tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29894793556588368842024-03-13T03:33:28.505-07:00Shelter for AllDeborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-59726443377007500832021-04-30T11:55:00.007-07:002021-04-30T11:55:48.282-07:00SHELTER :: When I have some money to spend...<p> I have been waiting for GOD to open the money doors for so long, I have been scrambling to get other people to start / do the things I would have done with funds. It's a daily source of questioning to GOD... why? when? who? how? I can't make my products sell, or even afford the internet and computers... so the burden is on faith in GOD and trying to understand why He doesn't do what I know is good to do.</p><p>The summertime is the optimum time to build / create housing options for the next winter cycle. I have suggested to local (liberal) activists that NOW is the time to invest the bond money for shelter needs. I think a great option is to find land as close to transit as possible that is big enough to build a KOA-style housing option. I reminded these people that KOA's often have a small store, can provide shelter options for tents and cars (and RVs), include toilets, showers, space for personal gardens, cooking options, and more. A place for homeless people can also include other options they need... a shared community kitchen and meeting place, a food cart for those who want to learn how to sell food, food processing equipment to use (dehydrators, canning equipment, smokers, etc.), shared internet, TV, phone tower, etc.</p><p>The ideas I have would belong to the State... and become small income sources for them in the future. Better than paying out subsidies to other developers. PLUS, every budget cycle the government can invest in a new shelter option... increasing their homeless services and income options.</p><p>I really don't know WHY GOD hasn't provided the money for me to do these things, and more... but we know that GOD doesn't tell us His reasons and there are always others involved in the ongoing process of change. </p><p>If you have a connection with your government leaders... tell them NOW is the time to build a shelter option for NEXT winter!</p><p>If you have the money, or know someone who does, TELL THEM to invest in a lifetime opportunity to help the homeless, poor, and struggling.</p><p><br /></p><p>I was going to make a list of things I would do, but this is the one that needs to get done NOW. :-) I'm learning more about publishing Kindle / paperback books at Amazon right now, finding ways it will actually be doable for me in my situation, so I might just put my list of things into a small book for everyone to buy and help me raise all the money I need for my projects. :-)</p><p>Or, you can donate to me at ::</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">https://paypal.me/work2gather</span></p><p>If you are more interested in donating to WORKING TOGETHER, you can do that here ::</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">https://paypal.me/workingtogetherinc</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p>It's a never-ending quest, spiritually attacked, seemingly desperate, but I hope that one day GOD will finally provide what is needed for all of us to survive as long as possible.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No one can stop prophecy from coming true.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We can only prepare for it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-63503831931193686402020-10-13T20:59:00.000-07:002020-10-13T20:59:14.904-07:00SHELTER :: Thinking about homelessness and how to change this problem.<p>Homelessness is a hard thing to endure. </p><p>Depending on your chosen non-profit, the focus can be on missions, tent cities, Section 8, low-income housing options, non-Christian shelters, legal issues, public safety issues, crime, addictions, and other topics.</p><p>I don't think home ownership is ever considered.</p><p>I think it is a better solution because it allows the people involved to stabilize. Once there is a permanent home, other problems can be dealt with. The cycle of homelessness is caused by a variety of problems that take time to overcome. Income ( or the lack of it) and addiction are two of the main ones.</p><p>The government systems are really subsidies for developers, for non-profits, for communities, and others involved in the "solution" process. When someone lives in low-income housing, it is usually priced at 30% of the income of the resident, and the government pays the rest as a subsidy (according to market value, I think). That is my understanding of the process, in its simplest terms. </p><p>Housing developers get special loans and tax breaks, I think. I understand they have to agree to remain as low-income housing for a certain number of years. I have been thinking about this "opportunity" for builders off-and-on since living in housing units many years ago. I assume the receive the subsidy rent payments. I wonder if the land prices rise. I wonder how much they make on a government contract. I wonder about tax breaks.</p><p>I also know that governments take properties and houses and businesses for a variety of reasons. Maybe back taxes, drug-related seizures, abandoned and zombie properties -- I'm not sure what else they can legally do to obtain properties.</p><p>With so much need for housing, and so many people forced out into the streets by their economic issues and other problems, it seemed to me homeless problems could become better through ownership options for as many as possible.</p><p>Using the 30% formula for low-income programs already in place, ownership programs would be able to achieve that stability need and long-term changes in those who participate.</p><p>Unused properties owned by governments can be used to make the homes (or sites for homes) within the program.</p><p>The community outreach would remain part of the government's homeless solutions as one resident owner becomes a property seller to a future second homeless resident owner, continuing into the future for as long as the property exists. In time, the growth of ownership properties would continue to be solutions for those who will be homeless in the future.</p><p>I remember checking into the Portland (Oregon) homeless problem. To share the concept, this is an estimate example... I don't recall the exact numbers from when I was exploring the problem. I do remember they would need about 5000 beds every night to meet the needs at that time, but all the shelters totaled about one-fifth of what was needed... maybe a quarter of the need. All the other homeless individuals and families were left to fend for themselves in hostile urban spaces.</p><p>Some lived in cars and needed safe and permanent places to park.</p><p>Some 'couch-surfed" anywhere they could.</p><p>Most tried to find a safe (and secret) space to store their limited belongings and sleep without a lot of fear.</p><p>Teens had less options than adults; singles had more options than couples or families.</p><p>In my eyes, there were more solutions available, but no way to make them available. Parking garages, top floors, could become places for the homeless in cars to park...with adaptations for the safety of all. </p><p>Now we have Tiny Homes, Container homes, Van conversions, Bus conversions, Habitat for Humanity options, Urban and Rural options, Coop options, Trail options, and more.</p><p>Some communities have tried small parking lot placements for homeless people in cars and other vehicles... calling on churches to be the overseers of the living situations.</p><p>Some individuals have tried to offer people they know a place in their driveways. There seems to be laws against helping friends and family in urban areas. It becomes a crime to care.</p><p>Rental properties are the same way. You cannot even help your children when they are in need of shelter. You risk being evicted yourself.</p><p>Everyone has their own ideas of what is acceptable for intervening on behalf of the homeless.</p><p>I just wanted to find one place to call my own. A permanent place. One that I could start to build a future on/with. </p><p>Ownership is really the only option for permanence.</p><p><b>A permanent solution will probably require the government</b> because few people care enough about their needs. Public issues associated with homelessness are the main motivation for the government, not concern for the people involved. How to make a program that can continue to grow to meet the needs of a community is the bigger focus. For Portland (Oregon) we would have that goal of 5000 options for every night.</p><p>All the <b>money spent on subsidies can be used to start a different kind of solution</b>, which can be built up as each budget cycle occurs. The government would help create the new homes on empty lots, rehab abandoned homes - using Habitat for Humanity programs to help with the process, which teaches the new owners how to do basic construction and remodeling, KOA-type facilities can be made for people in cars and vans and small RV's - which offer small stores and laundries and utilities and space for gardens and access to other resources, parking garages can be reworked into safe options for homeless parking spots -- with added surveillance equipment and security guards and possibly separate entry and exit options, and a new permanent department for overseeing these changes.</p><p>My idea of a permanent home ownership program operated by the government, or anyone interested in providing this option for their community, would be to think in terms of years, not months. The same fifteen-year mortgage can apply to this type of ownership program. The only difference is that the payments are attached to income, not the loan amount. It becomes a way to build for a future traditional mortgage.</p><p>On the way, those non-profit homeowner classes can become the path to bigger goals for those who have a property to work with. Taxes and insurance will need to be included in the mortgage until the resident grows their income and their goals. This is when government oversite works best. Taxes can be forgiven until the resident is able to pay them. Insurance can be dealt with the same way... except it can be part of the payment, or carried with the balance.</p><p> </p><p>I have shared most of this before. I wanted to get it all into one space and share it again. Maybe SOMEONE will find it an see the difference it can make.</p><p>Naturally, I would have done these things myself, but I haven't been able to raise the funds yet. There are lots of new Tiny House developments being created, but ownership is still not a factor. Eviction is always a possibility. I hoped to make what I call "demonstration projects" for all my ideas, to work out the problems so others can build them for their communities.</p><p>Maybe you can do that.</p><p><br /></p><p>In Christ,</p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Deborah Martin</span></i></p><p>work2gather.us</p><p>and more...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBZb8qSiUa8/X4Z3DOHzM9I/AAAAAAAAC1w/YAOA6TwCldAVupqD2lsSn1QgzTpWPttsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/How%2Bdo%2Byou%2Bmeasure.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBZb8qSiUa8/X4Z3DOHzM9I/AAAAAAAAC1w/YAOA6TwCldAVupqD2lsSn1QgzTpWPttsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/How%2Bdo%2Byou%2Bmeasure.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-25430282427743169162020-06-10T23:50:00.002-07:002020-06-10T23:50:47.217-07:00Housing Alternatives<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am working on my goal to post at all my blogs and Patreon tiers more... I'm trying for once a month right now, and working towards once a week in the future. It's a long process for just me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a long-time-coming post. :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been exploring some trailer options this week. Someone doing small construction has passed the house where I live with a strange trailer I have never seen before. They had a small digger on it with lots of other space, but all I saw was a <b>TINY HOUSE PLATFORM</b>. :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I shared that find with someone recently, and then decided to try to find out how much they cost. What a big goal! I assumed it would be easy to find! So far, no success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did find other trailers that seem kind of useful for bigger tiny houses. :-) I have them in a file. Maybe I will try to share one or more here before I go. I found them in a search, so I have no idea if they are protected by anything like a copyright. I am not promoting a sale, so I hope that will be OK. If something comes up, they will disappear. Sorry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope I do find it one of these days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My goal for my posting efforts is to collect ideas for each of the topic blogs I have for myself and WT. (And <a href="https://patreon.com/DebsRetirementPlan">my Patreon page</a>.) This is a new effort -- this week, I think. I tend to think about things a long time before I make a commitment to do them... so I have been heading in this direction for awhile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I have some pages I created to help me. Things are moving along.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am sharing this because I want you to know I am starting to collect web addresses, YouTube links, photos, and other housing-related items to share here.</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are two of the photos I saved... I thought this was an interesting design for tiny living... the platform over the cab seemed like a loft space. I don't remember how long they are, but I do recall seeing "4 cars" as the amount of vehicle these can carry.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjdOFJd06qI/XuHR7F9UG1I/AAAAAAAACkc/oqkjSfXFT1AI4N_gRCalp-ud5PVCYFWFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/freightliner-4-car-carrier-131614682820-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjdOFJd06qI/XuHR7F9UG1I/AAAAAAAACkc/oqkjSfXFT1AI4N_gRCalp-ud5PVCYFWFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/freightliner-4-car-carrier-131614682820-0.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA5PXMNSYoY/XuHR9Hyu2oI/AAAAAAAACkg/GP9HyCrFNI4EX658Zbd9b3AYEMCFjdSigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/car%2Bcarrier%2Btruck%2B-%2Bchevron%2Bcommercial%2Binc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA5PXMNSYoY/XuHR9Hyu2oI/AAAAAAAACkg/GP9HyCrFNI4EX658Zbd9b3AYEMCFjdSigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/car%2Bcarrier%2Btruck%2B-%2Bchevron%2Bcommercial%2Binc.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I go, here's another photo I wanted to keep as a reference. I think this is the one that most resembled the trailer I saw go down my street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It isn't anything like it, but it is long and flat and kind of low to the ground... which were the qualities I noticed in the one I want to find again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2YkxHo4JjQ/XuHSxXjgj2I/AAAAAAAACks/o8lytgdUSG4W9Gyn6bVSZQiGyxb84bCfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/car%2Bcarrier%2Btrailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2YkxHo4JjQ/XuHSxXjgj2I/AAAAAAAACks/o8lytgdUSG4W9Gyn6bVSZQiGyxb84bCfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/car%2Bcarrier%2Btrailer.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This all came about because I shared that I wanted to make my tiny house on one of the large truck beds. That was long ago. Now I want "small on a foundation" if I ever get the opportunity to make my dream home. :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are more heavy-duty trailers for the foundation of a tiny house. This means you can do more with them and they will still be road-worthy. I think it almost makes them like an RV. Maybe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope to share more housing ideas I have in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Christ,</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deborah Martin</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">work2gather.us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and more...</span><br />
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<br />Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-75529361673320623112018-09-05T15:42:00.002-07:002018-09-05T15:56:30.785-07:00Checking In - letting you know what is going on in my worldHi again, after what seems like forever!<br />
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I am still watching for shelter information, homeless conditions, government issues related to housing, property options, money sources, and more.<br />
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I remain among the very poor, but I am hopeful that my efforts of so many years will be blessed one day soon.<br />
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I noticed that TINY HOUSES are growing in popularity, even for emergency shelters. I think permanent housing is best, so there are no more moves... just the ability to stay in one place and build a future. I have been working on ways home ownership can be part of that goal. Lots of good stuff that would benefit government homeless programs, charity programs, family concerns, and more. It appears that the main hurdle is zoning, but that is getting figured out all over the country.<br />
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I'm working toward a weekly blog post, so keep in touch... watch for better blogs and links to places you can explore on your own.<br />
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Have to get going right now. I just wanted to touch base here and let you know I am working on my long-term plans for this blog and Working Together.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
In Christ,<br />
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Deborah Martin<br />
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<a href="http://work2gather.us/">work2gather.us</a><br />
Working Together Inc<br />
Building for the End Times<br />
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<br />Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-49801337294533348132016-06-26T19:26:00.000-07:002016-06-26T19:26:36.293-07:00Housing Solutions :: Investment not SubsidySunday, 26 June 2016 - about 6:45pm PST<br />
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I believe it is too hard for ordinary people to affect the huge processes of the government, especially for those people dependent on their services. I have had my life destroyed by my efforts more than once. <br />
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Because of my age and health, and lack of GOD's financial blessings so far, I have been trying to share some of ideas I would be willing to try if I had the ability to do so. Right now I am making a larger effort to contact people in charge of the funding for homeless programs in Portland OR (PDX). I hope it is OK to share what I wrote this morning to the Chairperson of the County Commissioners, but I thought it had a lot of useful information in it. I hope that others will see it and think about creating this kind of program in their areas.<br />
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I included the source of my commitment to this search, even though it may cause problems with the local powers. It is not a good thing to be a Christian in this city, and it is becoming hazardous in the entire state as well. My focus with Working Together is to create housing for Christians... the government is trying to rid the streets of the symbols of poverty. Somewhere in the middle are the people suffering each day who just need help... myself included.<br />
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This is just ONE IDEA, but it is really a good one and the government may be the only one willing to invest in it. I don't know. I would invest in this kind of program if I had the resources, and I continue to work on housing designs that will be affordable at that level. If you have ideas or comments about this effort, let me know them below. Thanks.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9.597pt;">Housing solutions </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9.597pt;">Deborah Martin (work2gather@yahoo.com) </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9.597pt;">mult.chair@multco.us; </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9.597pt;">Sunday, June 26, 2016 1:58 PM </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7.998pt;">Sunday, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7.998pt;">June </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7.998pt;">26, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7.998pt;">2016</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Hello, Ms. Kafoury... I had hoped to be building lots of low-income solutions to housing </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">many years ago, but GOD seems to have had a different plan. I have been sharing some of </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">my suggestions with as many government offices associated with the issues and </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">organizations I know of. My expertise comes from too many years in poverty and </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">homelessness... the two go together as often as addictions and homelessness and prison. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Not the life I had hoped for, but I feel it all applies to my purpose in life :: building resources </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">for the Christian community so they will be able to survive as much of the End Times as </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">possible. With the computer comes the possibility of the prophesied "Mark of the Beast" </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">which will control all buying and selling and lead to the deaths of however many Christians </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">there are refusing it... probably a computer chip, but no one really knows for sure. I do know </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">that I have read (years ago) that chips are already being used in people's bodies as a means </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">of financial "safety" and fraud protection. It will sound very reasonable when it gets here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Why did I share this... to let you know how serious these issues are to me, and to those who </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">believe in the Bible. When I was homeless, I realized that was the slow demise of others </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">like me... especially as persecutions increase. Housing options became very important. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">When I discovered the $20,000 House at </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;"><a href="http://cadc.auburn.edu/">auburn.edu</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;"> 's Rural Studio program, I was more </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">focused on how to bring that concept to both urban and rural locations. The possibilities </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">rose and then the "Tiny House" was born. :-) Somewhere in all that smallness is the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">solution for millions of poor and homeless people and families. Urban areas are the biggest </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">challenge, but home ownership is critical for its success as an intervention </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">option...ownership creates stability and security and allows the permanent development of </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">support networks and growth. Renting is just a pause in the problems... leading to repeat </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">cycles... over and over and over again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Naturally, I have a zillion different ideas. I have shared some with the Mayor and Ms. Fritz in </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">the past. I can't recall who else right now. I will send you a finished description when I get it </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">done, but before I leave this email I will share that my funding design is based on the Bible... </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">in the OT where GOD says that people can borrow their tithe, but they have to pay an </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">additional 20% when it is returned. I couldn't find a timeline, so I am trying to decide if the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Jubilee applies, or the 7 year thing, or if the traditional 15 year contract is acceptable. I have </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">created a limit of $50,000 for the housing loan, but this is divided into a maximum house cost </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">of $40K and the 20% interest payment at $8K, and the final $2K would be the loan </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">processing fee. I'm working on the insurance issue... I hope to find something that will fit into </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">the 30% of income payment it would start with (based on the subsidy process the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">government already uses).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;"><!--BeginFragment--><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">There are new designs all over the internet... and competitions could be created at </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">architecture schools, or with the general public, or both, to find even better and greener </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">designs.</span></span><!--EndFragment--></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">The other thing I thought might be a good choice for government programs is to separate the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">land value from the "improvements" (the house, etc.). This would keep the tax burden down </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">for the homeowners until we can find a way to end property taxes. :-) (serious!) With this </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">kind of arrangement, the owner can agree to sell the house to another homeless/low-income </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">household when they are ready to move. The land value would remain an asset for the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">government, and new revenues can be applied to increasing the ownership option to those </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">who will come in the future.</span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<!--BeginFragment--><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Just this one change makes housing a long-term profitable program instead of an </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">expensive liability. It also changes the direction of life for those who benefit by it. The </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">government lending program can be flexible when crises appear, and they will... they can </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">also offer residents help in other areas of their lives they begin to want to change, like </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">education, work, recovery, etc. This option is especially good for disabled and mentally </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">challenged people... stability allows you to grow past Maslow's survival stage.</span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">I hope you will read my suggestions when they get there. :-) People in "high places" see </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">the poor only as a burden. I bet many of them would offer you good suggestions to think </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">about. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Sincerely,</span></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.997pt;">Deborah Martin</span></span><br />
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NOTE :: This is my first effort at sharing an email. I hope I didn't miss any of the text, or corrections that were required. When I finish the description of other housing ideas the email mentions, I will also post it here and elsewhere. I don't know how long my life will last, I just want to get these ideas into the conversation. I feel they are good for an urban community like Portland, and solve the problems faced daily by homeless people. I feel the current way of doing things is punishment focused and costs more to keep in place because it causes more destruction than necessary. I hope someone listens. Deb<br />
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Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-31599015855876759012016-06-17T10:02:00.001-07:002016-06-17T10:02:25.770-07:00Response to a Berkeley professor's article on homeless issues Hi... I have had some problems trying to respond to an article I came across at FB yesterday, so I decided to share my comments on other FB places and here... I will post the web link to Twitter later.<br />
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My copy/paste effort didn't work as well here, so I hope I got the paragraphs divided right. The info is the more important issue. I also hope you will read it, share it, see if your community can use some of the details with their own housing programs.<br />
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Housing and food are the two most critical needs in everyone's life... they allow you to find solutions to every other problem you have... and create a permanent network for the future. Homelessness is a repeated tragedy... the same cycles over and over and over again because of economics, addictions, and other serious issues that don't disappear in 30 days.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Deborah Martin<br />
work2gather.us<br />
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Friday, 17 JUNE 2016<br />
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I think I found your link on a FB post yesterday... from one of the homeless organizations I have on my follow list. I wanted to find out what your solution to homelessness might be. I am interested in these issues because I have been a Welfare recipient (started in 1975), have struggled with all the economic issues associated with (extreme) poverty, and have found myself homeless too many times. <br />
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I became a single parent to three. I have been homeless with children and without them. I have been forced to live on the streets, been homeless in a car, and have been involved with various homeless shelters for both families and individuals. I have been homeless in more than one state and in more than one city in a single state. It became my focus in life and the foundation of the business-ministry hybrid I have tried to create (work2gather.us). <br />
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As the years passed, I kept trying different things to rise out of the poverty that was imprisoning me. These failed efforts led to their own problems and often made my situation worse. I somehow managed to get three years at a university completed. I have discovered online options, but haven't been able to translate them into income yet. Now I am dealing with the increasing health issues of aging. I wish I could say that my options have improved but, despite all my efforts, homelessness is still a breath away, family life is non-existent, and my only regular income is early retirement Social Security ($381) and food stamps ($126). If I can't raise online sales income real quick, subsidized housing may be where I spend the rest of my life IF it is even accessible.<br />
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I noticed that you have designed facilities with supervision of the homeless in mind. I am assuming that is a reflection of your interest in populations with mental health issues. You like smaller groupings in larger facilities, like shelters in urban areas. I can see that subsidized housing is your solution-of-choice because of the supervision aspects it allows, and probably because of the funding possibilities. I didn't hear much enthusiasm for home ownership because of the large numbers of homeless people and the great difficulty in getting any location approved. I was kind of happy to see your promotion of organized "encampments" (which I call KOA-type campgrounds in my own suggestions), referring to the local Dignity Village experiment in Portland OR.<br />
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When I discovered the $20,000 House program at Auburn University (Rural Studio - <a href="http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/special-programs/rural-studio">http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/special-programs/rural-studio</a> ), I became an advocate of home ownership for all low-income people, including the homeless. <br />
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As the Tiny Home movement took shape, I felt it was another possibility, but not as valid for urban areas without permanent affordable parking options. Stability is my goal. <br />
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When I was a student in family housing at the University of Oregon in Eugene, we lived in old military barracks (probably from the 1940's) that were very small. We managed. I have also seen old lumberjack housing in the area and through other media that was very small. I discovered KOA camping cabins that cost about $25K each, but they were missing something important for continued living. (I can't recall what it was.)<br />
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Trying to combine small, affordable housing options into home ownership programs is my view. I have been advocating a number of solutions from the top level of parking garages to KOA-type campgrounds with the ability to grow food and develop income, along with the building or renovating of housing that can be purchased instead of subsidized. An ownership program becomes an income program instead of a liability (expense) program. It stabilizes a poverty household, begins the process of asset building, takes them into the arena of ownership at a lower cost level, and allows them to begin creating permanent networking and support relationships. <br />
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My version of an ownership program has a different kind of loan, based on the Bible and GOD's 20% "interest" for borrowing the tithe. Maxing a loan at $50,000, housing would be a maximum of $40K, with $8K for the 20% interest as a flat fee, and then $2K for loan processing expenses. Starting payments at the same 30% of income a subsidy would require, and a maximum 15-year loan period, payments can be affordable. They can also be flexible to meet the expected problems of the future. Separating the land ownership from the "improvements" (housing and other personal improvements to a property) makes it a long-term investment for the government and when the time comes to sell a property, it can be limited to another homeless family. <br />
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Of course, I also want to get rid of income and property taxes and move to a single tax (a permanently limited sales tax of 10%), which would also benefit most of the citizens and businesses of this country !! Until that can be achieved, taxes and basic insurance need to be figured into the payment somehow.<br />
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As a family improves their economic situation over the years through work, education, and other efforts, the payments will rise to a normal maximum and they can plan on using their profits to buy another property (if they want to).<br />
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For agricultural and other business activities, I thought staff housing options might work. I understand zoning is the main issue with staff housing in rural areas, or on farmland here.<br />
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By moving as many as possible to an ownership program, government funds can be applied to those individuals and households that need it most, including addiction and mental health issues, inmate reentry, and disabilities.<br />
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There is also the option of crowd-funding for some families. I am not enthusiastic about the current way funding is handled, but if there were an agency that verified the needs and made sure the funds were used for the intended (stated) purpose, that could make it an ongoing program for many non-profits trying to find PERMANENT solutions for their clients.<br />
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I hope to see these ideas established in every place there are poor people, especially for those living in garbage dumps in other countries. Until I win the big prize in the lottery, however, I will only be able to write about them.<br />
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Deborah Martin<br />work2gather.us<br />
<br />==========<br />Written in response to this article :: <br /><a href="http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2016/16/14/solving-homelessness-obvious-but-not-easy/">http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2016/16/14/solving-homelessness-obvious-but-not-easy/</a><br />by Sam Davis, professor emeritus, architectureDeborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-73988514749086491052016-05-06T16:35:00.001-07:002016-05-06T16:35:20.783-07:00Friday, 6 MAY 2016 :: Checking in and catching up with everythingYou might think I don't really care about shelter issues, but you would be wrong. I have been spending a lot of time with social media, commenting on Facebook (FB) and linking to articles, getting emails from housing organizations, and working on my own designs for affordable home purchasing instead of renting. I just haven't been able to post anything. Mostly, I have been trying to decide the best way to use my time and energy for all the things I care about.<br />
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Today I posted a very long entry at a local organization that deals with homeless issues and provides an income option through the sale of newspapers. It is called Street Roots (in Portland OR, USA).<br />
<a href="http://news.streetroots.org/">http://news.streetroots.org</a> -- Local officials have committed a wad of money to affordable housing and I was responding to a post about those issues.<br />
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Homelessness is not like the needs of a sudden disaster... it is ongoing and often has "repeat offenders" for various reasons, from lack of income to drug issues and prison release. Is anyone at SR keeping tabs on the issues at the local government level? (Like vendors, I mean) How that money gets spent is the real challenge. Both temporary and permanent solutions are needed because there will <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">always be a "new" group of people entering homelessness and others who will be leaving. I read that there are about 3500 homeless people in this area ... I don't know if that is ongoing or a yearly figure, but it means there needs to be options for a lot more than 3500. If there is a disaster, like the BIG QUAKE that is expected, then there will need to be temporary shelter and services for thousands of local people. Maybe parking garages can be upgraded with individual restrooms that have a hidden shower option (handicap accessible)... those who have cars can be put on the top level now so that all these details can be worked out ahead of time...and emergency funds can be used for the upgrades. Maybe the city has land, maybe five acres with access by bus and car, that can be made into a permanent KOA-type facility with separate sections for day and night workers, for families and singles, etc. Maybe it can have its own store with food stamp foods, maybe a food cart that can help residents grow their own business and then move on. Maybe it can have laundry facilities, showers, and all the things that camping facilities have, and homeless people need. Maybe it can have a work trade option. Maybe the city can build housing that the homeless can PURCHASE instead of rent, starting with the 30% of income that public housing is operated at. Tiny Homes, smaller homes, small apartments in a coop setting, and more... building toward a stable and more financially secure future. Maybe the city can build and sell instead of fund and subsidize. I think there are a lot of solutions that no one wants to think of... sometimes homelessness is the reason a business exists... like Welfare programs, it is more about job security than really helping people with what they need... no programs means no jobs. What are YOUR solutions to these problems... how do you REALISTICALLY think the government should INVEST tax dollars to SOLVE these problems ???????</span><span class="text_exposed_hide"> </span></div>
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You have to search through posts like this at FB because you can't make paragraphs in the comments section... unless you copy and past them from somewhere else !! :-)<br />
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I lived in war housing when I went to the University of Oregon... they had purchased old military barracks and made them into student housing (FAMILY housing!). They were small. In the NW there are still some of the old lumber industry housing units around, and they were very small. I have seen cabins for the wilderness that were very small. Tiny homes are popular now as an ownership option that moves with you -- they are very small. When resources are difficult to find, small seems to be the word that everyone goes to. We can find a way to make small houses at small prices IF we want to... but the current funding process doesn't allow for that. I am hoping we can change the process and change the results.<br />
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My design efforts are for handicap-accessible units so anyone can live in them... which means wider doors and halls and other things.<br />
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I have considered the option of separating the land from the "improvements" (house, etc.) to reduce the tax burdens until we can get rid of property taxes altogether. Property taxes don't work well and we need reforms throughout the country and government. (I want to get rid of income taxes, too... to make it a ONE TAX system, a limited -- 10% maximum -- sales tax.)<br />
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A smaller mortgage means a smaller payment window. Fifteen years is the goal. A revolving fund will encourage everyone to pay as fast as they can. Instead of an interest rate, I want to make it a biblical loan fee of 20%. (GOD charges 20% when we "borrow" the tithe... it sounds like a great idea to me... and makes a finite loan amount.)<br />
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I can't remember all of the things I am working out, but those are some of them. Now the only thing left is to win the BIG prize in the lottery, or sell a lot of my products !! Whichever comes first ! :-)<br />
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In Christ, <br />
Deborah Martin<br />
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<a href="http://work2gather.us/">http://work2gather.us</a><br />
<a href="http://work2gather.etsy.com/">http://work2gather.etsy.com</a><br />
<a href="http://fiverr.com/work2gather">http://fiverr.com/work2gather</a> <br />
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Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-6555167948598672372015-05-25T17:19:00.001-07:002015-05-25T17:19:35.214-07:0025 MAY 2015 :: Recent discoveries - Pallet houses and moreI am still trying to figure out how to share the information I discover by it's main topic, but have only had the time and energy to write on my main blog at <a href="http://working-together-inc.blogspot.com/">working-together-inc.BlogSpot.com</a> most of the time. Today I am trying to remember what I can and share some of the housing issues I came across at this blog.<br />
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I found a Yahoo News article on houses made of pallets, which I shared on a blog or Facebook post. Two of the houses were notable, one that looked like a little house and another that looked like a shipping container house. I copied them and sent the photos to two of my sons that might be interested in seeing how they are constructed. I couldn't find a link to the creators to find out for myself, but it is on my list of things to look for one day. :-) I don't have the photos to share here, but I am beginning to figure out how to share photos in the future, too.<br />
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I also found an article about an abandoned property in Texas that had an assisted living structure partially built on 15 acres. I thought it was a rural development, but it is outside Houston and has major neighborhoods by it (they changed the photo since I read it the first time). If you could secure the acreage, it would be semi-rural... I don't know what the zoning is, but big gardens and livestock would be nice to have on that large of a land space. <br />
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In the major city by where I live, an acre is about a square city block. A YouTube video I watched a long time ago said an acre is almost the size of a football field. An acre of any crop would be a lot...but the basics for living would be goats, chickens, maybe horses, and as much food as you could grow. <br />
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Because I was not able to work enough hours to pay rent at the last apartment I lived in, I was evicted. Now, I am taking a community housing class for 12 weeks to try to get back into rental housing. It gets harder and harder to rent anything anywhere, but if you have other issues to overcome (like evictions, criminal records, poverty, disabilities, etc.), the choices are even less.<br />
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I think home ownership is the way to create stability in poverty households...and hoped to build a program trough Working Together to start the process. I may try a KICKSTARTER campaign to raise funds for the effort. I am reading about it now.<br />
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There are some young mothers in my class. I remember how hard I tried to stay in housing and wasn't able to, and had no one to help me purchase. We suffered so many times and so needlessly because of these same income/rental issues. I always wanted to find a better solution. I would like to see these young mothers (sisters) find houses they and their children could live in permanently. It isn't impossible, but it does take flexibility and patience and someone with the financial ability to work through the ongoing problems that come with changing your life.<br />
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If you pay rent anyway, why not pay on a mortgage? I think there are lots of options for this cause, including abandoned homes and properties, HUD houses, foreclosures, Habitat for Humanity renovations, partnerships, coop's, selling subsidized housing to the occupants, tiny houses, $20.000 Homes, campgrounds for those who like them, mobile homes, trailers, rural land spaces, rooftops, etc. It is better to work with someone in one place than to have that person be forced out of place after place after place for the same issues...especially when children are involved.<br />
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In my housing searches, I have discovered that toilets don't have to be connected to sewer systems anymore, and collecting grey water is an achievable tool for land and financial conservation. It may become a survival issue. These two things, alone, change the purpose of current housing regulations. Solar options, wind options, methane energy, water-generated energy, and other green strategies allow owners to live more cheaply and individually. <br />
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I don't think governments and utilities like these realities, but they exist and will grow whether they are approved of by tax collecting or tax using organizations or not.<br />
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Low-income households desperately need stability as much, or more, than any other family groups. What they need that isn't available in the traditional financial markets is flexibility in their payments, no money down, and someone to help them grow into the changes that home ownership creates.<br />
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If I get my crowd-funding campaign going, I will be sure to let you know. :-)<br />
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Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989479355658836884.post-76011736690033900772015-04-08T08:19:00.000-07:002015-04-08T08:19:06.596-07:008 APR 2015 :: Finally...my first post!I am catching up with my blogging efforts this morning...trying to find names for all the topics I want to cover, getting some posts done, and trying to see what there is to do. It is a big challenge, a big desire, a big goal...and I hope someone else will be there to continue it when I can't.<br />
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I have been homeless far too much in my life. Poverty is a big problem, and it takes you to places you would not like to go. I am hoping to create decent home ownership options for poverty households at the lowest ends, like the homeless, inmates released with nowhere to go, the elderly, disabled, and young... whoever may need it, and as many as GOD allows.<br />
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I am very fond of the small house movement... ever since I discovered the "$20,000 House" project (you can search for it using that title), I have been so hopeful for the future. I have designed my own small house plans - rough sketches based on what I know - and have been trying to decide what the minimum requirements should be for one person, for couples, for small families, for large families, and for community living options. I have tentatively decided, but have not made a firm decision.<br />
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I am fond of housing options like HABITAT FOR HUMANITY and hope they will reduce the construction costs for these small houses.<br />
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I am hoping to create OFF-THE-GRID housing to reduce the long-term costs of ownership, and to provide for emergencies, and for environmental reasons. I think solar and wind can be integrated for small needs, and have read articles about methane from manure as a great option for cattle/dairy operations. I don't like the large wind machines, but have a great hope for water wheels, wind mills, and small applications for creating energy without being attached to the big grid.<br />
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I think land space is essential for growing as much of our own food supplies as possible, of sharing those resources in small communities, and finding the goodness of life again. I am trying to work out the details of ownership, something that will protect the resident and also allow for repurchase by Working Together when the property/house is no longer desired by the resident, or the resident has passed on. I am considering tenant-farmer relationships, lease to own contracts, partnerships, and any other legal format that will help people to stabilize their lives with ownership options.<br />
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I can't begin to describe all my hopes and efforts in the area of shelter. I have known what the world, the government, and the church provides... what they provide won't be good enough for the End Times and persecution. I hope to find better solutions in places all over the world.<br />
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Naturally, this is only if GOD allows me to live that long. :-)<br />
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Deborah Martin, Ownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10114384470343052752noreply@blogger.com0