Those of you who think life in the crummy city slums is wonderful, should try it out for yourselves

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the system is broken and provides a disincentive for upward mobility- as an example if someone in public housing obtains a job with better pay the rent goes up (sometimes as early as the next month). There should at least be a grace period to allow them to save up and possibly move out.

Almost everyone in public housing except for the elderly and disabled needs to get a job. When they do the rent goes up but on a sliding scale so that there is no fiscal cliff and there is always an incentive to make more.

I agree that the system is broken and provides a disincentive for upward mobility- as an example if someone in public housing obtains a job with better pay the rent goes up (sometimes as early as the next month). There should at least be a grace period to allow them to save up and possibly move out.

Anonymous wrote:Would you rather they not "work" the system and be on the street. It seems like they are doing what they are suppose to do. What the hell are you doing for them, as a "volunteer?" other than judging them and giving yourself a pat on the back. At some point one of them will want more out there but they will have to educate themselves and work for it. Are you enlightening them to this possibility or are you just a bad example and only make them want to stay where they are.

Wow Wow Wow! Talk about judgemental! Listen - I had the same views until I really got to see some of this first-hand, and now I feel there's a serious problem with the system. I DO NOT judge the family (that I've come to love very much). However - the system is BROKEN and it does not encourage them to get out of the cycle. I don't think there should be a system in place that encourages these families to have more children because they will get rewarded for it. I think more money should go towards programs that teach the adults skills and help them find jobs. All I was saying is that there's something wrong with the system - and for seeing this, I am a bad and judgemental person? I do not pat myself on the back. In fact, the volunteer job has been much more difficult than I realized when I first signed up - and frankly, I don't know if I'll make a difference. The child I mentor is surrounded by so many influences who work the system (and no, I do not blame them!) - that all I can do is try, in my limited time, to allow her to see a different way. Enough nastiness.