I was told this mornign from three different state aid offices while
applying for assistance with rent in order to avoid eviction (hearing is
on the fourteenth) that Governor granholm has cut the state emergency
assistance funds for assistance in case of evictions and utility shut
offs etc. When I go to look it up online to get the facts, this is what
I found.


--------------------------------------------


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

GOVERNOR GRANHOLM TO BE HONORED BY NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESNESS
LANSING- The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a national nonprofit
education, advocacy and capacity building organization, will honor
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm with a Public Sector Achievement Award for
her leadership in the effort to end homelessness in Michigan the
Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) announced today.

The Award will be presented at the Alliance's Annual Awards Ceremony,
which brings together leaders from Capitol Hill, the Bush
Administration, business, philanthropy and the homelessness provider
community to recognize the achievements of those in the private, public,
and nonprofit sectors who have made significant achievements to solving
one of the nation's most complex social issues. The ceremony takes place
Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts in Washington, D.C.

"Ending homelessness requires adopting proven strategies that are
supported by a partnership between the public, private, and nonprofit
sectors of a community. Governor Granholm has shown tremendous
leadership in creating an environment for change within Michigan, and
serves as a role model for other governors across the nation. She has
accomplished this by setting clear goals and steadfastly working towards
completing them," said Nan Roman, president of the National Alliance to
End Homelessness.

Governor Granholm, through Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness, has
brought together private, public, and nonprofit stakeholders to create
plans to end homelessness for the over 50,000 homeless people living in
communities throughout the state. Guided by the vision that housing is a
right for all, the 60 community plans consist of strategies that focus
on housing assistance, models for collaboration among service providers,
and special programs that target underserved populations.

"We are deeply committed to the Campaign to End Homelessness in
Michigan within ten years," said Michael R. DeVos, Director of the
Michigan State Housing Development Authority. "Our state's effort is a
mature one because we recognize that the work needs to happen at the
local level. We are working, in partnership with hundreds of
organizations, cities and towns across Michigan, with $45 million in new
statewide funding and an additional $25 million for homeless veterans to
ensure that this campaign is successful."

MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical
assistance through public and private partnerships to create and
preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community
economic development activities, and address homeless issues. MSHDA’s
loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt
and taxable bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax
revenues. For more information on MSHDA programs and initiatives, visit
the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.

well here in alberta,canada in the lta (landlord and tenancy act) it
states that a landlord can evict someone for failure to pay full or
partail rent.if partail is paid then the tenant has un til the following
payday to catch up on the rent.if evicted before the rent is caught up
then the tenant can apply for a hearing in regards to eviction .this
process can be done through the lta.

Do you have a United Way where you are...Call them immediately and find
out which agencies help with utilities, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation
Army, local churches....fyi...... goodluck

Not sure what your question is?

I know here in NH, alot of the towns... are college town, and there is a
lack of affordable family housing due to the fact landlords are buying
them all and making a mint of having students parents pay the rent...

Also, in this country, as far as I know, there never has been an agency
that keeps you at your current residence for long, and if it does not
meet safety standards...most won't even consider it.

So,you'd go on a waiting list.

When myself, and kids had to leave everything behind it was for that
reason. Rentals are anywhere from 800.00- 2000.00 a month, without
utilities included.

It took awhile (but not compared to some, I learned) to get
disability... even so, that's not enough to pay rent.

I have contacted all the agencies around here that assist with rent and
back rent. These agencies told me there were no state funds being
awarded anymore, that Governor granholm has cut all financial aid to
these funds down to nothing.
What my question was and still is, is wether the agencies are telling me
the truth, or is the articale I read and posted the actual truth and the
agencies lying to avoid giving assistance. Every single agency in my
county has been caught refusing aid when they had themoney in the past.
They would say "funds have not come in yet, or we dont know when they
are coming in" as if they come in on different days or just plain dont
come in at all sometimes, which I find hard to believe. So my question
is who is lying. the agencies, or granholm. I did nto expect anyone
here to actually be able to answer it, I just wanted your opinion on the
bs that is going on.

if you are renting why did you have to fix the plumbing leaks

and could those leaks have helped to lead to this action

and also the complaint about the living condition as far as
the cps issues

it is for lot rent. I owne a trailer and rent the lot it is on.

gotcha

that is understandable

i wonder if the park is trying to
cause you problems to get you to leave

just a thought

but hey what do i know

you guys are not paying attention. the question is nt about the
eviction! It is about getting assistance paying for the back rent,
which is why it is going into court.
The red cross, salvation army, st voncent depauls, Department of Human
services (welfare office) are all agenbcies that assist inpaying the
rent for low income familes.
I went asking for assistance with rent, and was told the state was no
longer giving assistance (that granholm cut the assistance). When I got
on the intternet, I found the above article claiming that granholm is
doing everythig she can to help prevent homelessness and everything. So
my question is WHO IS LYING, the state agencies or Governor Granholm?

and before omeone asks again, the reason I have a court date for
possible eviction, is department of human resources ****ed up and my
food stamps got delayed by a month. During that month I had to choose
between buying food or paying rent. Everything finally got straightened
out but it did so a month after the fact. I even got back food stamps

no the park is just doing their job. I am honestly behind by 1.5
months. Not much but enough that I can not pay current rent and pay
that off. I am hoping I can make a deal with their lawyer as far as
payments go due to the park manager will not give me contact information
soI can try and make an arrangement with the actual owners. I mean, I
can pay them two hundred and fifty dollars monday, and approximately two
hundred every other monday after that until it is caught up, so. We are
talking only a couple months of steady payments to get caught up.

I see.

From what I learned over the past few years, the programs are still
there, but no the money isn't there.

It isn't just wiith aid such as rental, it all over.

Our school funds have come up short, and still an ongoing court hassle
as to where the money went.

Aid for heating oil is capped, and folks get it when the agencies get
it.

As far as I know, there is no agency willing to help pay rent on a lot,
or mobile, or modular home.
I could be wrong about the modular.

My own situation wasa bit different. The town did try to help, and Igot
info from women's crisis... but, the landlord just didn't want to deal
with it. And, his family had just suffered financial hardships due to
the flods we had at the time... And, well, although we had been there,
and good tenents for 7-8 yrs, it was still a business, and disability
was a ways away...(it still wouldn't cover the rent there, though) he
raised the rent so I couldn't afford it, lol. And, NH renters laws are
almost non-existant.

My daughter and I were forced to walk away, and we were homeless for a
good while..
and, because of the violence my ex was creating... landlords shied away.

First priority was our safety, and a place to go.

I had ZERO luck getting help from churches, or any other charity. United
Way is crap.

all united way has ever done for me is give me a list of the agencies in
town. That is it.

i am not a united way fan

but the way i see there input is

that they help support other agancies

and do not really get their hand in
the actual helping of individuals

just my impression not supported by any facts
so disreguard

I'm not familiar with the rental laws in Michigan.

Do you have assistance now? For rent, like current?
You could bring these proofs to the hearing. And, you may be able to
work out a payment arrangement?

luck to ya

Daniel wrote:
"So my question is WHO IS LYING, the state agencies or Governor
Granholm?"

Have you called the Governor's office directly and asked them?

I haven't read your entire thread so if you have already done that my
apologies.

In the past I've found that by going directly in-person to your local
governor's office, or state representative's office you can sometimes
get help.

Never go with a confrontational attitude though, always go with a smile
suggesting that you need ‘help’ with interacting with other agencies.

I’ve had amazing results with this in the past. I was once having a
problem with the state employment office and so rather than confronting
them further and just aggravating the situation, I took a stroll over to
the state representative’s office. He’s never there of course, but one
of his aides was glad to help me. I explained the situation, and he
called over to the state employment office, then when I went back they
had changed their attitude immensely .

Good luck in your dealing with bureaucracy! The best way to deal with
them it to seek someone with clout in a very non-aggressive way.
Often they will want to help you if you appear to be requesting help and
don’t appear to be aggressive or pointing blame.

It’s a natural human instinct to react defensively to accusations or
confrontations. So try not to spark those emotions.

Just my thoughts. I don't mean to suggest that you have done this. I'm
just posting thoughts is all.

great suggestion abra and one I am going to take up. I cant go this
afternoon (too late and have prior issues to deal with) but will bethere
first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks

While I understand wanting to fight the officials and such... and, have
done it myself...
Are you willing to risk losing your home, or have you begun to make any
plans regarding your kids?

While it's all fine a well to be furious at those whom drop the ball
(and, btw, it's is a website, and most agencies have not only cut funds,
but staff as well-many to the bare bones), I have to worry about your
kids, and if you are preparing them for eventual upheaval?

From the impression I've gotten in your posts... you are in a tough
spot, and am seeing little in the way of what you are actually doing vs,
complaining in forums?

yes I am preparing for upheaval inf neccesary, though I hope it isnt.

I am applying for apartments and such, along with contacting the local
shelter.

Daniel,
I was going to suggest exactly what Abra did. I would add to that
suggestion too - BRING A COPY of the wonderful news story and approach
the situation as one needing assistance, and obviously the article
presented such a glowing light, you figured since no other agency could
help, maybe the award winner could...

daniel try the local churches for some help. Its just as bad here and
the United Way? thats a joke.