Accessible Housing

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy

I hope you're having some success in your hunt for a better quality

home. I know you will be able to find a home that is in much better

shape than the one you are in now. I don't know if you've been

following the posts in the thread you started, but I did have some

strong things to say about landlords, accessibility etc.

I don't know for certain that you live in a trailer. But, since

houses and apartments very rarely end up with serious water damage to

the floors, I took it for granted that you do live in a trailer. I

live in a fairly new one and I know how awkward they can be and how

much extra effort and money it takes to maintain the things. I bought

this one five years ago. It is my first and it is going to be my last

:-)

There should be several places you can check for accessible,

affordable housing. If you get any kind of housing assistance, start

with the people there. If they're no help, get on the net and go to

anywho.com. Type in accessible housing or accessible apartments etc.

for your area. You should get quite a list. Some sites will state if

they take section 8 or other housing assistance programs. Most will

give the complete price range available and show whether they are on a

bus route etc.

If that isn't useful, phone realtors and ask about affordable,

accessible apartments etc. I have found good housing for a quite a

few people in my area. We have had one real estate company that has

been building accessible apartments for the last few years. I had

several disabled tenants lined up to move in the day the latest batch

of apartments were ready for occupancy.

If you need help with moving, start phoning around. Check with your

local United Way office, check with churches and disability

organizations. Check with lodges like the Elks, Moose, Lions, Legion

etc. Sororities and fraternities also need to do community service

and if they're within driving distance of where you live, they may be

of help. If you have a township trustee, talk to them about

suggestions for getting moved. Sometimes they can be helpful,

sometimes not.

If you know you're going to need someone else living with you to pay

the rent, start looking immediately. If you have a friend that you

know you could tolerate, then that's an easy way to go. Sometimes

though, a stranger (who has been checked out) can be a very good

choice.

I wish I was familiar with your area. Then I could point you directly

to a service organization that would help.

I hope you find much safer, better quality housing soon. Living in a

home with punked floors that are going to keep falling apart is not

safe for an able bodied person and is downright dangerous for a person

in a wheelchair. I recently had a wheelchair using client whose

bathroom floor fell through while she was taking a shower. She ended

up on the ground under the home. You don't need to have something

like that happen to you.

--

Lyndi