SECTION 8 SQUEEZES THE DISABLED FOR MORE MONEY

I'm going to be shooting off a letter to my representative, but I thought that I should bring this matter to the attention of the Everett Herald first.

Facing homelessness or forced to eat the $254 for my portion of the rent--my mother-in-law came through at the last instant--and my bacon was saved once again.

At least for another year.

The problem is that for the last 4 years, I have watched my portion of the rent go from $91 a month to a staggering $254 a month now with the Everett Housing Authority. (And I only get $637 a month in disability).

I have been able to handle the increases easily in the past, but lately, they've become a financial burden for myself--since neither my wife or I have worked in 6 years.

I've done what I can to soften the blow. But I really don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Next year may be our last--especially if we have to suffer through another painful rent increase.

The heart of the problem is that we applied for a one-bedroom unit within our complex and was recently denied--even though our voucher was originally slated for a one-bedroom apartment. Housing claims that the space of the one-bedroom was "insufficient" for the asking price of $720 a month. (Which would've made my portion of the rent $111 a month--based on our cap of $609.)

I didn't have a problem with that. Really. I didn't. Both my wife and I desperately wanted this.

But $860 for an unremodeled, 2-bedroom apartment?

Ante up!

More for housing, less for me.

Schuyler Thorpe

xxxth Street xx #X001

Everett, WA 98204

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX