Preventing Age 50+ Homelessness 🏡

[Anonymous]

💥This discussion was created on Saturday - April 17, 2021💥

Prevention is cheaper, versus rescuing us after we have become homeless!

• What measures you as one person can do to perhaps prevent your homelessness or another age 50+ person's homelessness?

• Let us discuss this onging crisis 🙂

💡MY PLAN TO HELP

I am encouraging the folks with extra $$$$ to spare to invest in building Tiny Cottages to rent to us in my location.

💡WHY I CARE

It took me being homeless July 2017 to August 2018 to care. Up to that season in my life, life was stable. It took being laid off 3 times in my 50's for reality to kick in. Lol, have no desire to be homeless agsin with me now living on Social Security alone. Yes, had to use my 401k in 2008 to pay off my brand new car. That was my 1st layoff after 9 awesome years with Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Florida. That started my unpredictible life journey, working wherever I could with no 401k.

💥WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU💥

Do you have a homeless story to share? We would luv to hear it!!!

[Winter2024]

Lol @GAKKIEZ , while I do post on their site (this one ONLY) and share their NEW "online" articles when they appear in my Daily Google News = I want ZERO to do with AARP, so NOPE - have no clue my friend. I use to BELIEVE in them like so many NEWBIES when I joined as a MEMBER in 2018. Left DISGUSTED in 2021. Back in 2023 as a VISITOR./lol  🤣😂

The Smart One will know the answer and stop by when they are ready to be Smart.  😉

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[*** GAKKIEZ wrote: Do you know anything about AARP grants programs?  I noticed in the AARP November 2024 reference to the AARP Community Challenge Grant. (Not sure if that's an annual program.) ***]

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[GAKKIEZ]

  @Winter2024  I only mentioned it because you posted about the AARP Foundation.  I think they may sponsor some of those grants?

[Winter2024]

Yes @GAKKIEZ , I know WHY you asked. I post AARP stuff on their site because it is AARP.

But that does NOT mean I KNOW or AGREE with what they have set up.

Lol, and TRY GETTING INFO from them.

IF you are really "interested" - maybe call an AARP Office NEAR you.

Good Luck!!! 👍👍👍

[Winter2024]

[Saturday 11/23/24 8:32pm ET]

Hey @GAKKIEZ , we need to step away from our discussion. We now have company and it is best NOT to anymore.

I wish you had your PM active so we can take this private.

Anyway, this discussion is shut down please. NO MORE COMMENTS or the AARP Jail will be involved. Take care  🙃🙃🙃

[Winter2024]

Poster has deleted comment.

[GailL1]

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@Winter2024 wrote:

OUR MILITARY HOMELESS.  ‌‌‌‌😭‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌😭‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌😭‌‌‌‌

There’s no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless or jobless.

– Chris Kyle [United States Navy SEAL and sniper]

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From the Dept of Veterans Research and Development - Homelessness

The researchers stated that Veterans appear to have many of the same major risk factors for homelessness as other adults, with the strongest and most consistent ones being substance abuse, severe mental illness, and low income.

[GAKKIEZ]

   @GailL1  Still, VETERANS should have priority!  Yes, even above seniors and definitely above all others.

   There IS and SHOULD NOT be any consideration for anyone in the US illegally.

   Round-up and DEPORT immediately!

[Winter2024]

Yes @GAKKIEZ , I agree with you 100%!!!  👍👍👍

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[*** GAKKIEZ wrote:

   @GailL1  Still, VETERANS should have priority!  Yes, even above seniors and definitely above all others.

   There IS and SHOULD NOT be any consideration for anyone in the US illegally.

   Round-up and DEPORT immediately! ***]

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[GAKKIEZ]

  @Winter2024 There are many organizations attempting to make a difference in housing for our veterans but there are many others that want to prioritize the issues and needs of the illegal immigrants over our honored veterans.

  Are you aware that there are many disabled veterans that are denied the opportunity of employment due to medications they are prescribed due to their disability?  These are otherwise employable veterans with a desire TO WORK.

[Winter2024]

@GAKKIEZ , what is being done to CHANGE this?

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[*** GAKKIEZ  wrote: There are many organizations attempting to make a difference in housing for our veterans but there are many others that want to prioritize the issues and needs of the illegal immigrants over our honored veterans.

  Are you aware that there are many disabled veterans that are denied the opportunity of employment due to medications they are prescribed due to their disability?  These are otherwise employable veterans with a desire TO WORK. ***]

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[GAKKIEZ]

  @Winter2024  So far, it appears that many states/cities are working to displace veterans citing 'other'/higher priorities than veterans.  So far, little/nothing at the national level to prioritize veteran homeless.

  Many veterans organizations have individual help lines set up to work within their networks to provide privatized assistance.  (it's heartbreaking to see even small women veterans groups working together to assist a female veteran wishing to escape domestic violence).

[Winter2024]

Poster has deleted comment.

[GailL1]

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@Winter2024 wrote:

Back to what you said in our other discussion @GAKKIEZ , the illegals and refugees get everything. Add Habitat for Humanity which I thought was okay until I got placed with them for office work while homeless. Lol, they all excited about some Indian Family bringing them food to thank them for the house they got. I REFUSED to eat and walked away. 

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How do you know they were NOT citizens of the US?  Did they have some identifying mark, the way they dressed, the way they talked?    Perhaps you know a secret which you can share -

[GAKKIEZ]

  @Winter2024  Interesting.  Habitat for Humanity isn't all bad.  It does depend on the leadership in the local community.  Most houses require the recipients to post some funding and to provide a number of hours of "sweat equity" into the home. Homes are not just given.  Habitat for Humanity is not a government program but funded by donations.

  The same is true for Section 8 Homes (mortgage).  

  It's too easy for many of these programs to walk up with an expectation of a give-me until the recipient realizes they aren't give-aways.  My older sister had to do much to earn her Section 8 home mortgage and took her several years living in sub-standard housing.  She was required to attend classes on budgeting, basic home maintenance, and maintain a bank account.  Even after the award of a mortgage, they still monitored her banking and required a minimum in a savings account and regular savings.  She almost gave up many times but knew it was the only way.  (She had fled an abusive marriage with 2 young daughters.)

[Winter2024]

♻️♻️♻️  @GailL1 , they are handling everything and it will all work out. They are buying land, building and then renting. I cannot say anymore at the moment. Will, when they have been built. Now have a GREAT Saturday.

*** YOU WROTE: So what is the incentive to “invest” in such a plan - what is the “return on investment”?  

Here is a mortgage calculator that you can fool around with just as the “investor” to figure out just what the principal and interest would be on whatever you guess would be the total building cost (including the land and utilities).  Then add monthly insurance and property taxes to the investor’s cost.  

Bankrate Mortgage Calculator  

I just finished doing this for a friend on a $ 70,000 investment - 30 years @6% with no down payment.  Monthly payment would be $ 532 principal and interest.  PER MONTH adding in property taxes and insurance would add another $ 400 per month in my area.  So just to cover the investment, $ 932 per month - and an investor will want also a return of investment (ROI) - 

Add to that any maintenance and repairs or anything else the tenant might get thru the “investor”.  

An investor isn’t gonna invest at any lower rate than the going market.  The price of money, so to speak.

[Winter2024]

Hi Gail @GailL1 , ZERO to do with "handouts or the government" = I am over that here in Virginia. Age 50+ with NO "issues" like myself get NO help. I had to get myself back on my feet MYSELF while the drug addicts - criminals - domestic abuse and so on received help. My rent goes up EVERY APRIL for my Studio Apartment I moved into 2018 after being HOMELESS in 2017. The money I was able to SAVE while staying at the AWESOME Roanoke Rescue Mission was all gone by then. NOT COMPLAINING, just saying. Lol, while there were REVOLVING doors at this place = folks got FREE housing = back at this place in 6 months, the time they had to STAY OUT. Hand outs are NOT the answer for folks like myself (age 66 this year 2024).

I am doing this MYSELF.

Talking to OTHER LIKE MINDED folks who have cash to spare.

Lots of land here to purchase, build and rent.

You CANNOT pay the rent, sorry - you have to go.

I have been paying my RENT before it is DUE. It is 1st, then utilities.

NEVER been evicted or had my utilities turned off in my life. I have ALWAYS lived within my means and saved for a rainy day.

*** YOU WROTE: Now would that be as an income producing endeavor (private money) or as a nonprofit (public or government money)?

They can be built cheap with

finding cheap land, usually this would be places that are off the beaten tract, which lack amenities like local shopping, banking, recreation
building up rather than out, allowing for more units.  
not adding on any niceties like sidewalks everywhere
a place that will not have escalating property taxes in the near term
But if price is of no object and rents can increase with whatever you want added or included - then those can easily get “unaffordable” real fast.

I understand what you want and really feel the same about the place where I live (got 4-acres now) - I think that you are looking at a pretty high price tag which may rule out seniors (over 55) on a very fixed budget.

If one goes to some very small rural town - further out than what urban sprawl would take over for the next 30 - 50 years - then maybe there would be some better hope for your plan IF it could be done economical.  

But what would the community get in return?  Jobs?  I doubt that - even if the need is there for caregivers, personal aids, house keepers, bus drivers just to service the residents - I doubt that many would have the money to pay for such services due to the fixed income problem and because such workers would need a living wage even in a small town - $ 20 or more per hour would just be fair.

If I could wish it for you and it would happen - I’d do it - but for it to be an investment - I’m not so sure it would be feasible.  That’s why public housing was invented.  That’s why there use to be public-private companionship for this purpose but alas, that does not work anymore at least in the areas where many want them built because the price of everything has escalated so much. 

[Winter2024]

‌‌Do you have any plans to help in YOUR COMMUNITY? ONE person can make a difference.

MY PLAN TO HELP in my community.

I am encouraging the folks with extra $$$$ to spare to invest in building Tiny Cottages to rent to us in my location.

Nicole  ‌‌🏡‌‌  (Age 50+ Homeless Forum)

[GailL1]

@Winter2024 wrote

I am encouraging the folks with extra $$$$ to spare to invest in building Tiny Cottages to rent to us in my location.

=====================================

Now would that be as an income producing endeavor (private money) or as a nonprofit (public or government money)?

They can be built cheap with

• finding cheap land, usually this would be places that are off the beaten tract, which lack amenities like local shopping, banking, recreation
• building up rather than out, allowing for more units.  
• not adding on any niceties like sidewalks everywhere
• a place that will not have escalating property taxes in the near term

But if price is of no object and rents can increase with whatever you want added or included - then those can easily get “unaffordable” real fast.

I understand what you want and really feel the same about the place where I live (got 4-acres now) - I think that you are looking at a pretty high price tag which may rule out seniors (over 55) on a very fixed budget.

If one goes to some very small rural town - further out than what urban sprawl would take over for the next 30 - 50 years - then maybe there would be some better hope for your plan IF it could be done economical.  

But what would the community get in return?  Jobs?  I doubt that - even if the need is there for caregivers, personal aids, house keepers, bus drivers just to service the residents - I doubt that many would have the money to pay for such services due to the fixed income problem and because such workers would need a living wage even in a small town - $ 20 or more per hour would just be fair.

If I could wish it for you and it would happen - I’d do it - but for it to be an investment - I’m not so sure it would be feasible.  That’s why public housing was invented.  That’s why there use to be public-private companionship for this purpose but alas, that does not work anymore at least in the areas where many want them built because the price of everything has escalated so much.  

[GailL1]

@Winter2024 

I am only making my remarks to your comment of your plan:

@Winter2024 wrote:

MY PLAN TO HELP in Cave Spring, Virginia (my community).

I am encouraging the folks with extra $$$$ to spare to invest in building Tiny Cottages to rent to us in my location.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So what is the incentive to “invest” in such a plan - what is the “return on investment”?  

Here is a mortgage calculator that you can fool around with just as the “investor” to figure out just what the principal and interest would be on whatever you guess would be the total building cost (including the land and utilities).  Then add monthly insurance and property taxes to the investor’s cost.  

Bankrate Mortgage Calculator  

I just finished doing this for a friend on a $ 70,000 investment - 30 years @6% with no down payment.  Monthly payment would be $ 532 principal and interest.  PER MONTH adding in property taxes and insurance would add another $ 400 per month in my area.  So just to cover the investment, $ 932 per month - and an investor will want also a return of investment (ROI) - 

Add to that any maintenance and repairs or anything else the tenant might get thru the “investor”.  

An investor isn’t gonna invest at any lower rate than the going market.  The price of money, so to speak.

[Winter2024]

@GailL1 , I respect your comment and agree, CONDEMNED PROPERTY is suppose to be recorded. Yes, some can be "seen" to be condemned. The places I mentioned had NO RECORD and didnot look condemned. Thankful I NEVER had this experience but could have like the folks I mentioned.

*** YOU WROTE. It should be pretty apparent just by looking at it - but if not, in my community, one can look up the status of any property on the local tax assessors files by address. It would be flagged as Condemned. Investopedia - Condemnation: Definition in Real Estate, Types, and Examples If something is too good to be true - it probably is - 

[Winter2024]

‌😱  AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS!!!

I have never owned a home (and donot want to) but have rented two in Florida.

I didnot know that sometimes LANDLORDS will rent their CONDEMNED PROPERTY to unsuspecting people.

I count my blessings that my Florida Rental Agent (a husband and wife,she rented,he maintenance) for the two houses were HONEST.

While living at the Roanoke Rescue Mission here in Virginia in 2017, I had TEARS in my eyes as I listened to people who ended up homeless because of this DISHONESTY!!!

Sorry, there needs to be a way to find out IF a house (or apartment,condo,townhouse,mobile house) has been CONDEMNED.

And these people LOST their deposits and sometimes their furniture when there was water damage or a roof collapsed.

Nicole  ‌🏡‌  (Age 50+ Homeless Forum)

[GailL1]

@Winter2024 wrote:  there needs to be a way to find out IF a house (or apartment,condo,townhouse,mobile house) has been CONDEMNED.

___________________________________

It should be pretty apparent just by looking at it - but if not, in my community, one can look up the status of any property on the local tax assessors files by address.  It would be flagged as Condemned.  

Investopedia - Condemnation: Definition in Real Estate, Types, and Examples 

If something is too good to be true - it probably is - 

[Winter2024]

Lol @GailL1 , some discussions with you I really do enjoy and you have given me some good advice. But typical you, got to have the last word sometimes. Whatever.  😂🤣

*** YOU WROTE: Idid not ask if you paid them. It is purely a math question:

Let’s say you have $50K in a 401k. - you take it all out early -

$ 50,000 - $ 7000 (guesstimate taxes).- $ 5000 (early withdrawal penalty) = $ 38,000 usable funds.

That $ 50K turns into $38K - $12K is a lot of money for basically nothing,

Walk away - Bye

[Winter2024]

@GailL1 , when you are "laid off" and have to relocate to another job - you do what you need to do. Cashing out my 401k saved me the 1st layoff. You already KNOW about the "penalities and taxes" - so I have NO idea why you felt a need to ask me IF I paid them. Anyway, I do appreciate you stopping by and again as with my interaction with you today in the Medicare Forum = I am also walking away from this. I am sure someone will probably use the IRS link you posted. I am dealing with alot in my REAL life of which I am applying my energy and time to. This is taking up too much of my time and energy. Take care!

*** YOU WROTE: What does it matter ? When a person is needing money for whatever ends to get by especially to stay out of homelessness, cashing in a retirement account early cost money - IOW, with the penalty and taxes that have to be paid, it greatly reduces the amount that they can use for any purpose cause Uncle Sam gets his dues -

Getting money by increasing one’s debt load - taxes and penalty - just doesn’t seem logical in the financial sense -

[GailL1]

Idid not ask if you paid them.  It is purely a math question:

Let’s say you have $50K in a 401k. - you take it all out early - 

$ 50,000 - $ 7000 (guesstimate taxes).- $ 5000  (early withdrawal penalty) = $ 38,000 usable funds.  

That $ 50K turns into $38K - $12K is a lot of money for basically nothing,  

Walk away - Bye

[Winter2024]

@GailL1 , what does this question have to do with anything? Does it matter IF I paid taxes or not. The goal of my sharing which has helped other age 50+ homeless (contacted me via AARP PM for privacy), is to give HOPE. Hope that although we may be OLD, never "give up" and there are ways to get back on your feet.

*** YOU WROTE: If less than 59.5 years old, didn’t that move cost you in taxes (ordinary income taxes) and with an added 10% penalty for early withdrawal?

IRS.gov 401K Resource Guide

[GailL1]

What does it matter ?    When a person is needing money for whatever ends to get by especially to stay out of homelessness, cashing in a retirement account early cost money - IOW, with the penalty and taxes that have to be paid, it greatly reduces the amount that they can use for any purpose cause Uncle Sam gets his dues - 

Getting money by increasing one’s debt load - taxes and penalty - just doesn’t seem logical in the financial sense - 

[Winter2024]

‌WHY I CARE!!!

It took me being homeless July 2017 to August 2018 to care. Up to that season in my life, life was stable. It took being laid off 3 times in my 50's for reality to kick in. Lol, have no desire to be homeless again with me now living on Social Security alone. Yes, had to use my 401k in 2008 to pay off my brand new car. That was my 1st layoff after 9 awesome years with Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Florida. That started my unpredictible life journey, working wherever I could with no 401k.

Nicole  ‌‌🏡‌‌  (Age 50+ Homeless Forum)

[GailL1]

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@Winter2024 wrote:

‌‌💡‌‌  WHY I CARE!!!

It took me being homeless July 2017 to August 2018 to care. Up to that season in my life, . . . . .in my 50's .. . . .  Yes, had to use my 401k in 2008 to pay off my brand new car. 

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  If less than 59.5 years old, didn’t that move cost you in taxes (ordinary income taxes) and with an added 10% penalty for early withdrawal?

IRS.gov 401K Resource Guide 

[Winter2024]

THIS IS GOOD NEWS!!!

🇺🇸  Homelessness among veterans drops to record low levels (Military Times)

By Leo Shane III. Published Nov 11, 2024.

The number of homeless veterans in America dropped to its lowest level on record this year, down more than 55% over the last 14 years, according to data released by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday.

The improvement comes after three years of aggressive efforts by department leaders to quickly find permanent housing for veterans facing economic hardship and mental health challenges. Officials announced earlier this fall they had helped place nearly 48,000 veterans in stable housing in fiscal 2024 alone, and more than 133,000 over the last three years.

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/11/11/homelessness-among-veterans-drops-to-record-low-le...