Jean-Guy Allard: In Miami, hundreds of poor citizens, desperate for housing (October 26, 2011)

In Miami, hundreds of poor citizens, desperate for housing
BY JEAN-GUY ALLARD
October 26, 2011

Google translation. Revised by Walter Lippmann.

The "distressing local demand for low-income housing was laid bare on Tuesday when hundreds of people made a huge line to join the waiting list for an apartment complex in West Hialeah," reveals the Miami press, addressing a taboo topic in the organs of information.

Despite the intense heat, citizens desperate to obtain housing at subsidized prices, waited for hours to fill out forms that will determine who will have access to one of the few apartments at Meadowgreen, in 1951 54 Street West.

The spokesman for the Miami office of the Department of Housing, Gloria Shananhan, said CFH Group seeks to manage federal grants to provide rent to low-income people.

Shanahan said CFH Group has exhausted its list of applicants. If someone vacates an apartment, they will be called on the list. "However, he said, "frankly, that takes several years."

"These lines prove the great need for housing in the area," said Maria Quintana, an 82-year-old retiree living in a room in her son's apartment, and they live with in-laws and two grandchildren. "I hope to find something better, because we do not fit where I am," admitted to the press.

CFH Group staff, overwhelmed, refused to report on the process, "which provoked the despair of the public who waited for hours in the lines," a newspaper reported.

"They can not do this to us and not give us any chance," cried Zulema Pita, 65, and who wept at not receiving a registration form. "Please open the doors."

Pita lives alone in an apartment that rents for $877 in the West of Hialeah, said, "to pay for family members should be paid his pension and $635 withdrawal is not enough."

"I attempted suicide three times due to other problems, but now I do not know what to do," Pita said to a reporter. "This situation has me on edge."

Police officers intervened to Hialeah "calm" to applicants who began to scream.

The housing management in September was $ 5.1 million in federal funds that will subsidize the rent of only 600 families through the Plan 8. The beneficiaries were selected in a lottery held in August.

The latest data on the U.S. economy explain the situation that occurred in Hialeah: half of American workers earn less than $ 27,000 a year, worst in 12 years in a country to stay and pay the running costs of the home exceeds $ 1000 without talking about taxes and the cost of health care, education, food, transport and so on.

Another economic indicator that helps to explain the despair of the citizen is that these workers at least have jobs. About 10 million Americans eligible to labor have no chance to get it.

Since 2007, when the Great Recession began, the U.S. labor force has lost 5.2 million jobs. In addition, another 4.5 million new workers (mostly young people) are also in search of hypothetical jobs.

		In Miami, hundreds of poor citizens, desperate for housing BY JEAN-GUY ALLARD October 26, 2011 Google translation. Revised by Walter Lippmann. The "distressing local demand for low-income housing was laid bare on Tuesday when hundreds of people made a huge line to join the waiting list for an apartment complex in West Hialeah," reveals the Miami press, addressing a taboo topic in the organs of information. Despite the intense heat, citizens desperate to obtain housing at subsidized prices, waited for hours to fill out forms that will determine who will have access to one of the few apartments at Meadowgreen, in 1951 54 Street West. The spokesman for the Miami office of the Department of Housing, Gloria Shananhan, said CFH Group seeks to manage federal grants to provide rent to low-income people. Shanahan said CFH Group has exhausted its list of applicants. If someone vacates an apartment, they will be called on the list. "However, he said, "frankly, that takes several years." "These lines prove the great need for housing in the area," said Maria Quintana, an 82-year-old retiree living in a room in her son's apartment, and they live with in-laws and two grandchildren. "I hope to find something better, because we do not fit where I am," admitted to the press. CFH Group staff, overwhelmed, refused to report on the process, "which provoked the despair of the public who waited for hours in the lines," a newspaper reported. "They can not do this to us and not give us any chance," cried Zulema Pita, 65, and who wept at not receiving a registration form. "Please open the doors." Pita lives alone in an apartment that rents for $877 in the West of Hialeah, said, "to pay for family members should be paid his pension and $635 withdrawal is not enough." "I attempted suicide three times due to other problems, but now I do not know what to do," Pita said to a reporter. "This situation has me on edge." Police officers intervened to Hialeah "calm" to applicants who began to scream. The housing management in September was $ 5.1 million in federal funds that will subsidize the rent of only 600 families through the Plan 8. The beneficiaries were selected in a lottery held in August. The latest data on the U.S. economy explain the situation that occurred in Hialeah: half of American workers earn less than $ 27,000 a year, worst in 12 years in a country to stay and pay the running costs of the home exceeds $ 1000 without talking about taxes and the cost of health care, education, food, transport and so on. Another economic indicator that helps to explain the despair of the citizen is that these workers at least have jobs. About 10 million Americans eligible to labor have no chance to get it. Since 2007, when the Great Recession began, the U.S. labor force has lost 5.2 million jobs. In addition, another 4.5 million new workers (mostly young people) are also in search of hypothetical jobs.
		From: Jean-Guy Allard <jean.guy.allard@gmail.com> [Add to Address Book] To: Jean-Guy Allard <jean.guy.allard@gmail.com> Subject: En Miami, cientos de ciudadanos pobres, desesperados para conseguir vivienda Date: Oct 26, 2011 3:15 PM En Miami, cientos de ciudadanos pobres, desesperados para conseguir vivienda POR JEAN-GUY ALLARD La “angustiante demanda local de viviendas de bajos recursos quedó al desnudo este martes cuando cientos de personas hicieron una enorme fila para inscribirse en la lista de espera de un complejo de apartamentos en el oeste de Hialeah”, revela la prensa de Miami, abordando un tema considerado tabú en los organos de información. A pesar del intenso calor, ciudadanos desesperados para conseguir viviendas a precio subsidiado, esperaron durante horas para llenar planillas que determinarán quien tendra acceso a uno de los pocos apartamentos del complejo Meadowgreen, en el 1951 de la Calle 54 del oeste. La portavoz de la oficina en Miami del Departamento de Vivienda, Gloria Shananhan, dijo que CFH Group pretende gestionar subsidios ante agencias federales para facilitar el alquiler a personas de bajos recursos. Shanahan indicó que CFH Group ya agotó su lista de solicitantes. Si alguien desocupa un apartamento, se llamará a los inscritos en la lista. “Sin embargo, dijo con franqueza, eso demore varios años. “Estas filas prueban la gran necesidad de vivienda en la zona”, dijo María Quintana, una retirada de 82 años que vive en el apartamento de una habitación de su hijo, y en el que viven su nuera y dos nietos. “Tengo la esperanza de encontrar algo mejor, porque donde estoy no cabemos”, reconoció ante la prensa. El personal de CFH Group, desbordado, se rehusó a informar sobre el proceso, “lo cual provocó la desesperación del público que aguardaba por horas en las filas”, reportó un diario. “No pueden hacernos esto y no darnos ninguna oportunidad”, gritaba Zulema Pita, de 65 años y quien lloraba por no haber recibido una planilla de inscripción. “Por favor abran las puertas”. Pita vive sola en un apartamento que renta por $877 en el oeste de Hialeah, dijo que “para pagarlo debe prestarse de familiares ya que su pensión de retirada por $635 no le alcanza”. “He intentado suicidarme tres veces por otros problemas, pero ahora ya no sé qué hacer”, dijo Pita a un reportero. “Esta situación me tiene los nervios de punta”. Agentes de la policía de Hialeah intervinieron para “tranquilizar” a solicitantes que se pusieron a gritar. La administración de vivienda obtuvo en septiembre $5.1 millones de fondos federales que servirán para subsidiar la renta de solo 600 familias a través del Plan 8. Los beneficiarios fueron seleccionados en una lotería realizada en agosto. Los últimos datos sobre la economía norteamericana explican la situación ocurrida en Hialeah: la mitad de los trabajadores estadounidenses ganan menos de $ 27.000 al año, lo peor ocurrido en 12 años, en un país donde alojarse y pagar los gastos corrientes de la casa supera los 1 000 dólares sin hablar de los impuestos y del costo de la salud, de la educación, de la alimentación, de los transportes, etcétera. Otro indicador económico que ayuda a explicar la desesperación del ciudadano es que estos trabajadores por lo menos tienen trabajo. Unos 10 millones de estadounidenses elegibles para laborar no tienen la menor oportunidad de conseguirlo. Desde 2007, cuando comenzó la Gran Recesión, la fuerza laboral de EE.UU. ha perdido 5,2 millones de empleos. Además, otros 4,5 millones de nuevos trabajadores (fundamentalmente los jóvenes) también se encuentren en búsqueda de hipotéticos puestos de trabajo.