APARTMENT HUNTING – START TO FINISH

(Article published in HWW July-August 2009)

by Tanya Squire

At St. John’s Place Family Center in Brooklyn, Housing Specialist Tanya Squire works hard to help families find apartments and move out. HWW asked Tanya to tell us how she goes about it.

Just as soon as a family moves into St. John’s Place, we start the process of helping them find an apartment.

We don’t wait three months until they can apply for an Advantage subsidy or until they’re certified. We start right away by having them go through the Amsterdam News which comes out every Thursday with a list of affordable housing – that is, low to middle income housing that you get by entering a lottery. I help them write the letter asking for an application and when it arrives help them fill it out. Then we have to be sure they have all the documents they’ll need when they go for an interview including birth certificate, Social Security card, and proof of income. It’s good to have three copies of all the documents ready at all times.

If a family finds something they can afford before they’re certified for the Advantage subsidy, great. Otherwise I help them identify brokers or landlords that are offering apartments that accept the Advantage subsidy. I make calls myself but I also urge families to walk around neighborhoods on their own. To take their family. To look for signs in the window announcing APARTMENT FOR RENT.

We talk about what they should look for when they view an apartment. I tell them to look for cracks and crevices. If you see a bubble in the ceiling, you can guess there’s been a leak. You should open and close windows to be sure they work so that you don’t have to put a stick in to keep it open. You should look in the fridge cause sometimes there’s mold inside.

Some families turn down apartments cause they don’t understand that at the end of the day there is no place you can live for free. You have to pay something -- even if you receive a subsidy, you have to contribute something.

But the main problem that keeps families from moving is they insist on living in an area they’re familiar with.Some want to be near their family and I can sympathize with that. Or they have several children in different schools and they don’t want to have to travel.

Some are just too choosey. They say “I don’t want to live in Coney Island – I want to live in Flatbush.’ “I don’t want to live in Flatbush – I want to live in Canarsie.’ Or they’ve gotten used to Brooklyn and won’t consider the Bronx.

If refusing change means being stuck in a shelter for another six months, it’s not realistic.

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EXPERTS OFFER TIPS FOR APARTMENT HUNTERS

HOW…WHEN…WHERE asked real estate brokers and managers who handle apartments that rent to families with Section 8 or the Advantage subsidy “What advice would you give to families in the shelter system who are looking for a new home?”

Norman Dodd of Dominic Dad Inc.:

“Call as many brokers as possible. The more lines you have in the water, the more likely you are to catch fish. Also use shoe leather. Walk around and look for big buildings. Rent Stabilization controls rents in buildings with six or more units so rents are more likely to fall within what you can afford.”

Horace Giscombe, H & H Realty:

“Here’s what I always tell caseworkers in the shelters. ‘Tell your clients to treat their meeting with a landlord like they’re going for a job interview. They should look presentable’.”

P.K. of P.K. Realty:

“What a landlord wants is disciplined families who will take care of the apartment. They prefer families who are working with children who are going to school.”

Martha Proctor of Martha Proctor Realty:

“Be honest about yourself. Often a woman will say that she doesn’t have a spouse and then after she’s got the keys you’ll see a man moving in with her. If you have spouse living with you, say so. Don’t wait to let him show up till after you have the keys. If being honest means you don’t get that apartment, another will come along.”

Caryl Davis, All Star Realty:

“Don’t be afraid of a change. Don’t be afraid to try a different borough.”