Posted on Tuesday, 3/31/2009 - 7:59 p.m. PDT — by hopefully
we are the original owners of our home... about 6 years ago, a home was rented to a single mom that has 4 kids. she is section 8. for the most part, she stays to herself and in her house but when she gets mad, she has threatened another neighbor with a brick (because her kid and that neighbors kid) were fighting... they were around 12 at the time! recently, a new neighbor moved in next door to her. she was fine at first and then she became physically violent with that neighbor. the police were called, but when questioned, none of the other neighbors had seen what was going on. the new neighbor moved out, within a month of moving in... now there is another neighbor there with a ton of kids. the single mom's kids and the new neighbors kids play all day, staying out for hours with no adult visable. they are becoming the bullies of the neighborhood, forming their own little gang and bulling the other kids... my daughter is not allowed outside anymore because of these kids... my husband approached one of them and asked if she had a problem with my daughter... he told her to not play with my daughter and my daughter will not play with her... she has NO FEAR of adults... she has blocked my daughter from checking the mail by claiming she needed to check the mail herself (her mailbox is down the street) and then told my daughter she has new boots and she can break my daughters leg with her boots.... this girl is 11 years old!!! after my husband spoke to her, she told my neighbors daughter and my daughter that my husband is racist... the next door neighbor stood up for him, as she is not caucasian and we have no issues with her... my daughter is not scared of the problem girl, just very anoyed... they were living with their dad but now are back... there is no talking to the mom, as she is not stable.
so, what do i do? how long can someone be on section 8? she has nice cars in the driveway yet she is always home, so where is the money coming from??? i called section 8 one time because the son has been in trouble with the law yet was still allowed to live there...
PLEASE HELP!!!! ANY IDEAS???
Joined: Oct 2007
Current Posts: 687
I know you have probably heard this from the PD but document everything. I know it is a pain but try to avoid conflict with them since they have already thrown down the "race card" you are only asking for problems if you confront them. Call the PD when you have problems.
I don't know how true this is but I have heard that the county housing auth are not as cooperative with the police as they had been.
I hope this helps some, and good luck.
Joined: May 2008
Current Posts: 22
If you live in Antioch we have a department within the Police Department that can help you. I would also suggest going to the County tax department and find out who owns the property and send them a certified letter documenting your issues and requesting them to do something about it also copy the County Housing Authority. Make sure you document every threat harassment.
I am so sorry for you.
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 39
Start talking to the other neighbors who have been affected by this problem residence. Band together and agree to call the police anytime there is a run in or problem with the specific residence (i.e. loud noise, fighting, threats, vandalism, etc). Each time an officer responds to a problem related to the residence of that home, be sure to get either the case number (if a report is taken) or the event number. After gathering what you think would be enough information, send a registered letter to the owner of the home (which can be found via the county or city) detailing all of the neighborhoods concerns along witht the list of case/event numbers. Advise the homeowner that if he or she does not take corrective action, advise them that EACH of the neighbors is willing to take them to small claims court (sue for $5,000 or less) individually. If there are enough neighbors willing to take these steps, it could wind up costing the homeowner a large amount of money. Once the homeowner realizes this, hopefully, they will take corrective action against the renter. I would also follow up that letter with a letter to the County Housing office with a list of the calls for service regarding that residence.
Joined: Mar 2006
Current Posts: 887
I'll get the name(s) of the owner(s) for you in minutes.
Roy Gursky .. http://gurskyranch.com
Joined: May 2009
Current Posts: 3
We were also looking to buy a house in Brentwood (Deer Ridge or Shadow Lakes communities). Unfortunately, based on the posts from this forum, the neighborhoods have been deteriorating. We are a young family with two toddlers and safety and quality of life is a priority. Although the prices have come down, it has been tough to get at buying one of those foreclosed homes. Those are being gobbled up by outside investors whom they will turn around and try to rent them out. A good example is 313 Roundhill Dr. We had asked our realtor to look into the property a couple days after it was foreclosed in early December. Our realtor told us that it was already in pending status with an investor. The investor just closed escrow in April and is advertising it as a rental property at $2,500/month. I do not believe the investor will find a tenant at that price. Why would someone pay that much for rent when they could own it for a whole lot less?? I would think at some point the investor will turn around and rent it to a section 8.
Btw, is there a way to find out online who is the owner of a property in Contra Costa County? The CC county treasury and tax collector site does not give out ownership info.
Joined: Mar 2006
Current Posts: 887
Your Realtor has access to that information. Or call me; I'm a Real Estate Broker, too. 634-4913.
Roy Gursky .. http://gurskyranch.com
Joined: May 2008
Current Posts: 22
Great idea! Except I would also copy the County Housing right away. You might want them to move but, then they are going to be someone else problem. And all on the taxpapers dime.
Joined: Jan 2007
Current Posts: 16
This is an issure that has poured into the East Co Co Co for the past several years, bringing crime and blight to once great neighborhoods and schools. I understand they had quite an intersting Quality of Life Meeting in Antioch last Saturday. I suggest everyone in Brentwood who cars about their neighborhoods and crime watch in tonight on Comcast at 8:00 p.m. ch 24 and again Thursday night at 5:00. As homeowners we have very little we can do but call the PD on almost a daliy basis, I agree the HUD clients have so many rights and protections that the only course is to go after the landloard and take them to small claims for devaluing your neighborhood and bringing crime to you and your family......report all problems to HUD on the form on their wed sight, keep daily notes. We have two Section 8 homes in our neighborhood of once $1MM dollar homes, when I asked the homeowners why they we're renting without background checks etc, they said (HUD pays more rent dollars)!!!!!
Joined: Jan 2008
Current Posts: 515
more clients, higher salaries for the Director and Staff. Its a vicious circle. A group of Brentwood residents started dealing with Section 8# scofflaws, 4yrs ago when many moved into bright, vibrant new subdivisions. Little did they know about the Social Experiment HUD and local housing authorities were dumping in their towns. Placing lower socioeconomic, criminal groups into oversized housing, that taxpayers have to pay for. In the past a small apartment on the opposite side of town was enough as a handout for we the taxpayers did not want people on welfare or subsidized housing for generations.......CA has the highest payouts for WELFARE........people are immigrating to CCC specifically for the ease in getting on welfare. NY FL and many other states cut welfare off in 2yrs....no if ands or excuses....
Section 8# is a poorly run program, with no checks or audits of what the recipients are doing after they got on the dole, and get their rent paid for. In Antioch and Berkeley, and Oakland, you will find Lexus, Mercedes and even Hummers in the driveways, while the female collects a welfare check and gets free rent.
Every neighborhood in Brentwood is effected just as every neighborhood in Antioch, and Discovery Bay, Oakeley, Pittsburgh etc are effected. The greed of the realtors who sold out to slumloard investors are to blame for our now denigrating neighborhoods. Having attended many city meetings in Brentwood, I have horror stories to pass on. Our politicians however want to keep it all hush hush, to keep up images and attract more businesses etc. We were able to get a rental property inspection program up and running, similar to Antiochs which has helped somewhat, but the inspections are cursory and do not include the backyard of the properties.
So now we have some rental houses with piles of garbage, used oil and toxic chemicals, chop shops, and fire hazards popping up all over. Many have contacted me regarding growing rodent problems at several rentals, most likely section 8#. A retired officer shared a story with our group involving a rental house with a garage full of accumulated garbage, bags, used diapers and rats. They did not pay for garbage service and just left their garbage pile ceiling high in the rental house in Brentwood. attracting rats to the other homes in the new housing development.
It is a good idea to send a letter to the Director at the Local Housing Authority, with the names and license plates of all vehicles at the problem home. Frequently section 8# females will move in a male or other tenants later on, all in violation of the Housing Authorities rules, drug use, or drug use by visitors is also prohibited. In the past a formal complaint would accomplish nothing, other than....."we can not tell you if the individuals are on Section 8# welfare or not. When calling after the individuals move out, you may be able to get a straight answer..... I found out 1 1/2yrs later that the problem tenants where in fact on Section 8#.
The entire program should be abolished and only the most needy, the disabled and senior citizens should be allowed subisidized "apartments, not 5 bedroom luxury homes.... at the taxpayers expense . The liberal social experiment called Section 8# has failed society miserably what you and many of us in Brentwood, Antioch, Oakley, Pittsburgh have encountered have made the american dream of moving to a new home a NIGHTMARE.
In other parts of our nation, sect 8# recipients only get a small one bedroom apt and have to make due. Many more truly needy people can be helped if they dont put them up in $3,000 a month suburban mansions..... but there is no common sense in CA only beauracracy and entitlement...... Why even work for 10-20yrs to buy in a nice new home when Welfare and the Housing Authority will give it to ya now....no accountability and now questions asked.
In more conservative states welfare recipients are are grouped in large buildings in modest apartments...... and the problems are not farmed out to suburban houses. Problem solved. In the Bay area, Oakland, Richmond and SF export their problem tenants, posting bulletins about all the new houses out in Contra Costa County, Sacramento etc. The same problems in new suburbs in San Bernadino, the Redlands as reported in the NEW YORK TIMES last year, entire neighborhoods in new develpments now suburban ghettos, with all the crime of urban cities. It is a monumental problem that many are not willing to deal with. Drugs, gangbanging, and sideshows-bass booming cars terrorizing side streets in the suburbs now. Several families in our Brentwood group have simply moved to other states, to raise their children in safe congenial neighborhoods. One to TX, another to Utah.
Perhaps a complaint to the Housing Director will help, but I wouldnt count on it. The police may assist if a crime is committed but usually the problem tenants forced to move from rental house to rental house, know all the tricks in the book. One gentleman and his wife that retired to Brentwood had to deal with problem tenants next to his new home for 6yrs, a stolen car chop shop in the driveway and backyark, piles of traSH drug dealing, there were DEA and swat team raids on the house and the problem still persisted. Not sure what the status of that home off Balfour is???? The retiree moving to Brentwood for peace and quiet encoutered a nightmare in their golden years, at city meetings he shared a binder full of pictures and police reports....not getting much help or assistance.
WHO KNEW WORKING HARD AND SAVING TO BUY A NEW HOME FOR YEARS WOULD TURN MANY RESIDENTS DREAM OF LIVING INTO SUBURBIA INTO A NIGHTMARE.......the new ghettos in America are now in suburbia, per the NY Times article last year.....thanks to Liberals, corrupt politicans and twisted social workers that believe "everyone deserves a new home", new housing is not an entilement like a welfare check, it is to be earned and only temporary, hence the taxpayer should force Housing Authourities and HUD to provide only a modest apartment, in a not so good inner city....so the individuals don't become complacent and addicted to assistance... We need cutoffs for WELFARE and SECTION 8#, Only 2yrs in NY for welfare.....so droves are now moving to CA from Florida and NY as they are dumped from the state welfare roles....
"Oh what a tangled web they weave, when they set out to deceive.
Joined: Mar 2006
Current Posts: 887
The "greed of the Realtors"? Boy, are you clueless.. With very few exceptions, the new houses that were bought by investors were purchased directly from the builders, not through a Realtor. The greed emerged as some investors closed escrow and immediately put the homes back on the market at higher prices, hoping the rapid run-up in values would continue. Most were left vacant during the re-sale period, because, with the creative financing that was used to purchase them, rental return would have been a huge negative cash flow. Most didn't resell as the market dissapeared and then became some of your neighborhood foreclosure homes. Some were purchsed for rentals by investors willing to suffer a huge negative cash flow now, thinking the increase in value would eventually offset that in the future when the homes were resold. As the market crashed, they realized their folly and decided to let them go into foreclosure, rather than continue the blood-letting. The purchase of other new and older homes with liberal financing and folks getting equally liberal equity loans created the rest of the mess.
As the foreclosures and short-sale homes hit the market, who ya gonna call? A Realtor, of course; a person, because of Fair Housing laws, doesn't pick his/her clients.
Roy Gursky .. http://gurskyranch.com
Joined: Jan 2008
Current Posts: 515
and explcitly explained to them how they could buy 3-4 houses , get zero down loans then get guarranteed rents above market value from HUD by renting to section #8 tenants. Realtor fllyers were even printed up explaining the scam, guess you didnt hear about that when driving around on the golf cart :} This is widely known by all realtors including myself. It is also being invetigated by the US Attorneys Office out of Sacamento.....
You may be a little out of the loop when it comes to all the realtor-broker-lender scams that were perpetrated and now coming to light.
Investors were brought in from Oakland, San Jose, LA and other states....this is Fact not hearsay, or naivete. US attorneys and the FBI are now looking at the widespread financial loan scams, etc...etc...falsification of loan docs, by INVESTORS...who took new homes and turned them into slum houses.
"Oh what a tangled web they weave, when they set out to deceive."
Joined: Jan 2008
Current Posts: 515
that. All the developers in Brentwood during the boom, offered commissions directly from the Buider to the agent or Broker bringing in the buyers. This is not new I'm surprised an oldtimer like you were unaware of this arrangement as a licesed....Broker.
"Oh what a tangled web they weave, when they set out to deceive."
Joined: May 2009
Current Posts: 3
Does anybody know where I can find the listings of upcoming foreclosure sales at the Martinez courthouse? Much appreciated!!
Sebastian
Joined: Jul 2009
Current Posts: 82
Section 8 and low lifes HATE cops... so, do whatever you want and live as you used to and ANY time anything happens call the cops. she'll move out in no time.