Affordable Housing?

As reported in Press-Telgram article by Greg Mellen, Staff Writer, Rick Skaggs, age 60, lived in shelters and under bridges for 38 years. Due to illiteracy he was honorably discharged from the Navy and spent his years doing day labor jobs, traveling from town to town via Greyhound buses.

Skaggs is off the streets now or no longer sleeping under the 7th Street bridge in Long Beach. Due to health issues, he was chosen as one of Long Beach's homeless at the greatest risk of death by homeless advocates who helped him get affordable housing.

Mellen report4ed that Catholic Charities paid his apartment deposit and he pays $500. rent from his $850. Social Security. "The Mayor's Fund for the Homeless" pays "the remainder of the balance." Skaggs also has application in to get Section Housing.

I never heard of the Mayor's Fund and curious to that "remaining balance". Could it be that Skaggs' rent is higher than the going rate for efficiency apartments in Long Beach? One room apartments with kitchen and bath are priced at $650. to $700. or more. Skagg's apartment is one bedroom.

In other local news a march was held Saturday regarding affordable housing. Article said marchers were stopping at downtown apartment complexes that offer affordable housing; where walkers would give speeches explaining why.

I am guessing the speakers would be person's like Skaggs due to walk I participated in several years ago. That seemed more of a protest of all the newly constructed expensive condos while the needs of those living in poverty for affordable homes seems ignored.

Long Beach has an higher than average number of citizens living below National Poverty rate. That would include Skaggs and other Social Security retirement or disability recipients. It also may include newly hired hotel room cleaners, dish washers, wait staff and the like employed to service the expensive new hotels and eateries.