An Open Letter to Independent Living
Received: August 15, 2016
​Posted: August 18, 2016
Subject: Rent increase
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I wasn’t surprised when I received my letter announcing yet another increase in my rent. The increase was, as you stated, ‘moderate’, considering our last several rent increases.  None the less it comes to us at a time when WE are struggling financially no different than you!
    Let me rephrase that WE are struggling and it IS different than YOU. Each time  Independent Living raises my rent I have to look to see where I am going to reduce the increase amount from in the rest of my normal living expenses.  Will it come from my grocery money?  Will I not but a new pair of badly needed shoes?  Will I not fill my prescriptions on time and thus not take my medicine correctly? I might have been able to go to a movie as a ‘real’ treat that was affordable; will that be dropped?
    You say that the increase is within the affordable ‘guidelines’.  But who defines 'affordable' ,​' in my house? Me, that’s who. .I make adjustments every day just going to the grocery store as prices seem to change on a daily basis.  You,, on the other hand, have options  and one of those is to keep your properties fully rented!  In doing so you can ‘afford’ all that is listed as reasons for the increase.
    Don’t get me wrong. I get  that there are higher utility, maintenance, contract services, insurance and wage expenses. That’s everyday life. What I don’t get is not seeing some tangible benefit to me the resident when these increases take place.
    I also pay higher utility fees for the same reasons as you,  We don’t all get the age/income from Seattle City Light as I sit right on the line that says I am NOT eligible.  So I pay my FULL share every month! Maintenance. Now that’s a whole different matter.  Maintenance in far too many cases and for far too many residents is quite the sore subject.  An exit door that COULDN’T be replaced for month than a month because it had to be ordered and the ether reason was it wasn’t budgeted?  First a door that had to be ordered shouldn’t take a month in the first place and second, why wasn’t it in the budget?  That seems a bit ridiculous from my side of the page. Contract services I am sure are many and varied, though maybe you should take a closer look at whether you are getting our money's worth out of them! Insurance: well I might agree with that but there are always options with various agencies and possibly a longer closer look at those policies and other companies might be a good thing for both of us.  And lastly wage expenses.  I know they are rising within our city limits and that will have an effect , but don’t push onto us what you likely should have been doing all along.  A living wage is very important, or at least one that includes benefits to those who work for SHAG and Independent  Living.
    I think for the increases that have taken place over the last few years we as residents are missing out.  One of the biggest things we would to see on the property is a night time security officer.  We are a small city here with nearly 600 people.  That is the size of a small town and a small town would have a police officer!  We have constant break-ins of cars.  We have had cars stolen.  We have had our property taken from inside our building, because of a poorly secured door, the placing of security cameras in far too many places.  We have had people in our building that shouldn’t be there.  We have doors that open to the outside that are not alarmed and should be. These are but a few of the very reasons we deserve a full time security person on our property.  Not to mention the homeless population that is directly across the street!
    So while you think you are being considerate in your rent increase I would disagree.  I believe as residents when we pay more WE should get more also and that is simply not the case. Even a moderate increase for us should result in something tangible to us!
    Don’t misunderstand me here I like where I live, most of the time!  But I see things that could be better and one of them is to provide us with some of what we not only need but deserve. And, that could be done by simply listening to us with a genuine ear.  It could benefit you as much as the ‘new’ money that you will receive from this increase.
    
Respectfully,
Diane L Radischat
Arrowhead Gardens