Laura
08-05-2008, 05:40 PM
http://ask.metafilter.com/98395/NYC-housing-for-very-low-income-people-with-disabilities
NYC housing for very low income people with disabilities?
August 5, 2008 12:36 PM RSS feed for this thread Subscribe
My mother needs to find a new place to live. The house we currently live in will be set to go up for sale early next year. But repairs need to be made first, so my family would like us both to move ASAP. I’m looking at a move to Queens, but my mother has Multiple Sclerosis and has a limited income. All she has are her Social Security disability payments each month, which only come to about $600-700, and food stamps. I can’t afford to take her with me.
We’re currently living in Brooklyn, and that’s where she prefers to stay. She can’t get into those HUD housing lottery buildings because she doesn’t meet the minimum income level for a “low-income” apartment. Heh.
The city’s Section 8 application list has been closed since May ’07 (we’ve been looking since about July '07 - damn), so that’s out as an option. Public housing is likely out too, because the projects can be wildly dangerous, and you have no choice where they send you. You can only select two preferred boroughs, with no choice of buildings. There’s one housing project in a decent area where she has friends, but there’s absolutely no guarantee she’d wind up there. I wouldn’t want my mother sent to Brownsville or Jamaica. If anything dangerous would happen, she can't move fast to avoid it. Nevermind the potential of a years-long waiting list.
She’s contacted the MS Society and spoken to a social worker at the center where she goes for physical therapy. We haven’t found many options that aren't for senior citizens. What we have found are a building in Coney Island (Friendship, I think) she might try. And the Bishop Boardman building in Park Slope, which she is applying to tomorrow.
She needs a first floor apartment or a building with a reliable elevator. We currently live on the second floor. It’s hard for her to climb stairs, especially since she uses a walker to get around and has trouble taking it up and down. I assist her with things (big reason I still live with her), but she’s actually quite independent. She doesn’t need any sort of intense care type of situation. She uses the MTA Access-a-Ride, and she goes out frequently – an MS group, physical therapy, occupational therapy, classes, and sometimes doctor visits. She’s been with the same neurologist for over 25 years. And all her friends and family are here; moving someplace else all alone wouldn’t really be feasible.
What other options are there for someone who is very low-income and disabled as far as NYC housing is concerned? Is there any way to weasel somebody who isn’t a domestic violence victim or protected witness onto the Section 8 list? Brooklyn is highly preferred, but any suggestions are helpful. Since all her doctors and activities are in Brooklyn, it can't be far flung like Inwood.
Her sisters are the ones selling this house, and so far they’ve been way less than helpful. Suggestions included dumping her into the Staten Island trailer park, sending her out of state, or sending her to Queens with me. (I would if I could, but I can’t). One is harassing my mother a bit lately because she wants to get money from the sale already. The other lives in a million dollar totally redone house. Anyhow, Mom and I are determined to find her someplace decent where she can maybe even get one of those motorized scooters to make her even more independent.
I'm sure there are stones we haven't turned yet, so I come to all of you.
I looked at these already: http://ask.metafilter.com/52870/What-are-the-various-governmentsubsidized-housing-programs-in-New-York-City
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/7967 but they don't really help much, as the circumstances are different.
posted by cmgonzalez to grab bag (6 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
How old is your mother? Have you spoken to anyone at the Department for the Aging? 311 will connect you to them.
posted by The Straightener at 12:40 PM on August 5
She's only 48. Lots of buildings are off limits to her due to age restrictions.
I just found something about "Section 811". Does anyone know where to apply for this in NY? Going to see what I can find, but thought I'd add it here.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:50 PM on August 5
Yeah, that's a tough age, doesn't qualify you for much.
When we had clients that kind of fell through the cracks like this in Philly there was always the boarding house network. Down here boarding houses/personal care homes have to register with the state and usually have some type of staff, maybe a nurse, a nurse's aid on duty during the day hours, sometimes around the clock. They cook meals for the entire house and can dispense medication, but part of the deal is that you sign over payee-ship of your SSI and pay most of your money to the house, usually they let you keep like $60 bucks for the month, which was a deal breaker for a lot of my clients. But if you don't smoke, drink or do drugs, it's honestly not so bad because everything is including in the room and board charge.
Now, despite being licensed by the state, some of these places can be real dumpholes so I would recommend inspecting them personally and meeting the owner/operator before leaving your mom there. However, the upside here is that usually you can make same day arrangements with these places if they have an opening, there's no waiting lists or anything.
I don't know how things work in NYC but ask a social worker about boarding house/personal care home options, if they're experienced in mental health or elder care they will know what you're talking about.
posted by The Straightener at 12:58 PM on August 5
Full disclosure: this is a self-link to my own web site, a directory of disability resources for New York City. I am not a social worker, this is not an exhaustive list, this is only what I've cobbled together in my spare time. Check out Disabled NYC: Housing and Independent Living. Hope you find something that will help there. Good luck.
posted by Soliloquy at 1:13 PM on August 5
Best of luck with your mom. That's a tough situation for both of you. Being not-elderly with no children under 18 can leave one falling through the cracks. Too bad her sisters are not being helpful or compassionate. Are you the only child?
You might want to check out the message boards at But You Don't Look Sick which is run by and for people with "invisible illnesses" such as MS. Someone there who has BT, DT may be able to give you advice or leads.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:35 PM on August 5
CIDNY has a searchable database of accessible housing. I've never used it, so I don't know how comprehensive it is, or how affordable the housing is. The staff there might be able to give you some advice or resources. CUCS might also have useful resources, though I know them primarily through their work for people with mental disabilities.
I think a lot of people on SSI live in crowded situations with roommates, quite frankly.
posted by Mavri at 1:53 PM on August 5
NYC housing for very low income people with disabilities?
August 5, 2008 12:36 PM RSS feed for this thread Subscribe
My mother needs to find a new place to live. The house we currently live in will be set to go up for sale early next year. But repairs need to be made first, so my family would like us both to move ASAP. I’m looking at a move to Queens, but my mother has Multiple Sclerosis and has a limited income. All she has are her Social Security disability payments each month, which only come to about $600-700, and food stamps. I can’t afford to take her with me.
We’re currently living in Brooklyn, and that’s where she prefers to stay. She can’t get into those HUD housing lottery buildings because she doesn’t meet the minimum income level for a “low-income” apartment. Heh.
The city’s Section 8 application list has been closed since May ’07 (we’ve been looking since about July '07 - damn), so that’s out as an option. Public housing is likely out too, because the projects can be wildly dangerous, and you have no choice where they send you. You can only select two preferred boroughs, with no choice of buildings. There’s one housing project in a decent area where she has friends, but there’s absolutely no guarantee she’d wind up there. I wouldn’t want my mother sent to Brownsville or Jamaica. If anything dangerous would happen, she can't move fast to avoid it. Nevermind the potential of a years-long waiting list.
She’s contacted the MS Society and spoken to a social worker at the center where she goes for physical therapy. We haven’t found many options that aren't for senior citizens. What we have found are a building in Coney Island (Friendship, I think) she might try. And the Bishop Boardman building in Park Slope, which she is applying to tomorrow.
She needs a first floor apartment or a building with a reliable elevator. We currently live on the second floor. It’s hard for her to climb stairs, especially since she uses a walker to get around and has trouble taking it up and down. I assist her with things (big reason I still live with her), but she’s actually quite independent. She doesn’t need any sort of intense care type of situation. She uses the MTA Access-a-Ride, and she goes out frequently – an MS group, physical therapy, occupational therapy, classes, and sometimes doctor visits. She’s been with the same neurologist for over 25 years. And all her friends and family are here; moving someplace else all alone wouldn’t really be feasible.
What other options are there for someone who is very low-income and disabled as far as NYC housing is concerned? Is there any way to weasel somebody who isn’t a domestic violence victim or protected witness onto the Section 8 list? Brooklyn is highly preferred, but any suggestions are helpful. Since all her doctors and activities are in Brooklyn, it can't be far flung like Inwood.
Her sisters are the ones selling this house, and so far they’ve been way less than helpful. Suggestions included dumping her into the Staten Island trailer park, sending her out of state, or sending her to Queens with me. (I would if I could, but I can’t). One is harassing my mother a bit lately because she wants to get money from the sale already. The other lives in a million dollar totally redone house. Anyhow, Mom and I are determined to find her someplace decent where she can maybe even get one of those motorized scooters to make her even more independent.
I'm sure there are stones we haven't turned yet, so I come to all of you.
I looked at these already: http://ask.metafilter.com/52870/What-are-the-various-governmentsubsidized-housing-programs-in-New-York-City
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/7967 but they don't really help much, as the circumstances are different.
posted by cmgonzalez to grab bag (6 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
How old is your mother? Have you spoken to anyone at the Department for the Aging? 311 will connect you to them.
posted by The Straightener at 12:40 PM on August 5
She's only 48. Lots of buildings are off limits to her due to age restrictions.
I just found something about "Section 811". Does anyone know where to apply for this in NY? Going to see what I can find, but thought I'd add it here.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:50 PM on August 5
Yeah, that's a tough age, doesn't qualify you for much.
When we had clients that kind of fell through the cracks like this in Philly there was always the boarding house network. Down here boarding houses/personal care homes have to register with the state and usually have some type of staff, maybe a nurse, a nurse's aid on duty during the day hours, sometimes around the clock. They cook meals for the entire house and can dispense medication, but part of the deal is that you sign over payee-ship of your SSI and pay most of your money to the house, usually they let you keep like $60 bucks for the month, which was a deal breaker for a lot of my clients. But if you don't smoke, drink or do drugs, it's honestly not so bad because everything is including in the room and board charge.
Now, despite being licensed by the state, some of these places can be real dumpholes so I would recommend inspecting them personally and meeting the owner/operator before leaving your mom there. However, the upside here is that usually you can make same day arrangements with these places if they have an opening, there's no waiting lists or anything.
I don't know how things work in NYC but ask a social worker about boarding house/personal care home options, if they're experienced in mental health or elder care they will know what you're talking about.
posted by The Straightener at 12:58 PM on August 5
Full disclosure: this is a self-link to my own web site, a directory of disability resources for New York City. I am not a social worker, this is not an exhaustive list, this is only what I've cobbled together in my spare time. Check out Disabled NYC: Housing and Independent Living. Hope you find something that will help there. Good luck.
posted by Soliloquy at 1:13 PM on August 5
Best of luck with your mom. That's a tough situation for both of you. Being not-elderly with no children under 18 can leave one falling through the cracks. Too bad her sisters are not being helpful or compassionate. Are you the only child?
You might want to check out the message boards at But You Don't Look Sick which is run by and for people with "invisible illnesses" such as MS. Someone there who has BT, DT may be able to give you advice or leads.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:35 PM on August 5
CIDNY has a searchable database of accessible housing. I've never used it, so I don't know how comprehensive it is, or how affordable the housing is. The staff there might be able to give you some advice or resources. CUCS might also have useful resources, though I know them primarily through their work for people with mental disabilities.
I think a lot of people on SSI live in crowded situations with roommates, quite frankly.
posted by Mavri at 1:53 PM on August 5