It’s not surprising to see this article, given that the PAHC has come under so much scrutiny, and criticism, because of their heavy-handed, and possibly even dishonest, dealing with the public over the Maybell Orchard development.

What’s interesting about this article is that the Weekly seems to have failed to ask a lot of questions about why this women is in the predicament that she is. It would be interesting to engage her with questions like:

How long have you been unemployed?
What kind of job did you have before you become unemployed?
Why can’t you work part-time when your kids are in school?
Where is the father of your children? Doesn’t he have some financial responsibility for their upkeep?
Do you have any family that can help you?
Where were you living before moving into publicly subsidized housing—which you are calling “affordable”?
Why is moving to a more affordable community impossible?
What do you plan to do when your children graduate from high school?
What do you think society is paying to subsidize you and your family?

Maybe to some this article is a heart-tugger, but for those of us whose parents lived through the Great Depression, and WWII, it’s difficult to believe that this woman is even remotely trying to live her life like the rest of us--who live within our means, pay the taxes that are necessary to fund the government, and subsidize the millions that are now on food stamps, and dependent on checks from the government.

Perhaps some people will be appalled that there are people in Palo Alto asking this women: “when are you going to get a job and pay your own way?” .. but the question needs to be asked.

Wondering,

Especially in Palo Alto, the economy has been strong.

She has the advantage to not have to commute.

The Weekly puts out an editorial against affordable senior housing and then wants us to tear up of PAHCs efforts to keep people in homes.
Weekly, you can't have it both ways. You're position is stopping affordable housing. Now you see the result.

Why isn't anyone shutting down the DEA? Didn't campaign mode Obama say that is was an "utter failure?" The DEA remained open during the shutdown as an essential service.

@ The weekly is part,

[Portion removed.]

Measure D and the people who are opposed are NOT against affordable senior housing. The ordinance was a REZONING ordinance. Being against a bad plan does not make someone against affordable housing. If PAHC and the City hadn't insisted on zoning that violates even the highest density zoning designation in Palo Alto by 25%, they would be building now. Eden Housing faced the same choice, so they chose to build under the existing zoning and got the units built. [Portion removed.]

As for the hike in rent - that's really rough. Rather than spending tens of millions for 60 units where the specific need is dubious, why aren't we considering a subsidy program instead? 35% of people's income when the income is very low is brutal. [Portion removed.]

[Post removed.]

Section 8 should be gutted. Taxpayers should not subsidize $80/month rent for a 3 bedroom apartment in PA.

[Post removed.]

This clearly shows the result of PaloAlto Weekly's bias. There could be 60 affordable senior housing units added. Instead the Weekly and those like it fight as hard as they can to prevent affordable housing being built in Palo Alto.

These numbers do not add up. Is the $71/month rent really 35% of "Dolores" gross income? Does she make $200 a month as a caregiver in Hillsborough or was an increase in income just not reported? Even unemployment would be more than $200/month.

And a 3BR apartment for the cost of a bag or two of groceries while plenty of Palo Alto families have their kids - god forbid - SHARE bedrooms with their siblings while both parents work long hours and save to squeeze into a $1m+ "starter" homes. That is true in many neighborhoods here - working families living in 2 and 3 BR homes with mortgages, supporting situations like the one reported.

I'm a life long democrat, but am with "Wondering" on this one.

I wonder if the poster two comment up would Define Affordable and who is "entitled" to it.

I say this - as a Democrat - with several friends that are college- and grad school-educated families who have had to move their families out of Palo Alto - pulling their kids out of our schools - because they could not afford egregious rent increases by their landlords, most of whom inherited their houses and pay 1/10th the property taxes my husband and I pay. We are talking boosting rent from $3500 to over $5k/month for a, wait for it, 3BR house! Who will come to their rescue? No one. They suck it up and deal with it. I'm a newcomer here, but we've worked hard and saved for years to afford the oppty to live here. My relatives cannot afford it, but I don't expect someone else to cover for them. That is just life. Again - Lifelong, realistic, third generation Democrat.

+1 Wondering?

"... for those of us whose parents lived through the Great Depression, and WWII, it's difficult to believe that this woman is even remotely trying to live her life like the rest of us--who live within our means, pay the taxes that are necessary to fund the government, and subsidize the millions that are now on food stamps, and dependent on checks from the government."

+1

Wondering also but then again I don't know the why or how the people in the article endec up in the this situalion. Poor decision, bad career move, money problems, illness or family problems. Going to college doesn't mean you get to live in Palo Alto or anywhere in the area but home prices with rents rising. Rising to a point that a starter home or afforable rent needs to be miles away from ones work.

Everyone's life is different or something happen beyond their control. Not everyone went to college and got high paying jobs or ended up being successful. Just earning a wage to live near your job and making sure you don't have any bad luck or family problems.

Seems like some of you didn't read the article. Let me point out one part:

"Currently unemployed due to the need to care for her daughter, who has ongoing medical problems, her only source of income is child support..."

After taking out deductions, $71/month rent could be 35% of "Dolores" gross income.

I'm not saying it's right for her to game the system like this because she should be gainfully employed during school hours.

I think a lot of people around here pay at least 35% of their income. My husband and I definitely pay more than that for housing and we're in a much higher tax bracket and got the bare minimum in housing. I think it's absurd that someone would be paying $71 for rent. I want to feel sorry for this woman, however, seriously, not everyone can live in Palo Alto. Not to be harsh or anything but if you can't hack it, get out.

One could go out and find some kind of work and get a paycheck. Sounds easy until you run income limits that will reduce your benefit or whatever agency rule, regulation or requirement.

Only young and rich people should be allowed to live in Palo Alto. Let's keep this city elite. We don't want a variety of people who don't fit the criterion, young and rich only.

Houses can actually be bought in places like Detroit, Michigan. So many affordable houses can be BOUGHT there as well as in Indiana, too. With houses selling for $15,000-$75,000 one can be like Zuckerberg and buy his/her home and the 4 houses surrounding it!

@paweekly against,
None of the people in this story would qualify to live in the proposed Maybell project you allude to. The income range there is limited to 30-60% of area median income, which is up to several times above the poverty limit, and actually a pretty decent income if in a less expensive area.

It makes sense to house people near their jobs, but it would be a mistake to be limited by City boundaries in our larger metro area to address such a problem. Doing that means overly expensive units that ultimately are a drop in the bucket to meet the need. The real answer is saner, more holistic planning, and better transportation systems.

What is considered low income in one city can be considered middle income in another

My son, his wife, and their two children can qualify for low income housing in Palo Alto, but not in Redwood City, where my son works, or in San Carlos, where his wife works, nor in San Jose, where they both used to work. So, they are on a wAiting list for low income housing here.

They will have to pay 35% of their income for rent but most people are paying half of their income or more for rent or mortgage, so it is a welcome bargain that will allow them to put money in the bank. However, there will still be nowhere for their children to play.

I want to apologize for my initial post which was kind of caddy about how nice the apartment looks. I don't think judging families living in affordable housing is fair.

The programs are the ones that need to be judged.

Affordable housing in Palo Alto has become really expensive, something needs to change.

WHo even knows how this whole story really works.

From the Maybell deal, this seems to be a developer's game, mixed with City Hall, both behind very misleading "non-profit" organizations.

Non-profit does not necessarily mean good, or smart, or appropriate, it just means the money a non-profit makes goes back into the organization, to keep doing what they do. Until they come to your neighborhood.

@nice place,
I answered frankly myself, that it's more nicely appointed than my home, but that's not necessarily because of money - there are good thrift stores in this area, freecycle, and kids at Stanford throwing perfectly good stuff away every semester - I think we should not judge people harshly if they are resourceful. That is ultimately how they will get beyond the circumstances.

But you are right that the programs deserve scrutiny, that is ultimately how the public can know they are providing for the least among us rather than essentially letting some win the lottery without addressing the real need.

We have young people coming here getting high paying jobs with new kind of tech companies or those older firms. Mark Zuckerberg came here which he did well along with those who worked at the beginning of Facebook. I don't see anything wrong with people coming here making money or wanted to come and work.

But that is the problem when you get away from the high paying jobs of the tech sector which you will find whole another world. The world of jobs that might pay well but not enough. Might be a good income in another state but here you are going into low income wages. The cost of living in the Silicon Valley have risen so much in the last 20 years.

Dear Neighbors & Friends,
Palo Alto is certainly not the same affordable place it once was. NHN formed in 2012 as a result of too many households in crisis. If you know of anyone struggling or about to lose their dwelling, please have them contact us. We may not have all the solutions. NHN will do our best to fill the gaps.

What We Do:
We are a group of volunteers striving to provide groceries to Palo Alto and recently Mtn. View families, seniors and singles who are unable to qualify for 'safety net' programs like Cal Fresh (formally food stamps) or food closet assistance. However, extra food items collected are given to local food closets. Also, our City of Palo Alto Family Resources trained volunteers & two retired healthcare professional, provides peer counseling and referrals for other life's challenges (housing, healthcare, professional counseling, legal issues, etc.) for those who may need extra help. Since too many of the housed 'at risk' on our roster are becoming homeless we have created our "Passion Programs"; "Networks for "Shared No/Low Cost Housing", "Quick Cash Jobs", Temp/Full Time Jobs, Carpool/Rides, Free Healthcare programs, etc. Plus emergency crisis management for those households and individuals in crisis.
Palo Alto Online Palo Alto Weekly Article: Catching neighbors who fall through the gap (January 25, 2013)
Web Link
Like us on face book to get more details on our programs, services and upcoming events. Such as, CRV Container' Fundraiser Sat. Nov. 2nd benefits ‘Motel Stays' & 'Gym Memberships' fund for Un-housed and Annual Food Drive, Oct. 14th to Dec. 14th.
Click this link for more details on our Face Book page,
Web Link