HUD’s Side Jobs

Hello!

As you guys have already seen  in one of my previous posts, I explained in depth about HUD’s ulterior motive that lies behind the bureaucracy and technicalities of the whole Section 8 system and process. (See blog post “Idealism and Section8 – it Works!”) In that post, I revealed that the directive is mainly idealistic and pointed towards progress. But, that wasn’t the whole story!

HUD, (The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) has its side jobs too!

Sticking to the objective of trying to save the world through the development of affordable housing, HUD has subsidiaries with a similar aim, but on the educational level.

The goal is to integrate computer technology into the lives of assisted tenants and their children. It is now well-known that mostly everything is done on the computer and online. Most correspondence is performed through email, and almost every prospective employer requires of their employees full knowledge of various and complex computer applications. That’s where Neighborhood Networks comes in.

1995 – Around that time is when we can safely say that the internet started booming. And that is when the future of technological advances could be seen far off- especially in the eyes of the HUD/Section 8 visionaries. It was in this year that HUD developed Neighborhood Networks.

HUD is proud to claim Neighborhood Networks as one of the first federally funded initiatives dedicated towards the prospect of the self sufficiency of housing assistance recipients. The program’s main goals are to: “Improve computer access, advance literacy, prepare residents to take advantage of employment opportunities and to provide access to healthcare information and other social services.” The program even offers after-school programs for children and career counseling for adults!

More than a decade later, this widely successful program can be found in Housing Authorities and in other privately and publicly funded locations all over the country!

If you readers were not privy of this information beforehand, I will refer you to the website where you can read up on new developments, and find a location near you!

Click here for all the info you need:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/nnw/nnwindex.cfm

End note to Landlords: By sharing this information, it is my hope that I will transfer some of my feelings of social responsibility and maybe you will share this information to your future section8 tenants! What do you have to lose?

-V

 

Newer! Better!

I am excited today! Here at the Gosection8 Home Office we are implementing new systems that are certain to generate the best possible and most efficient customer service EVER! Not that there was anything wrong with our system before, of course, but it is in accordance with the belief that a company should always be on the move towards being more effective and proficient, especially in the constantly progressing and ever-changing/improving world that we live in today.

(Read: And we are not trying to replace customer service with a machine, either. You can always call to talk with a human being. You never fail to humor me with a breathless and ever so relieved : “Ah! A human!”)

Basically, with this new system, each one of your issues and questions will be awarded a “ticket” and organized and addressed accordingly. Mostly, this step up in organization will help us to help YOU better. We want all your problems solved, in a time-efficient way, and with, of course, a touch of sparkling personality!

Up and Coming:

Currently, I am doing research for some new topics that I want to write to you about. And yes, they are progressive. Mostly, I want to focus on how Landlords can contribute to the betterment of tenant’s lives, and how tenants may help themselves. I heard from a very wise former President of the United States (I am sure you can figure that one out!  HINT:  He just wrote a book on this subject!) that charity is truly the best portal to happiness. And aren’t we all, as humans , all just on the move towards being more effective and proficient, in an ever-changing/improving world that we live in today? Something to think about….

 

-V

Happy Valentine’s Day from the GO8 Team!

Valentine’s Day:

A time honored tradition where your significant other fills your heart with love, showers you with chocolates (ouch! weight gain!), flowers (like you don’t have allergies?) and jewelry, (and, of course , you’ll be writing the check for the credit card payment every month!) on this special day!!

We all hope today brings much love and joy to everyone!

Today, like everyday,  the GO8 team is at work, always here to address any of your questions and concerns.  Please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone.

Email: admin@gosection8.com

Phone:  866-466-7328

Idealism and Section 8 – it works!

Hello! I am an employee here at Gosection8.com and I am also a new blogger! This will certainly prove beneficial to you- as you are the users of the website, and from my knowledge, you are also very hungry for all of the information you can get on the whole Section 8 process. I am the best candidate for this job because I am basically on the frontlines, all day and everyday, answering questions and helping both Landlords and Tenants with their issues.

This is an optimal space where I can address universal and general questions, like “How do I list my property?” and “How do I find a property?”, as well as other very interesting and helpful topics.

But first things first. I would like to be a bit progressive here and move beyond these technicalities for now. Let us fast-forward to one of the most frequently asked questions:

“Does my property have to be in a certain area to qualify to rent to a section 8 tenant?”

The answer, of course, is no*, and have you ever wondered why? Have you ever wondered upon the initial and ongoing intentions of the Section 8 program? Without being too political, I will give you the rundown.

Government programs in the past, such as Welfare , have received many criticisms for allegedly locking low-income families in a slow economic downward spiral, by keeping the recipients dependent upon the government for living assistance. The recipients were indirectly discouraged to obtain and retain steady full time jobs. If their income was too high they would then lose their living assistance. Thankfully, the program has been changed so drastically, it now has a different name, and different playing rules. However, Section 8 Housing (HUD) assistance has by far exceeded the progress of these new programs, because of its underlying intentions.

Take a look at a part of the mission statement:

“HUD’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.”

Instead of keeping tenants dependant upon government assistance, HUD maintains the objective to consistently improve the quality of life of the recipients, so that they can succeed without assistance in the future.

And this brings me back to the question: “Why are there little to no restrictions as to where a section 8 tenant can live?” The answer is progressive and optimistic:

By having little to no restrictions on the area a section8 tenant lives, the program gives the tenants an opportunity to live in better and safer areas, as to not be surrounded by the influences of a potentially negative environment. This objective is especially beneficial to the children who are living with assisted parents. They will have the opportunity to grow up in a positive and prolific environment, having also the opportunity to go to better schools, and ultimately ensuring their success.

(*In fact, if a property and landlord come to be restricted from renting to a section 8 recipient, it means the area is a BAD area, and not suitable for living.)

Now this leads me to an ulterior motive of MINE. (Ha, didn’t think I had one did you?)

The reason why I wanted to share this information is really to commend the Landlords who make this all possible. Without you, this program would not be possible!

My hope is that this Blog will reach those Landlords who’s intentions to rent out to section 8 recipients was, in the past, solely for the guarantee of a rent check in their pocket every month.  My wish is that they can now see the good they are doing for the progress of an improved society- on a local AND national level. So let me close this installment with a well deserved ThankYou! to the Landlords, on behalf of everyone here at Gosection8.com. Until next time..

-V