To the attention of:
Barack Obama, US President;
Jerry Brown, Governor of California;
US Senators from California: Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein;
US Representatives from California: Adam B. Schiff, Anna G. Eshoo, Barbara Lee, Bob Filner, Brad Sherman, Brian P. Bilbray, Dana Rohrabacher, Daniel E. Lungren, Darrell E. Issa, David Dreier, Dennis A. Cardoza, Devin Nunes, Doris O. Matsui, Duncan Hunter, Edward R. Royce, Elton Gallegly, Fortney Pete Stark, Gary G. Miller, George Miller, Grace F. Napolitano, Henry A. Waxman, Howard L. Berman, Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Jackie Speier, Jane Harman, Jeff Denham, Jerry Lewis, Jerry McNerney, Jim Costa, Joe Baca, John Campbell, John Garamendi, Judy Chu, Karen Bass, Ken Calvert, Kevin McCarthy, Laura Richardson, Linda T. Sanchez, Lois Capps, Loretta Sanchez, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Lynn C. Woolsey, Mary Bono Mack, Maxine Waters, Michael M. Honda, Mike Thompson, Nancy Pelosi, Sam Farr, Susan A. Davis, Tom McClintock, Wally Herger, Xavier Becerra, Zoe Lofgren;
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Helen Kramer
Santa Barbara, CA 93101‑3741
No-Mistakes@live.com
June 17, 2011
Re: Homeless assistance after 1 1/2 years of being homeless
In Sept 09, the HPRP program went into effect. I have been denied 4 times now in over 1 1/2 years
My family lost our home in April 2010. Since then we lived in the streets and I paid for a motel when I could afford one. After six evictions in a year in 2009‑2010, nobody would rent to me...I don't blame them. Although I must have applied for hundreds of apartments over the last 12 months, I was continuously denied.
Last month an acquaintance of mine introduced me to his uncle who had a vacancy in his apartment building. My son and I finally moved into a one bedroom apartment after 14 hellish months of living in the streets.
So, now, over a year later, I got into my first apartment. The day I was approved to move in, I called Casa Esperanza to schedule an appointment to meet for funding. I knew that without it, I would lose my home once again. I sold my old Honda for $600, borrowed $380, and got into the apartment on May 18, 2011. My appointment with Casa Esperanza wouldn't be until 13 days later, on May 31, 2011.
I went in for my HPRP funding request on May 31, 2011. Because I got into the apartment and did not wait for my appointment, I was again denied rental assistance. And the social worker said to me, "Why didn't you wait?" She must not have ever slept on the train tracks before! I am asking for help to stay into my home. I am so frightened of losing it again; I am making myself sick with worry. So, now that I’ve been in this home for one month, and I didn’t have all the rent, my landlord officially served me an eviction notice.
I have been instructed to go back to Transition House AFTER I receive another eviction notice, that I won't be eligible to get assistance until I have an eviction notice in hand. I find this so backwards and completely ludicrous. I need your help. My rent is now due tomorrow, and I don't have the rent money. If I wait to get another eviction notice, I know that the landlord will follow through and get me to move out...and then my child and I will AGAIN, be homeless with no hope of finding a a place to live any time soon. It seems that the local organizations in charge of HPRP are doing absolutely anything in their power to turn down eligible clients. I am not the only prime example. I know a dozen other women who have been denied assistance by these same organizations.
I have been court ordered to disclose to all prospective landlords, of my 5 previous evictions. I was in jail from January 21 to February 28 because of this. My (minor) son was left homeless and living in his car during my incarceration. Finding another home will be virtually impossible. Prior to this last month, when I wasn't incarcerated, I stayed at a Motel since January 2011 for $39.99 a night. Their rates just went up to $98.00 a night. This is no longer an option.
On another note, I was officially approved for Section 8 housing last September 2010, but they also have yet to release any vouchers for me in order to get affordable housing. I am at my wits end and don't know where else to turn. Please help me. I just can't do this anymore.
Sincerely, Helen Kramer
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