Rental Assistance Available for Residents

excuse me? your greed is showing.

this is for sure a helping hand to the landlord as the payment goes directly to them.

Yes the poor landlords making outlandish profits off struggling tenants, having the tables turned on them. Did they end up homeless off this hiccup in their finances?? Or did they just have to do with one less trip to Europe? Cry me a freaking river. Get a job like everyone else and quit preying off the struggles of others for your excessive tastes. It's borderline ghoulish. You can thank the Government you likely voted against that you're being reimbursed for it.

Lina, please share your experience on why you believe landlords make outlandish profits, don't work, and take multiple international trips per year? Have you worked for a property management company? If you had to guess, how much do you think it would cost to put a new roof on a small 4-plex here in town? To replace a cracked sewer lateral as required by the City of SB?

@VOR Oooh, pick me, pick me!! Depending on the size of the house and work needed on the sewer lateral (how long, how deep): Roof, $10k (includes replacing termite damaged wood supports). Sewer lateral: $11k (includes the permit fees on a long-ish lateral with a very deep hole to dig at the joint.)

"Greedy landlords", I mean, I get it. I'm sure that Lina talks of large property management companies, or mom and pop owners who paid so little that their annual property taxes are $3k or less. However, as bad as rents are right now, it is STILL cheaper to rent than own. We have been in our home for >15 years and it is ONLY in the last 2 years that we could actually rent the house for enough to break even on mortgage and property tax. (If we didn't need a place to live, that is.) We were underwater for awhile.

It totally sucks, the cost of housing here. I really do feel terribly bad for the middle and lower classes. It's horrible, and it's sad, and there is really no easy answer. We could build more, could build forever, and it still will never really fix the problem. SB is seeing an enhanced version of what is going on nationwide.

I think those are on the low end of the spectrum for a small SFR but let's run with just those two, a $21k expense. Amortized over 20 years (nearly the life of the roof) that's $87.50 per month. $87.50 per month over 20 years just for these two items and that's assuming it's leased the entire time. Then break down other maintence such as painting, termites, repairs, other plumbing issues, re-tenanting expeses, new carpet every few years, appliances, insurance and property taxes and of course, don't forget the actual purchase of the building and that high monthly rent paid is quickly eaten up leaving little for reserves or an actual profit.

BYZAN : Wait what? It's the Landlords getting a sweetheart deal from renters under the guise of "market rates". When do they go up? Does quality increase? No! When there's a shortage they profiteer off the fact that housing is a basic necessity. They prey on tenants. There is no better term for it than outright greed. Own it!!!

Lina, you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the market. Willing buyer meets willing seller. You are describing something else entirely - which means any further discussion on this topic will go no where. Housing is a commodity - you buy and sell it. Or you apply for public and/or charitable benefits as qualified under law.