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<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Thanks
for a rather insightful letter Donovan. I like your divisions of types of
persons needing low income housing. It's a fact that $500 per month would
be difficult for my kids, working at or near minimum wage.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I've
been concerned about affordable housing, and I, too, think that the current
government regulations do not work. Years ago (I'm afraid to say how many)
I was a manager for a local low income apartment complex. The income
guidelines and "fair-market" rent were ludicrous. What the feds determined
was "fair-market" was actually two to three times the going rate in
Moscow. I don't know what the rules are exactly today, but I
doubt it has improved much from then.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I'll
be watching this topic. Please Donovan or Mark - e-mail me offlist if
something develops on this line. I don't read all vision
posts!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Thanks</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=390150003-05012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Bev
Bafus</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On
Behalf Of </B>Donovan Arnold<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2008 5:18
PM<BR><B>To:</B> mark seman<BR><B>Cc:</B>
vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Affordable Housing
Crisis Bearing Fruit<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mark,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks for the
insightful response. My perspective is a little bit different then the
current structuring of low income housing. I think the government and
financial powers that be are more about trying to get what they want
rather than focusing on the actual needs of the people they are
supposedly trying to help. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I do believe, in
all honesty, the biggest problem with low income housing is the policies
that they use for qualifications. They are simply unrealistic, unfair,
and discriminatory. Most of the people I talked to in low income housing
would be kicked out if they answered every question 100% honestly, and
the building would be mostly empty. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">But to more
directly address your questions, Mark, the problem with most low income
is that it fails to realize that there are different types of poor
people. Obviously stereotyping and pigeon holing but, here are the basic
5 groups in representing <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>'s low
income.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1) Single men and
woman that do not make that much money. Usually, the working poor, many
college students, and some former students that are just working a local
job. Their stay is usually for a short period of time.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2) The elderly.
Mostly older woman, over 65 living on social security and in poor
health. Their stay is usually for a long period of time, or until death.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3) Single
parents. These are mostly woman living with one of two children trying
to make ends meet and low cost housing is one of those cost cutting
areas. Their stay is for a moderate about of time.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4) Persons with a
disability. These are usually people that have a hard time holding full
time employment and usually get some type of government assisted
housing. Their stay is usually for a longer period of time.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">5) Young
families. These are usually a family that is just starting out, have
some young children, not much money yet. Their stay is usually for a
limited time until both parents can work or one gets a better paying
job. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Each of these
groups has different needs and wants from their housing situation. Many
times their needs and wants contradict or conflict with each other.
So trying to devise a plan that will work equally and
fairly for everybody in one complex is bound to failure and the
socially engineer is ignoring that people are different.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Second, you will
find that most individuals do not want to pay more in rent for
services they cannot use, especially when it prevents them from getting
what they need, such as safer sidewalks for their wheelchair over that
of a new playground for the children. Or new carpets versus carports.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Trying to be all
things to all people, or fairly distributing very limited funds for
each groups needs is a monstrous task which usually results in nobody
being happy. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As to the
physically properties themselves, I would suggest each place have the
following things. Phone, Refrigerator, a very large freezer, storage,
microwave, oven, stove, bathtub and shower, laundry, garbage disposal
and dishwasher, large open kitchen and dining room, two medium equally
sized bedrooms with walk in closets. They should have at least 600 sq.
ft. of space. Some units should have a garage, others carports, and
others no parking. It should mostly be built on one level, and the units
should be noise resistant. They should have access to the Internet
and basic television. There should be units that mostly carpeted and
some units that are mostly not carpeted. There should be some units with
a yard, and some with just a small outdoor patio. The units should also
be near a bus route. The units should have one side for pets, one
side without; one half of each side should be for quiet of noisier
tenants. Utilities, cable, Internet, water, garbage and rent should just
be one bill. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Police should
patrol the area frequently, know most of the residents, and offer
assistance when needed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sex offenders and
convicted criminals, especially those that committed moral crimes
against persons, should be in separate complexes from other
tenants.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Finally, I would
reiterate that the laws governing what people can make to afford an
apartment and who can qualify for an apartment is the biggest
problem. I think focusing on the government trying to socially engineer
the complexes and meet everyone's needs is the WRONG approach and will
not work. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Best
Regards,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Donovan</SPAN></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>