumental in setting up ERAP funding to avoid overcrowding shelters.

This is clearly a poverty issue. One reason I was offered for the abrupt condemnation was You know  what goes on here. Yes Mr L&I inspector I do. But it is clearly a matter of perception to assume a whole building are nefarious criminals. Now I have found out that stipulations that could have averted this mess are stifled since The County Persecutor money will be stolen.

As of August, 80 percent of PA ERAP funding has not been spent. The program is a hideous failure. They are paying firms, non profit and otherwise, to deny the money. And have you any idea how much it costs on a daily basis to seat someone in a shelter bed. Its more expensive than a hote believe or not.

The virus is still going strong, the vaccine as not nearly as effective as believed, and this week PUA funding as well as the eviction ban has been lifted.

So, once again, I have to clean up another government funded mess.