Convener: Daythan Young
Scribe: Mary Ellen Chewning
206 A morning
Attendees: Daythan Young, Mary Ellen Chewning, Carrie McCann, Laura Ogden, Russ Leimback, Michael Wong, Earl Martin, Phyllis Armentrout Wong, Tom Domonoske
- Clarified the differences between public housing, subsidized housing, and the qualified housing program.
- The qualified housing program in Harrisonburg serves 100 families in northeast Harrisonburg (240 on the waiting list) by providing a 5-year “family self-sufficiency program” of weekly inspections, case manager help with personal financial planning, etc.
- People receiving an eviction notice often call the Magistrate’s office, but staff there cannot give out legal advice. A readily accessible source of information is needed (not a brochure).
- Discussed the advantages of boarding houses as an inexpensive living alternative for single people. It’s not easy to get approval from Community Development Planning Commission or the Zoning Commission and obtaining a special use permit.
- problem for many is the lack of sound money management.
- People often feel trapped and make bad decisions because they don’t know their rights –
- You can’t be put in jail for non-payment.
- Landlords cannot change the locks.
- Car dealers can sell you a car and ask for the car back by saying the loan did not go through when actually they couldn’t sell the credit contract.
- If you go to court over a hospital bill, ask what the insurance companies would have paid for the procedure.
- It is illegal to put a notation on the bottom of a bill that an interest fee will occur after 30 days.
- Interest can be added after 60 day, not 30 days.
Contact: Two volunteer groups — Earl Martin’s Carpenters’ Guild and Rebuilding Together — are available to do home repairs.
Legal issues — Dayton Young dyoung@brls.org
Tom Domonoske tomdomonoske@earthlink.net
Carpenters Guild — Earl Martin patearl@aol.com
Action:
1. Daythan Young will attempt to have general information regarding eviction rules, landlord/tenant rights, etc. placed on the website of Blue Ridge Legal Services. Those without a computer can use a public library computer.
2. Encourage the establishment of more boarding houses for single people in Harrisonburg.
3. Suggest that one of the Harrisonburg Summits speak to educating consumers about their rights and responsibilities.
