Dear editor,
My name is Desiree. I'm 33 years old, but I am a social work student, and I care about the senior community. I am disabled because of a tumor that left me paralyzed from the chest down when I was 3. I use a wheelchair full time and have been on and off work over the years due to cancer and other life events.
Long story short, I have lived alone in low-income housing for seven years and many of my neighbors are seniors. Although the idea of getting into low-income housing sounds fabulous, especially if you are only getting Social Security, there is something that many people do not know: low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) do not allow single, disabled, or senior students to stay in low-income housing unless they meet 1 of 4 exceptions: you are married (I'm not, sorry to disappoint everyone), you have kids (I tried, but had two miscarriages), you grew up in foster care (I get adopted sometimes), or you receive TANF (I have a dog, does that count?).
The policy does not think disabled/senior or single people should go to school full-time. What if you are a senior and decide to get your bachelor's or Ph.D. at 57? What if you are young and super single and disabled like me? I did not know this either and it sounds very discriminatory. Maybe the policy makers think it's impossible for someone disabled to get a master's degree? I am about to be evicted for going to school and it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I am going into debt with student loans, not making money. If you do happen to have the money, you might be able to stay in your apartment and switch to "market rate." Market rate is 94.3% of my income.
If you live alone and tell management that you are going to get a degree, you will have to pay way more or you will have to find another apartment. I still recommend getting an education at any age, even if you end up not sleeping because you are about to be homeless before winter.
Hopefully, you can meet the exceptions. I urge you to reach out to your representatives and ask why the student exceptions for LIHTC forgot to include single, disabled, or senior people?
The LIHTC rules were made to keep abled-bodied students from using low-income housing, but what happens if the student is disabled and all alone?
I hope you find this story interesting as I have the support of two Senators and many people in my community. Hopefully, the media will pick up this story before I end up homeless. There is power in numbers!
Sincerely,
Desiree Rodriguez
Anchorage
