To the editor: I have written to my elected officials on the issues of homelessness and housing but have been ignored. I am a senior living on a fixed, limited income. I live in a rent-controlled building in Los Angeles and, yes, I am hit with 3% annual increases in my lease. (“How to cut grim homeless numbers: House people faster,” editorial, June 1)

When I moved here in April 2001, my rent was $900 per month; currently, I pay $1,390 (those 3% increases added up over the years). Meanwhile, I do not get increases in my federal pension, and my Social Security has not kept up with the rent hikes.

I see myself as a future homeless senior. My suggestion to elected officials who want to make housing more affordable for seniors and low-wage earners is to eliminate the annual increases allowed by city rent control or cap current rates while they are still somewhat reasonable. Los Angeles doesn’t need another tarp community of seniors.

Right now, my apartment is affordable, but only if my rent stops going up.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522103)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI7hJHLyBZo

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522490)

what if that guy were me, what if he got to this position through no fault of his own, it would really suck to be him, i am a good person and want to help him out, it won't hurt to let this one person get a break, it would be really mean to judge this guy and not let him stay, i am not mean, people who think this guy should move are really mean. fuck them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522283)

with a pension, with social security

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522318)

with a pension, with social security

there are places you can move where not having a car or the ability to drive are not a problem at all. there are so many people already living just fine without a pension that your questions might be specious

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522328)

it's a consequence of America being a home ownership society. that's fine in flyover country, but it's disastrous in large cities.

people put all their eggs into one basket with 90%+ of their net worth in their house. so of course they're extremely protective of anything that they *think* could lower housing prices/rents, such as new supply in the form of higher-density construction near them. so they fight tooth and nail against any new buildings, and you end up with $1,500,000 single-family 2-bedroom houses right next to BART and Caltrain stations in the Bay Area that can't legally even be redeveloped into 2-family duplexes or townhouses. all leading to ever-escalating housing costs as supply continues to outstrip demand.

and BTW if this dude owned a house he'd still see increases in COL/maintenance/property taxes that are in line with inflation (and inflation is what he's fucking complaining about)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33524743)

I know pension and ss colas have been meager lately but this doesn't add up.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522442)

> sstrickler1Reader3 day(s) ago

Sorry, Esther, but as long as the county keeps increasing property taxes every year on the building that your landlord owns, it's not fair to ask the landlord to subsidize your rent.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3642963&forum_id=2#33522602)