Living with HIV/AIDS on The South Bank: HOUSING

"I used to be afraid of dying, I'm not anymore. I'm more afraid of what happens to the people who live..." 

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/10/12/republican-congressional-candidate-attacks-the-poor-video/  By Justin Acuff

I think the problem with these people is that they’ve never been there. That they have never been hungry, out of work, or struggled. If they succeed, they blame themselves — but failure? Oh, no, that’s the government holding them down and promoting laziness.

Politicians like this make me sick. He thinks people want to live on entitlement programs? Let’s put him on SNAP benefits for a month and see if he likes it. The “entitlement” issue on the right is disgusting. Sure, there are people who use these programs for the wrong reasons. However, the vast majority need this assistance. This assistance is one of the marks of our government’s humanity and caring for human rights.

Food for thought — if the deficit continues to rise, social programs such as these will have to be cut. Is it only coincidence that Republican budget plans increase the deficit with no explanation as to how they will overcome that? I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but it doesn’t seem that crazy to make that connection.

When referring to persons living in poverty, we need to consider that they are individuals and not "families." They may be a part of a family, but the struggle for survival is often a lonely undertaking. Those who have supportive families, do not feel the full impact of poverty and can better manage their health care. Those living alone, without families for support are in the greatest need for help. Therefore, in this document, the word "families" should be deleted from the general verbiage.

In order to have an impact on poverty and the need for health care in Northern Kentucky, the process of collaboration begun with the Poverty Symposium needs to continue. The recommendations and ideas expressed need to be translated into practical plans and policies to raise the level of health among those living in poverty and thus to raise the level of health for the entire Northern Kentucky community.

"The opposite of love is not hate,
it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness,
it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy,
it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death,
it's indifference." -- Elie Wiesel

 

Indifference, greed and stupidity are also the three major ingredients in the American recipe for what has come to be known as AIDS Complacency. A Cultural phenomena against which every major player in the fight against it has warned us continually for as long as I can remember. Indifference which is rooted in the arrogance that it can’t happen to us, only “the right people”; mainly gays. Greed fueled by the profits, jobs and paychecks from the new industry and bureaucracy it spawned. Stupidity that feeds the intolerance, discrimination, stigmatization and demonization that prevents us from using every means available to prevent future infections as well as diagnose, treat and care for those who already have been...

The Comfort of the HIVe... 03/22/2002

 

"...not only because of the physical limitations it imposes, but because the prejudice surrounding AIDS exacts a social death which precedes the actual physical one." Tom Hanks in Philadephia

Still as true today as it was when first quoted in the movie "Philadelphia", the breadth of that social death, like the disease, has broadened into every segment of society. While the gay community, already well-versed in being regarded with disdain, rallied quickly to thumb their noses at and ward off that social shadow of death by organizing support systems and programs that would become the models that are imitated yet today, I now see a need to re-focus, energize and re-establish these social supports to be of greater value to the wider audience they now command. It often wrenchingly occurs to me that there are those among us who live in an HIV-closet because they are married/divorced, not Gay, not Male, not Adult or even not totally straight.

 

The prejudice that now surrounds those of us who live with HIV&AIDS -Many of us are part of the 47% on fixed Low-Incomes, now presents a threat to our Medicare/Ryan White Care Act benefits, Prescription Drug coverage, SNAP, HUD Housing Assistance that we're qualified for that has made it possible for us to Live to See this Election!

As you may be aware; I've received a 30 Day Notice to End my Lease by Dudley Properties II, LLC which was up October 14th the Sunday after the HIVe P.R.I.D.E. Picnic & Rally. This HOME, My HIVe in COVINGTON on The South Bank in the Northern Kentucky part of the Tri-State based in the Queen City HUB of Cincinnati is unstable...

Hhm; back in July I asked "Do you know a good attorney for Landlord-Tenant matters!? Steven L Frank replied; "There is a lawyer running for school board named Halloran who works for the innocence project here in Covington. I bet she is plugged into public interest lawyers. The problem you'll have going to a normal lawyer is that they'll charge you more than $50 to take the case. You need legal aid lawyer or public interst lawyer if you are really dealing with a broader, class action issue which I think you may have."

Thank You, Kerry has been a great help. And so has my friend Farrah Vaughn from BarMonet who is a former city attorney... Between us, I've been hooked up with LegalAid of The Bluegrass! Ms. Stewart enlightened and relieved me when she revealed experience with Dudley Properties II, LLC.

 

HUD > Complaints >

Bad Landlords in Federal Housing Complaints Hundreds of landlords have been fined and/or debarred from doing business with the federal government as a result of failing to provide safe and decent housing for the poor, while enriching themselves on taxpayer-funded subsidies. Tenants have been forced to live in terrible housing, and neighborhoods have suffered from housing eyesores. HUD calls this a double crime-one against tenants as well as taxpayers. To report a bad landlord to the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line call toll-free at (800) MULTI-70 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (800) MULTI-70 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ( 1-800-685-8470 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-685-8470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) / TTY (800) 432-2209.

 

 

 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) pays a portion of the resident's rent (subsidy) and the resident pays the rest (usually 30 to 40 percent of their income). The most widely used programs are the Project-Based Rental

Administration and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Tenant-Based, Section 8).

KHC's Project-Based Rental Administration (PBRA) Program provides rental assistance for very low- and low-income residents living in certain apartment complexes throughout Kentucky. The subsidy is tied to specific complexes and paid directly to the owner on behalf of the resident, thereby lowering the portion of rent for which the resident is responsible.

Anyone renting a subsidized unit must meet income and program guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the property owner. The rental subsidy does not follow the resident from property to property.

 

As the Commonwealth's contract administrator for HUD, KHC staff works to ensure that the property owners, management agencies and residents adhere to the requirements of the program. KHC staff performs annual on-site visits of each property, desk reviews and handles resident concerns and questions.

 

KHC offers an Assisted Rental Housing in Kentucky directory which lists available rental housing in counties throughout the state. Also, be sure to review our Fir Housing page to learn your rights.

The AIDS disease is caused by a virus, but the AIDS epidemic is not. The AIDS epidemic is fueled by stigma, by hate, by misinformation, by ignorance, by indifference. Science has accomplished miracles over the past 20 years, and science can now end this disease – but it cannot end the epidemic. We need more than medicine. We can do something about these things. We need to speak out about the changes we need to make in our society." - Elton John

SouthBank Tenants Advocacy Project

ARE YOU a RESIDENTIAL RENTAL TENANT with a scum-sucking, sleazy, greedy, unethical, rule-breaking, absent, negligent Property Owner, Property Manager that you're afraid of for fear of losing your HOME!? Do you get no help from the proper authorities because they & the Landlords have their hands in each other's pockets or their offices are down in Frankfort or over in Washington too far away to pro...vide real oversight and regulatory control? And are you SICK to Death of the assinine and simple-minded solution to flee rather than Fight!? There's more of US than them and it will cost them way more to build more Homeless Shelters than making existing Housing Safe, Affordable, Sanitary, Energy Efficient & Structurally Sound across the board for ALL HUMAN BEINGS, Regardless of Class, Race, Gender, Political Affiliation, Disability, or Health! It ain't gonna get better waiting for someone else to do it. Take a Risk, Open your Mouth, Don't Be AFRAID to name Names! Fellow tenants of Tay Robinson & Dudley Properties Housing (A HUD site-based Property Manager for Germantown & Bismarck Communities) need to communicate with Kentucky Housing Corp in Frankfort about the ongoing indifference and neglect. Staci & Melissa are aware of the problem and need our help and testimony to solve the problem once and For All. Non-HUD tenants of DPM need to go to Covington Code Enforcement with a Bigger Wad of Cash than Mr Robinson has...

Do you live in Sct 8 Voucher or Project-based Assisted Rental Housing through HUD and your Landlord, Housing Authority or Property Manager does a lousy job with maintenance, upkeep or customer service!? Report them without fear of retaliati...on or losing your housing by calling Melissa or Staci at Kentucky Housing Corporation in Frankfort: 877-552-7368 Stacie M. Sutton, Director - ext. 772 - Melissa Corbett, COS, Compliance Specialist Manager – ext. 739 link

 

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher administered by City Housing Dept:
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal rent subsidy program sponsored by HUD. As the Commonwealth's contract administrator for HUD, KHC staff works to ensure that the property owners, management agencies and residents adhere to the requirements of the program. Its purpose is to assist eligible elderly, or disabled or very-low income households secure decent, safe and ...sanitary housing in Kenton County. All rental units used for this program are inspected to insure that they meet Housing Quality Standards set forth by HUD. Qualified families pay 30% of their gross income for rent and utilities. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pays the remainder of the total contract rent to the landlord with money allocated from the Federal Government.

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE | EXCLUSIVE
CONSULTANT: REOPEN BID PROCESS FOR NEW COVINGTON HOUSING PROJECT
In an exclusive report from The River City News, a consultant asked by the City of Covington to rev...iew the bid process to develop River's Edge at Eastside Pointe is ripe with irregularities and possible ethical lapses. An email obtained by The River City News explains that the Housing Authority of Covington's Atlanta-based contractor, Integral, may have influenced the bidding process in granting the lucrative contract to one of its own subsidiaries. Click the link for the story
The RC News: Consultant Urges New Bids for River's Edge
|
SEE ALSO: The friction between at least a couple Covington City Commissioners and the Housing Authority of Covington may be on full display tonight at the joint caucus meeting between the Commission and HAC. For a preview, click here. http://youtu.be/VsSmBg_ek_Y

Jeff Murden Will be interesting to see what happens when the city doesn't give HAC control of Section 8... as was clearly discussed last week at the caucus.

Michael Connett:

Will be more interesting when people realize that there's a 3rd player with even more control involved: HUD! HAC reports to HUD via KHC in Frankfort as does other site-based assisted Property Owners/Managers (Neighborhood Investment Partner...s!?) like DPM Housing. Sct 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are administered by the City in the Community Development: Housing Dept. The Bottom Line question for me will be who has City Oversight on ALL of the CommUNITY's Housing: Residential Rental Division; Licensing - HQS Inspections - URLTA - Site Based -Sct 8 Voucher Based... Are their taxes paid? Do their properties look well kept? Have they been HQS Inspected & by whom & what standards... Perhaps, the Mayor should extend an Invitation to Kentucky Housing Corporation to Open a New Regional Branch Operation here!?