...See Seniors Whacked Again...

Written by Jim McGrath Thursday, 10 September 2009 20:13

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Round 1.   Hit with 100% Rent Increases!

Round 2.   DC Council Does Nothing!

Round 3.   Tenants Face Poverty, Eviction, Life in Shelters or on the Streets!

     Imagine yourself a District tenant, 80+ or 90+ years old, in declining health, on limited or low income, suddenly "whacked" with a 100% rent increase.  Never mind that you have lived in that building 30, 40, or even 50 years, that you have been a model tenant, never missed a rent payment, and always paid on time.  It gets worse!

     Doubling their rent means allocating 70%, 80%, even 90% of their meager income just to keep the roof over their head, with a pittance left over to stay alive - for things like food, clothing, medicine, etc.  Where does it leave you if you can't pay a 100% rent increase?  It leaves you 20 days from an eviction notice.  It leaves you 30 days from life in a shelter (if you can find one). It leaves you 30 days from life on the street.

     Some elderly and disabled tenants are protected from rent gouging.  Many others are not! It is for them that TENAC is working overtime to help.  We know two tenants who have collectively paid rents to the same landlord for over 100 years, and who now cannot afford to live under their own roof. The elderly and disabled have paid their dues to society.  They should not have to spend their declining years trying to survive rent gouging.  The Council needs to remedy that situation NOW!

LONG LIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL!