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These stories are heartbreaking.
Shutdown now squeezing seniors, families in subsidized housing
https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/shutdown-now-squeezing-seniors-families-subsidized-housing/c8nhO5GOGff7j8p05j5iGO/
Jan 23, 2019 By
Willoughby Mariano Tamar Hallerman, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The partial federal shutdown struck just as Willie J. Donaldson began to believe he could save his home from foreclosure.
A stroke weakened his legs and forced him from his job as a maintenance worker. Unemployment and medical bills put the Bainbridge man tens of thousands of dollars behind on his mortgage payments. Donaldson, 61, lost hope until a pro bono lawyer found a state program that could save his home.
The catch is that to ensure he qualifies for the program, Donaldson needs to submit information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture rural housing program that helped him buy his home. When his lawyer calls, all she gets are recorded greetings that say the office is closed.
Donaldsons home is scheduled for foreclosure Feb. 5. If he loses it, he has nowhere to go, he said.
Day and night and all the time, thats what I worry about, he said.
The more than 135,000 low-income Georgia households that rely on the federal governments vast system of affordable housing subsidies are beginning to feel the sting of the partisan budget impasse that has now stretched 34 days. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development furloughed roughly 95 percent of its employees, including most of its health and safety inspectors, according to the departments contingency plan.
Key contacts at HUD, USDA and other federal agencies that provide seniors, the disabled, and the working poor with housing assistance arent responding to calls or emails...................
riversedge
(70,445 posts)Key contacts at HUD, USDA and other federal agencies that provide seniors, the disabled, and the working poor with housing assistance arent responding to calls or emails.
notdarkyet
(2,226 posts)See what is being done in our country. Youve hurt millions of people and this will not be forgotten. Repubs are getting sucked in the quicksand. This is our country and we dont want to be Russian.
Roland99
(53,342 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,882 posts)What a nightmare for these people that are trying to keep a home they were likely on an Rural Housing Service list for to get for God only knows how long! I know the wait is at least 10 years where I am located! That's right 10 YEARS.
I hope Mr. Donaldson can fend them off and that the shut-down ends soon!
So sad!