I hope they do sue bangor housing, i lived in there housing they love the control over u telling you what u can keep ur heat on and if u go over they will charge u hello it is call low income for a reason and if people could afford there own place they wouldn't live in low income housing..

I have to agree with lisarose on the aspect that the Housing Authority loves to have the control over it's tenants. I however know one of the people in the suit and she has abused the system in the past by not reporting earnings to the State, etc. I believe that most of the tenants of the Housing Authority are definately entitled to the decreased rent they receive, but there are that few who seem to think that the world owes them something, or they have figured out how to scam and defraud the systems that are in place to help the less fortunate. This is the problem with the State budget, we keep paying the ones who are abusing the services and the ones who could really benefit are left holding the bill. I hope that the lawsuit will help as far as taking some control away from the Housing Authority, and that the tenants who are really honest, and trying to do the right thing get reimbursed, but the ones who are defrauding the system, pay me back, and you are welcome.

Give me a break, we've created a society of welfare recipients who have every thing given to them - housing, food, medical, child care, education and even cars & gas and now they cry when charged for excessive use. I guess if we (tax payers) have allowed this whole system to continue we deserve having our tax dollars pay for blood sucking lawyers who thrive on stupid things like this to make a living. I know people who live in Capehart who abuse the system as much as they can and are proud of it.

How many of you have ever driven by Bangor Public Housing during the middle of winter and seen windows open....give it a try. This may be why they are going over their heating costs!!!!!! I'm not saying that either of these woman are the culprits, but unfortunately there are others who do. I pay my own heat and I have to keep mine set on 67!!!

But I know the solution!!! why doesn't Bangor Housing Authority send the bill to all those people who think its ok for Food stamp recipients to purchase soda and junk food with our tax dollars. Apparently they aren't as "mean spirited" and "self righteous" as those of us who would like to try and keep some of our hard earned money to put food on the table and oil in the tank!!!!!!!

I'm just sayin..........................

Amen scrappygirl, I couldn't agree more!

I know that some people really need help with bills, housing, food, etc, but the few that take advantage of whatever they can get, hurt others. Having control over what you use in public housing or what you can and can't do is annoying, but you aren't forced to live there. You can always move out and go elsewhere. If these people were paying for their own fuel it would cost a whole lot more than what they were charged by housing. I know that it must be nice to be able to turn the heat to whatever degree you want to be warm, but in my world and many others, we're lucky if we can afford fuel for heating if the thermostat is above 61. We don't have anyone to help us pay for our heat or food, or anything else. It's all out of our own pocket. We all work and some of us make just a few dollars too much to be able to get any kind of assistance. I applaud those living with assistance that do NOT take advantage of it and are struggling just to get ahead day by day.........while those of us that pay taxes and don't get assistance pay for those who are milking the system. Maybe community service should be made mandatory to those who collect and don't work---or work the bare minimum to keep getting the max on food stamps and other gov't help. ll it takes is a few rotten apples in the barrel to ruin it for others. Can't believe in the dead of winter that windows are wide open. Must be nice to be able to waste heat like that................

You know why Bangor Housing such "Control" over it's residents? Simple, the place would be a TOTAL SLUM if they did not. And I agree with the comments about the open windows and doors in the winter, I've seen it myself. But then again, you see that just about anywhere that the landlord pays the heat. This is the second time I've seen the equal justice center in two days crying about the rights of the poor disadvantaged people, and how we should just shovel money on them with no restrictions, expectations, regulations, nothing, just "here you go". The residents of Capehart have thermostats that can be set as high as 72. How often do you suppose that they are set below that? Bangor code says that the minium that a landlord can set the thermostat is 68. Why don't they change out the thermostats so that the residents can't set the thermostat any higher than the majority of us that pay the bill for that place do. WHAT ABOUT EQUAL JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY PAYING THE BILL?

INGRATES! GIMME GIMME GIMME. What are you giving back, a bunch of fatherless kids that are tought from day one not to take any responsibility for themselves. If half of these people devoted as much energy to getting a job as they do to tracking down all the free stuff they can get from the government, they would not have to live in subsidized housing to begin with.

Amanda and Melissa...nobody asked you, or forced you to live in public housing. If you dont like it, then support yourselves!

I have to agree that maybe the Bangor Houseing should put a lock on the thermostats of the apartments in the winter. I know people that live in other complexes other then Capehart. And I see when people don't have to pay for the heat on thier own they turn the thermostats up to 78 to 80 degrees. When they get a little hot then they just open the doors or the windows for a little bit. I have to totally agree with "Rent includes a “reasonable amount” for the use of utilities.". When heat is included in the rent yes they add money to the rent to include heat but not to abuse that right.! Bangor Housing should fit this lawsuit and if I were on the jury I would take Bangor Houseing side. When people abuse the heat then the landlords raise the rent and everyone else has to pay the price increase. The way Bangor Houseing is doing it is to make the single guilty ones pay for thier abuse. About time.

For 3 years I lived with the support of TANF. It was a godsend! It's not a way of life though. I got a job and supported my children and myself. I've become a single mother, again, and since I have a job, I'm unable to get any assistance. I'm not looking for 100% support, just a cushion to be sure I don't lose my home, my car and to be sure we can eat and stay warm during these crazy economic times. No such luck. So I pay my $900 mortgage, my $300 fuel bill and my grocery bill every month ALL ON MY OWN!

I know two families that live in Capehart. The mothers collect from the state, the man in their life works. Since they aren't married, BHA knows nothing about the extra income. I'm sure these two families aren't the only ones. And both of these families have had more kids since living in Capehart. It disgusts me!!

The system is very broken and it sounds like these women are taking full advantage. I'm sure there are people that need the decreased rent, but I'm sure 75% do not.

I can hold my head high and say I pay my own way!!

I agree that some people abuse the system and unfortunately that casts a bad light on those that don't. It seems to me in the article the women had reported problems with the heating system in their units but it was not fixed. That may have been the cause for overusing the oil. I use to work in a school and when the boiler went wacky we all had to open windows or roast until it was fixed. Maybe a solution would be to have locked controls on the thermostat, I think by law a landlord can set it at 68 degrees for the winter.

pcme2000, unfortunately, if what I read here is correct; you may not be able to side with BHA. If the law says that BHA has to give 60 days notice before imposing heating surcharges, and they sent out a letter on Oct 28 saying that effective heating surcharges would go into effect Dec. 1, well that's not 60 days. Hopefully I'm missing something on that one. If not BHA needs to do two things; A) send out a letter today with proper 60 days notice, so they can at least get in part of the heating season, and B) fire the person responsible for dropping the ball. I also find it funny that any other landlord in the State only has to provide their Tenant a 45 day notice, so there again; the "poor" are given better rights than the average Joe.

One of the reasons there is a lack of what some would call "affordable" housing in this area is that the Tenants have way more rights than the landlord, so Landlords get stuck holding the bag just about every time someone rips them off. It takes three months to get someone out who is not paying rent, or damaging the property, or making other tenants rights miserable, and they usually always trash the place before leaving. There is absolutely no point in the landlord trying to recoup those costs, the deadbeats never pay, and the courts don't really give a s#!t. The landlords just have to raise the rent for everyone else to cover it. BHA also needs to start doing a little more "digging" into what their residents are reporting to them for income, I would bet, based on my own personal knowledge, and from anecdotal reports, that underreporting income is pretty widespread in Cape Hart.

agalwhoreads: You used the system for what it was designed for, a safety net to get you back to a place where you become self sufficient. Your children will be better for it for sure.

People, be FAIR! I have read the comments and the majority of you sound so judgemental and ignorant. My husband and I lived in Bangor Housing for a number of years before being able to afford our first home last year. YES, there are a FEW people who live there and abuse the system, news flash there are also people who own their own homes and abuse the system...It is unfair to pin everyone in capehart as lazy, unemplyed, moochers. My husband and I lived there while working towards getting our family out of there to a better life. We never lied, never abused the system and guess what...not only do most of YOU have this awful opinion of "everyone" on capehart so does BHA! We, at one point transfered from one apartment to another. We left our first apartment very clean, even cleaning out the light fixtures (even though we werent even allowed to change our own light bulbs mind you). We were left with NO bill for cleaning when we stepped into the 2nd apartment it was filthy and had been destroyed from previous tenents - BHA had no problem putting my family of 4 in this unit - we did the best we could to fix it all up and when we moved out and into our new home we were left with a $500 cleaning fee for the 2nd place...at that point we just wanted out of it all and didnt bother to fight. BHA is famous for charging for every little thing they can! For example, since you all KNOW so much about capehart I am sure on your "sight seeing" trips through there you have seen that the tenents have shared driveways with their neighbors. Well if you dont get right out and shovel your driveway on a winter day (you know if your WORKING) or if the person on the other side has hired someone to plow ONLY their side and they poush it all on the other half of the driveway BHA will do it and charge you $35 or $40 to plow! Or if they have to mow the lawn thats another $35 or $40. Or how about the nurses or CNAs or other people who dont get home from work until very late at night. If you leave your outside light on through the night so you can SEE when you get home and get to your house safely you get charged for having the light on all night...this is for the people who ARE working. Let me assure you the majority of families who live in capehart are working and living there because of the wonderful government raising the prices on ALL of our goods and never bother to increse paychecks. Believe me we worked hard to be considered part of "the working poor". So please do not condemn EVERYONE who is living in subsodized housing, unless you have been in their shoes its easy to jump on the welfare hating bandwagon but you cant hate someone or label them just because of their address.

WOW....very "heated". A gal who reads....You're great...u are the quintessential example of what the system was designed for...love your energy and commitment to always progess.

We all know the welfare system in Maine'sbroken,likeit is all over the country. These econimic times though will force another change in the system..hopefully streamline it more and weed out those who can work but choose not to. As long as the govt keeps giving there will always be those who take...and take and take....not until it is better regulated will it ever change.

AGALWHOREADS...CONGRATS..YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE MY TWO CHILDREN ON MY OWN, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE WHO WANT WHO EVER IS GOING. I KNOW THAT THINGS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE AND THEY NEED HELP. I HAVE NO PROBLEM HELPING ANYONE, BUT THEY SHOULD HELP THEMSELVES. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DID. NOT MANY PEOPLE NOW DAYS HAVE ENOUGH SELF RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO PULL THEMSELVES UP AND COME OUT OF THE RUT. GOOD FOR YOU GIRL.

I know if I complain to my landlord that something is not working, they are there to fix it in a reasonable amount of time. If these heating systems weren't working for that long, why are they just now complaining and filing a lawsuit, I'LL TELL YOU WHY, THEY WANT TO GET MONEY. Even if they only get the amount that they were surcharged. As I stated in my previous comment, I know one of these women, and she is , always looking for a way to get FREE money, services etc.

She doesn't work when she does have a job, she just shows up, and then complains if she gets spoken to about not doing her job, It has always been poor me, poor me. At least she has a vehicle to get her to and from her job, if she has one, I ride the bus, because I don't get any handouts to help with anything!!!! So, I hope that the Housing Authority wins the suit on this one, and installs thermostats that are locked. If you don't like the rules of housing, I have to agree with the others move your lazy but out and support yourself, and every time you use your EBT card for food, or use your TANF money to purchase your alcohol, tobacco, and to gamble at Hollywood Slots, say thank you to me cuz I work hard so you can scam the system.

Hardworkingmom...WOW. You may know this ONE person but once again let me assure you - you are taking your opinion of HER and adding thousands of others who use their tanf checks to buy warm coats and boots for their babies while they wear ratty old coats that they have had for YEARS because they put their kids first...or the ones who can only afford ONE fan in the summer and put it in their baby's room because she wants him to be comfortable while he sleeps....I know these people too...I was one.

"If you don't like the rules of housing, I have to agree with the others move your lazy but out and support yourself, and every time you use your EBT card for food, or use your TANF money to purchase your alcohol, tobacco, and to gamble at Hollywood Slots, say thank you to me cuz I work hard so you can scam the system."

Maybe its time we get off of our high horses...with our economy the way it is we are ALL teetering on the edge of finding out what we would do in that situation.

And my last comment of the day...as you all I am sure are aware...buying a home right now is not such an easy task, loans are next to impossible and the homes available in the area (when I was looking a year and a half ago) were the pits! Again I will say MY family was paying $700/month to live in housing which is higher then my mortgage. Yes its everything included but it was far from FREE rent!

JUDGEMENTAL DAMN SKIPPY! I think some of us have earned the right to be. Most of us realize that many people receiving these benefits don't abuse them but common... We also are not blind. I work in a place where I see people that really need help and can't get it and I see the people coming in that abuse the system. THE ABUSERS ARE THE ONES I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. THEY DO NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IF WE LET THEM KEEP AT IT THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T ABUSE IT AND REALLY NEED THE HELP!!

It's hard to believe that their are so many mean-spirited comments on this blog. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that we are to love each other as we love ourselves.....and when we don't love ourselves...it is impossible to love to others. Good luck to the plaintiffs in this suit. BHA exists to serve others; not itself.

Well Rev, smme of us subscribe to Ben Franklin's point of View when he said "God helps those who help themselves".

agalwhoreads why don't you make a call and help the angencies put a stop to those you know are screwing the system? That is one way to help stop it.

Mom2Jake00 not true for those who qualify for FHA or FMHA loans Maine State Housing Loans.... those loans are booming right now! They are for the lower income people!

Rev: typical narrow minded ness.... Look at the history Rev...use to be a time when America was all about giving, but the govt over the years has taken so much from the American worker...who the hell Can give anymore. We've seen the rich get richer...the poor get more plentiful and the society age....but the working class is still there to support them all. Well the time has come to start weeding out the abusers...and stopping Stealing so much from the backbone of America...its Working class. "Mean Spirited"...get a clue Rev...peolpe are P..ssed Off.

I am sure we all WISH we could pay only 30% of our income for our house payment and utilities. Ladies, many of us pay 10x that for heating oil and you want us to pay for your extra usage too? Come on, $360 and $118. You could make that at minimum wage in a few days.

Sorry Rev Gerald. I do love myself and my family...I don't love others who abuse the system and make it harder for those who really need to use it to get the help they need!!!! I don't love those people I have waited on in the grocery store who buy food in one order w/ food stamps and then buy cigarettes and alcohol w/ cash. I don't love those that keep bringing children into this world when they can't afford to support themselves. I would loved to have had more than 1 child myself...but I knew we would struggle to support them and send them to school, so we stopped after one. I don't condemn those who fall onto hard times and need help to get back on their feet. If you find me mean spirited than so be it. If Our Lord JEsus Christ wants to condemn me for these feelings than I guess I will have to deal with this on my reckoning day....but until then I will continue to have these feelings. And just for the record my family had to live in assisted housing when I was a teenager. My father retired from the Marine Corp after 25 years of service. He moved us back here to be closer to our extended family. He couldn't find a job making more than minimum wage. He need to support 4 children...one of whom had just started college. At that time for whatever reason kids in my grade were bussed over to the east side of the city to what was then Garland Street Junior high. I know all to well how it feels to be singled out not only as the new kid, but the one who lived in public housing while my classmates were all children of doctors, lawyers and the like. I carried that stigma with me until the day I graduated from high school.

My father graduated from Husson college with a business degree.....He was almost 60 by then. My siblings have all gone on to lead very productive and successful lives and none of us have ever had to rely on gov't assistance.

Scrappygirl, now that I've done a little research on food stamps I can tell you that those people you are referring to who are buying alcohol and cigarettes with cash are doing so because they aren't allowed to pay for them with food stamps. And if that is still somehow abhorrent to you, then you need to talk to all the people commenting on the food stamps article who say they're not saying low-income people should be barred from buying soda, just not with food stamps. Personally I'm horrified that they have to pay cash for toothpaste, but food stamps can only be used to buy food.

anne of mdi....I'm not sure exactly what your post means. I have worked in a grocery store for over 20 years...so I've seen the food stamp abuse first hand.

So yes, this is abhorrent to me. You don't find it somehow distressing that people need to rely on public assistance...ie foodstamps...to purchase food....but can somehow come up with the cash to buy cigarettes and alcohol????? I guess I'm just mean spirited!!!! And for the record.....if they buy enough soda or other items with the bottle deposit...then they can turn those bottles in for cash and buy there toothpaste with that!!!!! Again...I don't condemn those that need the help...but sorry...I don't have pity for those who don't seem to want to help themselves.

Scrappygirl I understand that being a supermarket cashier makes you an expert on people's shopping habits. I think there's a possibility that the customer is using food stamps to buy food for the children, and buying cigarettes and alcohol with the cash from the bottle returns.

.

see their you go assuming again. I was a human resource manager. Also...I don't claim to be an expert on peoples shopping habits. And I'm not saying that they aren't buying food for their children.

"Mom2Jake00 not true for those who qualify for FHA or FMHA loans Maine State Housing Loans.... those loans are booming right now! They are for the lower income people! "

Yes that is how we got our loan...that doesnt, however, magically "poof" afforable houses. When we were house hunting after being approved for a FHA loan we looked at MANY homes that were in our price range (a very typical price range for a family of 4) that should have been tore down to the foundation. It would have cost thousands more to make them liveable. I am not trying to say there arent choices for people or there arent people who are takers...I am just so sick of the GOOD people all over our world who are chastised because of getting assitance. By no means is the "system" perfect and unfortunately the "bad apples" ruin it for all of those who use it for what it is there for...Perhaps there should be random drug tests given to people who get assistance. I would have been fine with that while we were there. I DO agree if you can pay for drugs and alcohol you are taking that money from your children's needs...just enough already with the "I am so tired of PAYING for ALL of those DEADBEAtS and MOOCHERS..." comments...its juvenile.

Nevermind Anne scrappygirl, she is famous for not being able to make a coherent argument. It appears that she just found out that you can't buy booze and smokes with cigarettes. I wonder how much time she spent researching until she came to that conclusion. By the way Anne, I've finally figured out where I'm gonna move, are you sitting down? MDI, yes that's right sweetheart, gonna find out where you live, buy a chunk of land, set up my1956 mobile home right next door, tie my Rotti right out front, bring a couple junk cars down to put up on blocks and let stray cats live in em, burn my trash in a barrell on days that the wind is blowing your way, and come over every morning to talk politics. kay?

Really boogyman? I guess you didn't see my apology to you posted yesterday. Too bad.

so..back to the subject at hand....

THESE ARE FACTS !!!!

Open windows in the winter, air conditioners in the summer...

I drive down Griffin Rd everyday to and from work, it burns my Butt to see windows and fans, BOX Fans blowing out when it is 20 degrees out...

one day alone I counted 11 windows open, 6 of them had fans.. this is so they can smoke insides in the winter...

I have Photos of the open windows, Box Fans and 15 degrees out. Theses were going to bangor housing authority and the city of bangor, I think now is good time to send them out.....

Also lets talk about the Cable, DSL (internet) and Cell Phone bills, satalite dish, beer, and drugs the welfare have......

I USE AN ANTENNA, Our house works 4 jobs so we can have what we have......

Thanks Boogyman....I was beginning to wonder about Anne. I just assumed that EVERYONE knew you couldn't buy acohol and cigs w/ food stamps. It just seems weird to me that tax paying citizens don't have a problem supporting people w/ food stamps who apparently have no problems feeding their other habits!!! This was the point I was trying to make.

We need not a revolution

Only to kill all the lawyers

attributed to Shakespear

--that's Shakespeare --- SP./!

Mom2Jake00:

First of all, read all the comment, I did say in one of my comments, that I do realize that there are some who live in housing that are deserving and are not abusers of the system, HOWEVER, there are more that are just the opposite, I have worked for several small convience stores in my 48 years, and I can tell you with certainty that there is definate abuse of the system, and that those who DO NOT ABUSE THE SYSTEM are few and far between. I have been a single mother since I was 34 and raising 2 children on my own, worked two jobs just to make ends meet and then sometimes they didn't. And where my comment was directed at the one person in the article I know, you have no right to say I am not being fair, please read my first comment where I state that I believe that most of the tenants of the Housing Authority are definately entitled. I have never once in any comment said ALL WHO LIVE IN HOUSING ARE SCAMMERS AND ABUSE THE SYSTEM. So, before you chastize me, PLEASE READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

agalwhoreads, if you know of someone abusing the system turn them in, I do, it is anonymous and it does get looked into.

Here, Here MOM@2Jake00. When you see the abuse day after day it makes it difficult not to be hardened. And I do feel that for those in need. I currently provide care for a child of a young couple and charge them a fraction of the cost of what regular providers charge simply because I love children and this couple is so sweet and trying to take care of themselves and their child. So I really take exception to the fact when people refer to me as mean spirited and high and mighty. I also work a FT job and another pt job and still struggle to pay the bills everymonth. In fact my FT job is in the financial industry. Everyday I wonder if I still have a job.

Maine needs a realistic cost of living wage hike! If this state wants us to believe that people are dying to get into their 2 room appartments, they will sell you the brooklyn bridge along with it. The fact is people cannot AFFORD a decent rent never mind a home in this state. All new home building is for 300,000.00 plus. Who are they selling them to??? Surely not Mainers. Minimum wage should be at 18.00 per hour by now in this day and age.

Your congressionals are pulling the wool over your eyes. Of course it is the holiday season ... isn't that always the time they wait to throw bombshells at you. Merry Christmas to you too.

mariahstorm I am not sure what planet you live on but look at the Real Estate Ads- the median home sales price in the 2 counties is under $210,000 and lessening everyday with the foreclosure homes available. You can buy a modular home package many times for much less! We are not saying that EVERYONE in these housing units are to blame SOME are.... 18/hr would be outrageous form Min wage. My husband has 19 years at his job and 2 college degrees and he doean't make that an hour! Why should a person at McDonalds make that much?

Hmmm let's drive through capehart in the dead of winter or how about today..Let's count the number of windows that are open even a crack! We hard working tax payers are having a difficult time paying for our OWN oil these winters. It angers me when I have to choose between groceries and oil, both are necessities MY children need and I am forced to choose between the two. All the while certain capehart NON working parents are paying a mere 100.00 a month in rent with ALL utilities included! Let's see what they drive for a car? Hmmm Most of them drive cars that their payments are 3x the amount of their rent.. These people need to get off their rear ends and stop taking from the hard working families whom have their own children to support. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people living in housing that ARE working and DO support their children's needs, I personally know quite a few whom works their butts off and just can't catch a break. I myself lived in housing 14 years ago for a short time, I worked 2 jobs and went to college to better myself for my family and to be able to support them on my own. I know own my home through hard work and envy those whom do not have to pay for utilities for it is a sad day when you choose between oil and food..I personally am as well as so many other Maine people fed up with the welfare system providing these people with every necessity on my tax dollars while they sit on their butts not doing a dang thing to benefit themselves to benefit their children. Get off your butt, get an education, get a job and get out on your own and see what the real world is like for the rest of us middle class close to poverty home owners with children..When it costs you 4000.00 in oil to heat your home at 4.50 a gallon for the winter..Then you complain...These women are worried about 100 to 300 dollars??? I am worried sick and scared to death of the winter to come for my children...They should think of my children the next time their heat is on 70 degrees and their kitchen window is open..Remember my children and my home where every window is closed from October to April, every window has a hair dryer plastic sheet covering it to prevent any leaking of heat and my thermostat is on 62 all winter..Cold or not..I'm embarassed to live in the State of Maine...We pride ourselves on the welfare collecting unmarriesd single mothers of 4 and the fact they have no desire to better their lives for their children's future...Way to go State of Maine!!!

I hope that Bangor Housing get sued beacause they dont care about their tenants, All they do is try anything to get ur money. The little things they change you for it. People are in low income houseing for a reason. They cant afford all the little things or heatting fuel. All houseing wants is your money. Some of you said that pople abuse the system. Well that many be true but in some cases thats not what some people are doing, I am sure that some poeple to but you cant say that everyone is doing that, You cant judge other people. People have a right to stand up for themselves and say something. People have the right to fight things like this.

okay kaydensmom..aka..Amanda Black! You need to stop having kids with different men and maybe you will get ahead someday!!

dandlmom, you should respect other people's anonymity. Don't play the self-appointed judge and jury.

It's interesting that a vast majority of people leaving the nastiest of comments like to hide behind an anonymous screen name.

To clarify one thing, I am not commenting on Bangor housing Authorities "over charging" For I clearly remember how they over charged me 14 years ago.I remember one instance where I dropped a make up cap in the sink and it got stuck in the drain hole, maintenance came and pounded a screwdriver through the cap and pulled it out..took them 2 minutes and I got a bill for 25.00 for the removal of the cap..I also remember I was working 2 jobs and going to college and had a 1 year old, we had a major snow storm that day, I didn't get off work until 9pm and I went home knowing what lied ahead, the shoveling of my driveway..I get there fully prepared to shovel and find it had been plowed! I mistakenly thought that it was a good samaritan who had felt bad for me or that my father had paid someone to come do it...Mistake...2 days later I got a bill for 75.00 from housing for plowing my drive for I had not done so in a timely manner... Those my dear are unfair over charges.....First thing you need to do...Tom morning would be a great day to star..get in your car, drive to EMCC get an application, fill it out and get yourself started on an education plan...Get a part time job and utilize financial Aide...I would rather the tax dollars deducted from my paycheck and my husband paycheck each week go to people whom are TRYING to better themselves....I am sick and tired of my tax dollars being spent for people to sit on their ass waiting for the mail man to being their foodstamps so they can buy junk, waiting for the mailman to briing their welfare check so they can go buy their ciggy butts and twisted tea's!!! Get an education and hget a job and learn to be COST EFFECTIVE to us TAX PAYING CITIZENS whom are making it possible for you to live in low income housing! Close your damn windows, keep your doors closed, turn your thermostat down, wrap up in a blanket or even TWO like my children do! Stop being wastefull of the ementities provided to you FREE OF CHARGE!!! Then you come back and complain about your measly 100 to 300 dollars! You have a lot of time you are spending on the internet writing posts about your story.......You could be out and about preparing your future for your children!

hardworkingmom & pcme2000: They have been reported. Guess what happens? The boyfriend moves out for a few weeks. When the coast is clear and BHA is satisfied with the answer of "he moved out," he moves back. I know this has happened more than one. Broken system. But the rest of us work day in and day out and pay for our lives. I'm happy with myself and my life.

25 bucks to unclog a sink? That's not bad at all. Call a plumber, I bet they charge at least $60.00.

agalwhoreads: You are so right, anyway to get something for nothing is the motto of "some" of these people...learn to finagle the State, ask their friends how they did it, get pointers and move forward with their ability to sluff the tax payers pockets..The system is broken and until people start to speak forth about it our tax dollars will be wasted on people whom are wastefull....No one here is commenting on the Housing Authority, we are all commenting on our frustration with the system and the ones whom abuse it. They think it is unfair they had to pay 100.00 for oil for ALL winter...Pitty them...I paid 4k to heat my home last year and there is no one to REIMBURSE me!

I am not a person to speak out in anyway but when I read this arcticle this morning I was fed up. I am not judgmental, I am not coldhearted, I am a wonderful person whom has hit hard times myself, I felt horrible when I hit hard times all those years ago, I felt bad about myself, I knew I had one option, get my rear in school get an education and get a job no matter how hard it would be...I never recieved AFDC of Food Stamps...I recieved Wic and supplemental childcare costs and that was embarrassing enough! What ever happened to the State of Maine's plan to only allow AFDC for 2 children for 5 years? What ever happened to forcing mothers to work with the Aspire program to get an education or training tools?

What a wastefull way to spend my tax dollars the government takes away from my children on a weekly basis so it can provide food stamps to buy junk food, maine care to fix the rotten teeth from the junk food the food stamps paid for, AFDC to buy cigarettes and alcohol, and housing for those whom have a secret live in and can't learn to close the dang windows in the dead of winter....I'm frustrated with those whom abuse...And I am sorry for the ones who DON'T for they feel ridiculed and ashamed and judged..All at the hands of the ones whom like to have something for nothing...Sad..Very Sad!

Im sure they would Mr. boogy man..It was 14 years ago...Not yesterday...I 've owned my own home for almost 10 years now and am my own plumber thanks!

The more I hear about bangor Housing here the more I like them. It seems that they don't put up with any crap. They should not. Like I said before, if they were not strict on the residents, the place would be a slum. On the rare occasion when I have to go over that way, I am fairly impressed with how neat the place (on the outside anyway). Ever been to a government housing comples in a big city? First of all, you don't go in unless your are packing heat. Then it looks like a war zone, garbage, junk cars, grafitti. Real bad. That's what happens if you just let people who have no investment in the place go in and do their own thing. Unfortunately, they can't do unannounced inspections, those do gooder lawers and Peace and Justice people would be screaming. Go ask someone in the Millitary how many times they are subjected to random searches of thier public housing, Yup, they bring in dogs, make them open up all of their drawers, look above the ceiling tiles. They call them Health and Welfare inspections. Why should the good men and women serving their country be subjected to that and someone living on public assistance not be? What about random drug testing? My employer can do it, the Military can do it, truck drivers are subjected to it.

agalwhoreads, all I can say is to keep hounding the powers that be, when the boyfriend moves out and then moves back in, let whom ever you talk to know that this is what is happening, eventually they will get caught. I must say it has taken me several calls to get someone to listen. This is when you should be writing to your Senators, Congressman, and of course our wonderful (haha) Governor with the complaints. Don't stop at just one call or letter. I know it is frustrating and believe me sometimes I think that it would be better to just let them continue to scam, but perserverance pays. Good luck to you and your family in the future.

Must be nice to have someone else pay your bills and then complain about it. Makes me mad that my taxes go to idiots like this.

The whole point in all of this is the simple fact that people whom are not responsible for paying their own bills or heating costs are wastefull and until they are like the rest of us whom have to pay for our oil to keep our children warm and put off a week or 2 of groceries to do so..They will never understand the concept. If I were in congress the first thing I would do is place something in effect to FORCE these people off of assistance...Like I said no one reimbursed me anything towards the 4000.00 I spent in heating costs last year while the oil companies walked away with billions in profit!

So many of us hard workng people/parents are doing our very best to provide for our families and I feel it to be very unfortunate that wastefull peole want to complain. I have worked for the same place for 13 years, my better 1/2 has worked for his employer for 10 years, I now work 2 jobs, I have my regular job I go to as soon as he walks through the door I have to leave, I work every weekend for it's 1.50 incentive per hour and it leaves no family time for my children! I now work a 2nd job during the day while the kids are in school and he is at work...I soooooo wish I could sit in my ass for one day and do nothing, have no worries about how I am going to feed my children or keep them warm..I so wish I didn't have to tell my kids when they say they are cold to put on a sweatshirt and grab another blanket.....To these 2 women who filed this idiotic suit...Suck it the hell up and think about others instead of yourselves for once...One good thing about them sitting on their ass all day sucking up our tax dollars...They get quality time with their children...Something I long for....

i live in bangor housing and i know one of the girls in the law suit. And i agree that some people out here abuse the system i do want to defend the housing authority on one issue when you call the maintenance office to do a repair exspecially with the heating is concerned they come out in a timely manner because i have had furnace issues and i have never gotten charged for over usage i do think they could allow you to put plastic up to the windows for thier benefit and the tenants benefit and we are not all just sitting out here and being lazy some of us have worked on our credit like me who is hopeful to buy a house in 2010 with my boyfriend and not all the children are fatherless out here or being raised by single parents and not all of us allow our children to run the capehart we are not all on public assistance and some of us pay $600 to $700 a month but there are alot of people on welfare and i agree that it needs to be reformed my children have a great father and very strict rules

Why does BDN never do a story a married couple with three kids, making a combined income of 60K a year not collecting any federal assistance? They have it tough too.

I've been a grocery store cashier.....do you have any idea how much it really Pssss someone off to work their butt off and then have someone come in and buy LOBSTER on food stamps? And I can hardly afford the rent and heat I pay on my own. Give me a break! Help the people who really need it and then FIX THE SYSTEM!!!! There are people who are certainly willing to work but just need a helping hand. However, if they work too many hours, all their help gets cut off before they can really stand on their own two feet. Yes there are too many people who take advantage of us and have babies just to "make more money"....shut them off and help the people who really want to help themselves.

First off I would like to say that Bangor Housing Authority as of this fall came into all the units and recalibrated the thermostats so that they cannot be set past 70 degrees. I'm not siding with these women because I have seen first hand people leaving windows and doors open when it is freezing out. This year they also sent out notices stating if you leave your storm door open or a window open you will receive one warning and then after that you will be charged $50 per time. I agree with all they are doing to try and conserve energy.

I think some of you people are disgusting to say all these hateful things about people living in Capehart.

I moved here 1 year ago, My husband of 10 years decided he liked his girlfriend better and quit his excellent paying job to move to Florida with his lover. I think he lost his mind. I was left in our home with the mortgage and all the bills. I could not afford the home and he didn't want it so he put it up for sale. I was forced to move out because I could not afford to support my 2 children living there. I had no other choice but to move here. He is now unemployed or working under the table in Florida to avoid paying child support.

I work full time at an area nursing home and attend school part time for nursing. I am doing everything I possibly can to better my life as well as my childrens.

The state says I make too much to receive tanf. So for now this is all I can afford. I pay $700 a month for my rent granted that does include all my utilities. I can not afford daycare for my children so I work odd hours so my friends and family can babysit. So you see not everyone living in Capehart is sucking off the state. I work hard for the things I have but it is still not enough for me to go anywhere else. I have looked for apartments in the area and for a nice place I cannot afford it.

I do everything housing asks of me because I am grateful they are helping me. As long as you follow their rules there is no problem. I don't even use my outside light or keep any lights on at night because you can get in trouble for that too.

For those of you who think anyone getting assistance should have drug tests, I agree with you completely! I know some people living around me could not pass a test. But I for one would pass with flying colors.

For example I have a neighbor who works 20 hours a week to keep her from doing community service at a job where she gets minimum wage. She gets all the benefits from the state while she sits on her rear end hanging out with her boyfriends all day long. Some of which she moves in but does not report it. Her childcare is basically free. She pays $100 a month in rent. Claims she doesn't get child support but she gets $200 a week for her ex. She has a brand new car and her car payment is almost $400 a month! But Housing nor the State looks into these things. If she is only getting the income she claims how could she possibly afford this new car? Seriously think about it! I have a car that gets me back and forth to work and school. It's nothing special and is not new.

I'm doing everything I can to try and move out but it is just not possible at this time...For now I'll have to listen to all the rude comments about people living in Capehart are lazy and drug addicts...blah blah blah....But I know I am not. And maybe if you hear my story you will know there are others just like me.

Sounds like you've def. had it rough MomInMaine...You're absolutely correct, not everyone in Capehart is lazy and drug addicts. A guy in my unit out at the base lives there and he obviously doesnt do drugs(hence we get drug tested frequently), and he's not lazy by any means, working full time at the base. I have faith the State will crack down on this, especially with the economic turmoil we are encountering. Good luck to you and your finances, MomInMaine.

It still amazes me that people who live in low income housing always have better cars than working people, eat better than people who work, and also can afford the internet to also write comments on here with us working people. Does this mean that being poor gets you more than a working person? Sure seems that way. I personally wouldn't want to live with the humiliation of trying to milk the system. The people living in low income housing that DO work and do try to get ahead are hurt by those few who do nothing but try to get everything for nothing. I applaud those who are trying to make ends meet and trying to get a better life for themselves and their children. Everyone has ups and downs in life but to sit and do NOTHING as it seems some are doing in capehart is the same all across america. You have people like that everywheres and those few are the ones giving the others a bad name. I also agree that the people living in low income housing or receiving benefits should have drug tests. Alot of jobs require that, and if you aren't working--you should have nothing to hide (or supposedly can't afford)--so have mandatory drug tests. That will probably never happen but I bet it would clear out alot of losers if they did do that. I have yet to work at any job where a drug test is not part of the course. (CNA work, school bus driver, and now semi driver). I also don't know how anyone can afford to smoke cigarettes at the prices that they are and NOT have a job. That is taking away from the children that the money is supposed to be spent on. I grew up in Maine & now live elsewhere but its the same all over the place. The few who abuse it ruin it for the ones who desperately need it.

I am a hardworking person. The only reason I have the internet is because I need to for my school work. It was too hard to get the the library during their hours as I work full time and attend school part time. I'm not living here for free or sitting around doing nothing! I'm trying to better myself to get out of this place.

I can bet I DO NOT have a better car then you. My heat barely works. The car doesn't run all the time. It has damage to it. It probably will not pass inspection next month. Sometimes I am left asking a friend for a ride. But I'm not complaining this is all I can do right now. I'm giving it my best and it just isn't good enough.

Also at my job I had to take a drug test to be hired. I also believe they can give me random tests but I'm not sure. Either way I would still have my job!

TO ALL LIVING IN CAPEHART WHO ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. I apoligize if I have offended you. Some of my comments may seem that they are directed to at everyone that lives there, they are not. I have read all of the posts from people living there and struggling to make a better life for themselves, they are heartfelt, and my hats off to you for all you do. To me, you are the people that the system was originally intended for. It has unfortunately been stetched and manipulated beyond recognition to the point that many who really need a helping hand can't get it. My frustration is with those who clearly are in it for a free ride, have no intention of ever doing anything but getting all they can for nothing and giving nothing back. My anger comes from the fact that they are robbing thier own children of a future by doing so. Their kids will never know the pride and empowerment that comes with self reliance. They wiil never know what potential they have within themselves, and I am sure that there is a lot of wasted potential there. They are going to learn from their parents actions, th government can have all the programs it wants, but parents are the ultimate role models for their kids. It is a tragedy, and I don't know what the answer is, but I really don't like the fact that my tax dollars support that. I am not for random searches of people homes, no matter where they live, however, I do think that drug testing should be mandatory for people living in public housing for no other reason than the safety of all the residents, you get one chance, then the second one you are gone, no more nothing, and if you can't make it on your own, then your kids go to foster care until you can.

MominMaine, if I could, I'd personally track down your ex and cut his nuts off with a rusty knife. You did not deserve that.

HOW DARE SOME OF YOU PEOPLE THROW STONES AT ME.!!! Half or more of you hard working tax payers get everything you payed for the year back in taxes. Hey, guess what? I am living in capehart. You know how I got here? WELL YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT! I had very bad parents whom I left thier house at 16 years old. I gopt a job and went to school. I payed my own rent. I was not pregnant and then I managed a cna class and worked in it for 12 years-double shifts and a part time job on the weekends with a home health care facility. I was married and had a child whos father worked in a high paying job with dmv and gave cpr classes for the red cross and was a volunteer firefighter and emt. DOES MY LIFE SOUND CLASSY ENOUGH TO YOU SO THAT I AM NOT 'CAPEHART SCUM' so.....I divorce3d my husband couse he beat our son up from his loss of priorities (as you know, he was busy trying to be something special so people wouldn't call him 'capehart scum" So I left him. I then met my youngest sons dad who died while my son was a baby. Oh, by the way, I did try things again for my sons sake with his dad but when I did, his dad was going to take his paramedics course and I had spent a year trying to and finially getting excepted into an lpn course. I kept my priorities straight though and wrote one letter declining my exceptance so that one of us would be able to raise the son we had. well, things didn't work out and I left with the child. You see, he got the nice paying job and everyone thinks he is all shiney and stuff and I got the child and all that gosx with it. My youngest sons father died and I ended up here. I worked my butt off to raise my son and I went on tanf for about 5 monthes to which I paid it all back. I am now on dissabuility. I suppose you would say I am scum for this also...I got news for you. I worked till I broke so my children would not be like the type of person you say I am. My rent is 569.00 a month here in housing and I recieve 14 dollars in food stamps. I have picked peoples trash to furnish my home and sewn my own blankets, curtains pillows-yes...making the pillow stuffing from a couch I found beside the road that I cut open the arm to make pillows. I once took canned food from a trash after checking that it was sealed so me and my children could eat. I walked to church every sunday with my young son and baby in all weather conditions every sunday and wednesday. I remember sitting on my knees and crying out to God that I was trying and I needed a pair of shoes becouse mine stunk in church and I was so embarrassed. one of you richer people rode by me once in a nice big new expensive truck and splashed muddy water in my babies face and I stood there wiping off his face and crying. I walked the roads for cans and bottles so my children could have some candy that your children take for granted. I adjustred clothes by hand for my children and I that we bought at yard sales and while I went through all this and more...much more, I managed to help others by once paying a womans rent who had two small children and tithing my 10 percent to the church just as God expected only I payed in cash couse what's the sense in using your tithe reciept to get money back...what is that a refund from God. I bought groceries for a neighbor who had no food once and babysitted others children for free becouse they couldn't afford to lose thier job. YOU ALL BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT CAPEHART RESIDENTS BECOUSE IT COULD BE YOU WHO NEEDS MY HELP NEXT. There are people here in capehart who make a difference in others lives. What have you done to help others lately besides go to work and look nice in church? GOD DOES SEE! you may call me capehart scum but as God is my witness, I am not.

I as well resent the comment headline made by bangor daily news that a "FORMER CAPEHART RESIDENT" was picked up for child molestation. when the police pick up a child molester on essex st. or hammond st. or any other neighborhood, they don't mention it like capehart is full of this kind of stuff. I am both insulted and outraged. The fact i9s, there are molesters from rich neighborhoods and people who use the system in rich neighborhoods.

My comment on housing athority is this... I am thankful for the help and try to keep costs down. housing athority is timely in answering problems with the units here and some do abuse the system unkindly just as some r5ich do. These apartment5s are often cold and I do have my windows closed. My heat is set at 66 though my lease states it must be at 65. The heat kicks on when the temp falls to 64. I and my children not only wear sweaters but huddle in blankets. None of this seems unreasonable to me as if the housing athority cannot afford to throw money away or others like myself cannot be helped if thier budget crashes. Being uncomfortable isn't nearly as bad as being without.

yumyumthemonkeyqueen..yah...ok.

Maybe BHA units should not include heat. It would then be up to the tenant as to where they choose to put the thermostat.

Actually the lease states not to go past 69 degrees. And the thermostats are adjusted so they cannot go past 70

But MomInMaine, My point was that the rent would not include "heat". It would be up to the tenant to pay for the fuel.

That comment was not directed to you sandih sorry! I was letting yumyumthemonkey know that she was wrong.

I think one month of paying our own heat would wake some people up and make them do things to help with heating costs.

toyummyumthemonkeyqueen=(strange tag name)II guess of the other half of Capehart residents who DO NOT try to help themselves but continues to suck of the teet of the freebies: city of bangor, state of maine, etc........the folks that I know of don't work, don't want to work, instead they get the baby assembly line going with having one child after the other and no means to support them so they go on the "roles" and obtIain all of the freebies out there that one can find....all the while having a male adult living in the subsidized housing earinng an income which is not included in the household income----under the table so to speak...so the bennies keep coming as well as well as the fatherless children keep coming. I say the state needs to impose an expection of what the state can and will do......go into those subsudized an check out the living arrangements--check out how much money is coming into that household,,,,,,,,how much work is being done "under the stable" you will then find massive abuse of the taypayers money....get in there and clean it out.

The initial rent would be adjusted lower because of the extra cost of fuel that the tenant would be liable to pay.

And maybe the "ones" who abuse the heating, would be more conscious of the cost that they would be paying for.

*Mominmaine You should be very proud of yourself. I don't even know you and I am proud of you. As for you ex I would happily join boogeyman on hunting him down to cut off his pride. Keep your chin up, your doing great things for your children and yourself.

*yumyumthemonkeyqueen all i can say is God Bless you. I am truly sorry for your hard times. I know how it feels to have to scronge to take care of your children. Does your son's dad pay child support or even help you with your son? Also have you looked into seeing about survivor benefits for your baby?

Mominmaine...I feel you are a shining example for these 2 women who filed this suit. None of the comments on this arcticle were directed towards people like you trying to make a difference in your life with what you have. You are showing your children that hard work and strength through tough times will make you a stronger person. I ended up in capehart when I was pregnant in 1994 after my childs father went on a week vacation and disappeared to not be found until my son was 2 yrs old, unfortunatly he had suffered a brain injury and had been in a hospital several states away. I was left alone with a baby, in college full time and no outside support. I like you did what I had to do, I drove a beat up subaru I couldn't wash for the hose put holes in it..yet it got me to and from work and school. I was fortunate enough to have motivation, determination and strength all of wich are worth more than anything money can buy! I saved every penny I had, I used income tax to pay off student loans in order to keep my credit in good standing so someday I could buy a home of my own. So please don't take offense to the things I have said, they were not directed to those working hard towards a future like yourself...I tried to make that clear but I think I failed in doing so. Good luck to you and your children and keep in mind that someday you will be on your feel again and with determination and strength you will always succeed...

To yum yum...You have no clue to what you are talking about..Let me clue you in..My husband had 8000.00 taken out in taxes in 2007..his tax return was 980.00 so lets see 7020.00 went to the State of Maine,,,,,I had 5000.00 taken our in taxes in 2007 and my tax return wasn't even a 1/4 of what they took even after earned income credit! Let's see..The State of Maine's property tax rebate for people like us that promises a return of overpaid taxes...Well lemme tell ya this, we paid 3000.00 in property taxes and recieved 105.00 for a refund!!!! NOW I know personally several people 2 of wich live in low income housing who filed a return for renters rebate...THEY LIVE IN HOUSING and got a refund 5X the amount we got!!! You say us tax payers have no right to complain because we get it refunded back?? I guess you are not a tax payer yet!! Or maybe you are one of those whome make 5000.00 in an entire year but get a refund of 6000.00 for EIC and all the other benefits low income people recieve!! Gimme a break...

Oh..Yum Yum... You know what it's like to have to return bottles on Sunday afternoon so your kids have lunch money for Monday morning??????? We can't even get REDUCED lunch!! Try having to pay the Bangor School Dept 106.00 a month for lunch for 2 kids!! My husband works his ass off 6 days a freakin week, I work 2 jobs and we never see eachother because we PAY OUR OWN WAY!! Try opening your paycheck and they took almost 1/2 of what you made for taxes and then stand in line at the grocery store behind someone buying JUNK with FOODSTAMPS!!!!

Call us "RICH" people..hahahah what a joke...We have what we have because we work for it, and for your information miss yum yum...father in law is a pstor, we run food banks on Friday's to help the less fortunate, my son spent 9 weeks in LA after Hurricane Katrina with his father and grandfather helping the unfortunate and providing them with food clothing and water as well as prayer!! So yeah, we help anyone we can anytime we can! If you aren't screwing the sytem...don't take offense to other's statments...Our statments are for those screwing the system through our hard earned money!

You just gotta love this statement made by Portland attorney Rufus Brown along with Maine Equal Justice Partners, an Augusta group that represents low-income residents, filed the lawsuit. “One of the most important things for the judge to consider is that with the surcharge, they were charged for consumption that was beyond their control,” he said. “They were not informed about how much oil they had consumed in the past. If they had been informed as they went along about how much oil they were using, they might have been able to take steps to conserve oil.”

To me and I am sure that everyone else would agree that this statement should NOT have been made. The consumption of oil was beyond their control or how much oil they used, or they "MIGHT" have been able to take steps to conserve oil. They knew and know exactly how much "oil" consumption they used and they also knew and know the steps to take to conserve oil. KEEP YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED WHILE YOUR HEAT IS ON!!!!!Have you ever heard the question while growing up, "were you brought up in a barn" which meant by leaving the door open behind you as you came in on a cold fall day or even a colder winters day. I own my own home and I have to remind my kids (who by the way are teenagers) that I NEVER brought them up in a barn, so therefore, they need to keep the door shut behind them. I am not complaining of the excessive use of oil as we have to pay for it ourselves. We do NOT get public assistance to pay for our oil. They, I am sure had parents to let them know that you just cant let the heat go out the window, because it costs to much to heat the outside! They are adults with children and they should know by experience as their names are on the lease to keep their homes warm for their children. Not crank the heat to whatever it suits them at the time and then go open a window because it got too hot in there. If you have to add extra clothing to keep warm, then take some of those layers off when it does get to hot. You dont just go over and open the door or window to let that heat escape. Turn on a fan INSIDE your home if it gets to hot, dont put it in the window, and when the fan helps to cool it off some, turn off the fan but leave the thermostat at 70. You should feel lucky to be able to have your heat set at such a high number. We have to keep ours no higher then 66/67 and it is still cold in here. So we convert to what they call BLANKETS. As some people stated in here, if you are working, you do not qualify for much if any assistance. We both work, and when my fiancee' got hurt at work and had to go on Workers' Comp. in which you only get 80% of your pay, we could NOT get food stamps to help out with the cost of food that keeps rising on a daily basis. So therefore, we still had to do what we could to the best of our ability to split our money and put it where it was needed most. Food for meals, NOT JUNK at the local candy store....or munchies to have at night while watching tv.

I commend everyone, and I sure I am not the only one that does, who lives in Capehart that works, goes to school etc, in order to better themselves as well as the welfare of their children. It is extremely hard out there to raise children and to keep your head out of water just to survive. You will think and feel so better of yourselves that you are doing it all on your own and letting your children know that you will get somewhere in life by working hard and taking care of the children you create.

By the way, it does not just go towards Capehart for the parents who can work and choose not to work, but to all of the low-income housing parents everywhere. I know of a person who lives in "low-income housing" who is in a 3 bedroom, NO more kids at home, leases a brand new car every 2-3 yrs. and it looks like a condo on the inside. So there is more to "screwing" the system, and it is so irritating to see families who need the 3 bedrooms and cant because people with NO children, who are not disabled and are living there when they could have gotten a different apt. for themselves or bought their own home. It does have to start somewhere and maybe with all of these comments, just maybe, someone higher up will read them and think that something else has to be done. I think that the drug testing is a great idea, but the persons who would have to submit to them to live in low income housing will try to take that to court as it is a violation to them. But honestly, what would happen to all of the children to whom the parent tested positive? We cant afford to place them all in foster care, and I dont really feel as though it is the states responsibility to pay even more for someone else to take care of these kids. Something has to be done, though.

Hrdwkngmom-I believe I said "some of you" and "half or more of you hard working tax payers" I am sorry for your trials and tribulations. I think the maine point of my comments were that people can be judgemental of me when they have never walked in my shoes or many others. You see, I was once you and you could be me one day. I as well backed up bangor housing and these ladies with truth for both and said there are people who live in rich neighborhoods that are just as crafty. Craftiness holds no monetary boundries. Just immorality, stupidity and ignorance. I did not copme here to fight but to defend myself against "poverty racism" I just moved back into housing about 5 monthes ago so I did pay for my own heat last winter and I did pay my sojns lunches and did not recieve the 14 dollars in foodstamps or any other assistance what so ever.

mainah4eva-how about enacting a law that every female child at puberty in made to have a birthcontrol implant such as norplant or what ever? while I am at it- how about cutting off the sexual organs of child molesters or sewing them up? And how about locking two murderers in a room with out food for three days and then tossing in a sandwedge-see if they respect each others lives enough to share it.... just a thought.

so I really like dogs... and would love to have several of them. But I don't have the room, time and money to take care of them. Thus, I only assume responsiblity for the animals that I can afford. Makes sense. So this is directed specifically to those with no jobs, or with no money, or those with no MOTIVATION. Go to Wal-Mart and buy one of those family packs of condoms (ironic huh?) and USE them, and stop having children because I don't want to pay for them! It's bad enough to pay for you, bottom feeder. I don't want to pay for your baby. I don't want to pay for your labor and delivery, your prenatal care, your methadone (and associated costs of treating your drug addicted infant), your assisted living (like sweet-ass Capehart), your food stamps (btw, I saw a couple of healthy twenty somethings buy a gigantic shrimp platter today with FS. It was outstanding. Perhaps they like to celebrate being really SUCKY human-beings with a tasty shrimp cocktail... I could really go on and on. As I'm sure any person who pays taxes in the state of Maine (PS which is the 2nd highest (i'm fairly sure) in the country). It's funny... the people who can least afford to have children seem to always be pregnant. on a different not, but completely applicable to the discussion, Baldacci you SUCK. And another note, I can't wait for the day that you good-for-nothings have to do public works for the state to get your assistance. One more final note, while the article in the BDN is about Capehart specifically, this issue transcends public housing and two women trying to get all they can out of the system. The general attitude of the contributors

in this forum is that they're fed up with working hard and seeing their money (that they will never get back unless they have like 6 kids) going to people who are perfectly capable of getting a job and supporting themselves. People do it all the time. These systems are a crutch. So to everyone who is buying shrimp cocktail platters with my tax money... I hope you have some previously undiagnosed allergy that makes you swell up like a blow fish. Although... you'd just go to the hospital and rack up some giant bill from EMMC that the state can add to the hundreds of millions it already owes. But seriously bottom-feeders... mc-d is having walk-in interviews in old town this week. check it out.

I understand all the hububb. But you'll have to understand a couple of basic principles. First ,blogs like this is nothing more than water-cooler chit chat, or complaining to ourselves! - if u will. Second, if you want your message to be received, find the address of Ms. Seidel and Ms. Black and/or any of the 400 +/- tenants that are mooching off the people who actually work their a##$$#$es off, and send them a letter. But , be careful. some of you use words that are to big and complicated, and well constructed, but over the heads of the moochers. Words like free, discount, charity, handout, reduced, easy, leisure,welfare for life, redeam and"what about me" is where the succesful message will be well received. If you really want to learn how to get foodstamps, free childcare, free healthcare, free heat, schooling. and mileage reimbursement when you go to your doctor amongst other freebeeies-- come to Maine, or better yet join the well known popular group S.C.U.M. simple. cheap. useless. mammals.

Finally, in order for things to really change, the only thing that seems to work is to keep reporting these moochers to the powers that be. As more of the complaints come in and are investigated some of these low lifes will be forced out of their comfortable "free-gimme gimme" lives.

Just my two cents....a REAL hard worker in the state of Maine.

Nothing against welfare moms with kids from different men who bleed the system, but I noticed several replied on here. My old computer barely runs anymore, we all work in this home and yet, the welfare moms seems to have computers. Something is not right with the system. I worked with a woman and her last child was almost off wic, so she just had another. Endless cycle......generations.

I think that the state should start drug testing all those who are on any kind of welfare and then if they test positive pull thier money. This would save the state and all us taxpayers a whole lot of money!! I have seen the system abused way to much and most people who get state aide hae more than those of us who work. They enjoy all of our hard earned money. I say drug testing would cut welfare population in half and then the people who truly need it would be weeded out.

not all of us that live in housing get everthing for nothing and not all of have new computers because i have to pay for my food out of pocket and which is perfectly ok and i was totally ok with the letter that came from housing about the oil because i figure if i dont open the window and door i will be fine and so what if i had to pay extra for oil if i use it i should pay the extra amount for it because when i buy my house in 2010 i am going to have to its part of taking responabilityand like i said i know one of the girls in the lawsuit and i think that they lack responsibility for thier own actions because i lived here last winter and got a nice postcard from housing saying thank you for conseving the oil but there are alot of good people out here trying to better them selves but there are alot that abused the system . i am sorry that some of you feel that we are bottom feeders but some of us are trying to get out of here and stand on our own two feet. and in 2010 i will be one of those people..i do not agree with this law suit at all.

i live in bangor housing ,and i do watch how much i use in oil . i ask the delivery drive how much he put in my tank and try to not use much by turning my heat down when the chrilden or i am not home . i do put extra blankets on there beds . i keep my windows and doors shut . housing has to keep a lid on what goes on out hear . the only problem i have is the parent that have boyfriend that have good job and new auto and sleep here at night and sneek out in the morning before housing get around . i know of several who do this . housing needs to come around and check at 4am and see how many autos there is in the drive yard . and you can not make a complain unless you give your name . and housing does give you a chance to plow your yard and alway lets you know if it need to be done and give a notice if thay are going to plow it then self . it is for our own safety . if people think that can live some were else and not have to pay for oil then move . no one pays more then $700 a month for rent , were else can that live with as much as housing does for us . that do all our repairs . yes sometimes we have to pay a little for something , but try to do it if you live in your own home and see what you will pay out of your checks then . i am very happy living here . i keep my chrildren under control and do not run the street , we are usly in bed and in the house by 7 pm .

yumyumthemonkeyqueen - why dont you read what is written before taking it out of context! I never said that it should be a law, I only stated that it is a great idea, but there would be more issues following the fact that if it were in place and the parents were tested positive for drugs.....what would happen to the children???? You can lay off the birth-control issues here, as you are only stating.......WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL NOR THE CHILD MOLESTERS OR THE MURDERS....AND AS FAR AS THE CHILD MOLSTERS AND THE MURDERS GO......whatever happens to them, happens to them. It was their choice to do what they have done and to be where they are......so "YOUR" thought, maybe a good one, but NOT on the topic of wasting tax payers money to let the heat roll right out the window I hope you have an AWESOME day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The amazing comments from self-righteous folks who continue to judge others by protraying folks with a broad paint brush.

Welfare is 'bad' thus those who use welfare benefits are 'bad', free-loaders, or portrayed as the bottom feeders of society. It's so sad.

Well there are a few bad apples in every walk of life.

It’s like a local Pastor who goes to the mall and buys $ 20,000.00 worth of furnishings for the pastoral residence, using money given to their Church from members who work minimum wage jobs and give 10% of their income to ‘support’ the Pastor.

Now are all Pastors this cruel? No. Are all Churches this predatory towards its membership requiring 10% of incomes from members who can barley survive be diverted to ‘minister’ the flock? Of course not.

So some welfare recipients do ‘cheat’ in spending money given as a hand-up and some Pastors ‘cheat’ their members with life-styles beyond the means of the church they watch over, but both are in very, tiny small numbers.

There but for the grace of God go I.

The church comment is a bit different than welfare those people choose to give up their money to a pastor. I do NOT chose to give my money up for welfare the goverment takes it and tells me I am going to. I don't think everyone takes advantage but there are a whole lot of people who do. There are people who are barley getting by that work and the goverment takes a lot of taxes from them to help support welfare and make those people get by easier how is that fair??

mainah4ever, If these young girls had the implant then they wouldn't be aloud to get pregnant thus saving the tax payers dollars. As well as these girls lives and changing societies downhill turn toward young moms-who are still babies themselves. Not all people on welfare are on it for this reason but thier is an ourt of control tend toward this particular problem. Something does have to change. This discussion was suppose to be about heating in BHA but many used it to vent thier own financial hopelessness and it is becouse many things have gone wrong and a bandaid of taxpayers money has been applied. I say this not to say it is a small amount of money, but that welfare isn't working any more. I have friends who need help as they work 40 hours a week and make a decent paycheck but they barely have gas to get there or food on thier tables. They have to go to food cupboards-some of them. Our aconomy is headed for a 1929 crash that is 10 times worse and the rich have not been able to spend thier own money becouse they all went and got credit cards-heck! even the poor got them and everyone pays double in interest charges till they can't keep up anymore. I do believe our answer for the poor is a birthcontrol implant and our answer for the aconomy is to tell credit card companies they have a restriction on interest rates or do away with them. taxpayers money is used for prisons to house "comfortably respecting thier rights" murderers and people who break the law. This was my reason for making that comment. We do need change when our "freedoms" are affecting decent people in a negative way.

I don't know these woman who brought this lawsuit-perhappes they are in the right as housing did say the rent was including heat but if they were disrespectful in that area then it will be found out in court. I know housing athority does its very best in controlling live in boyfriends, ect becouse I actually had to call to find out how often I could have a visitor in the place I call my own home as I do pay close to the cap limit here. The fact is that housing also does a police background check on each person coming in here and there are so many rules you don't even have in a normal rent that it is sometimes suffocating but I am for them becouse it keeps my nieghborhood safe and I hope that what ever happens here i n court that housing athority is still able to provide housing for those who need it and those who are in here and not controlling thier thermistats or conserving will hopefully do so in the future remembering there are others like themselves who need to be or will need to be in housing.

YumYum..alhough your thought process on Society may be accurate in ways this comment section was placed regarding 2 women who feel it necessary to take, take, take and have no consideration for the mere fact their oil was paid for as a courtesy of all tax payers in this State. They recieve benefits, they pay the least amount of rent based on their income. This forum started out with complaints upon their decision to be wasteful and then try to get more for free..

I stated the facts. The facts are these women have no perception of real life struggles for their struggles were self imposed. No education, no job, and children they can't support. Us Tax payers..the ones you assume to be rich..Well we rely on ourselves to support our children, we work, pay our bills, and pay our own way..

We are all angry for I myself am livid when I don't see my family all weekend long for I work doubles, I get of work at 11pm and return at 6 am..I then get my paycheck and hundreds of dollars has been taken from my children to go to the State of Maine to help to support these type of women who abuse the amentities provided to them! As they are abusing the tax dollars taken to provide for their children we are left trying to figure out how we are going to fill our own oil tank!! That is the fact of this matter my dear!

Us "rich" people...well hunny we don't see our money returned! We don't have amentities provided to our children for free..These 2 women should be ashamed of themselves for what they are doing because it is the most self centered, egotistical, self righteous bunch of crap us hard working people have seen in a long time!!

We are not judging "all" who live in capehart nor are we judging "all" who recieve State help..We ARE making our feelings known regarding those of wich ABUSE the amentities provided to them free of charge with no return!

I feel and note I said "I" feel people recieveing State help UNLESS they have a disability or a child with a disability or an illness should be FORCED into the work force, FORCED while their kids are in school and they are sitting on their ass all day to do community service or volunteer their services to RE PAY what they are getting for FREE!!

There is a girl I work with who has 3 kids, all different fathers, she works16 to 20 hours a week IF THAT..Her children are all in school during the day, she lives in housing, recieves all State help she can get..She drives a brand new mini van with a payment 2x my payment on my vehicle..She had the nerve to sit there and REFUSE hours offered to her because she didn't feel like working!!!!! Soooo I get to bust my ass, work 2 jobs so she can sit on her ass all day watching tv, talkin on the phone or playing on her brand new Dell Lap Top, recieve all the State help she can get and REFUSE to work because she doesn't feel like it????? What a joke ok!

As far as your implantation of a device in our young girls body...Well my dear what a way to teach your daughter to respect her body, respect herself as a woman and to make right choices...Placing an implant in a young girls body to prevent pregnancy is the MOST IDIOTIC THING I HAVE EVER HEARD! You seriously have got to be off your rocker to make such a statment!

You want to stop teen pregnancy??? Mothers should be teaching their children to respect their bodies, teach them to not have sex for the dangers are real, teach their son's to respect women, respect themselves and the dangers of sex outweigh the benefits.Lastly, these teenagers whom get pregnant, well if they were watched 24/7 and weren't allowed to run the steets or have free reign than maybe it wouldn't have happened...And to the mothers whom did all they could to make sure it didn't happen...Atleast they made the effort!

I think you have your thought process confused with feelings about your own life..Lastly..

Like I said...Unless you have had your money taken from your children to give food stamps to another who uses those food stamps to buy junk food then uses the Mainecare to pay for the rotten teeth, diabetes, and obesity from the food stamps and the AFDC used to purchase computers, laptops, drugs, alcohol and their ciggy butt habits...Don't patronize the rest of us who are totally fed up!

well said hrdwkgmom...I think her story was a bit exaggerated as well.

Let's start cleaning out the welfare system by instituting a mandatory drug testing policy for ALL recepients. Most jobs these days require drug testing, why not the welfare system?? And don't tell me it's just a few abusing drugs, because it's not. If you got nothing to hide, you should have no problem with it.

First to hrdwkngmom You said it right I agree with you 100% It is about time Us tax payers start voicing our opinions and they are heard. Second to downeastah Finally someone who agrees with me about drug testing I have been saying it for a long time. It NEEDS to be done to help control our tax dollars and give the workers back some of what is ours.

Wow, the slamin' continues. Hot tubject.

I think I'm in love with Kristen.

look know one should be complaing if they have to pay extra for oil they should just pay it and deal with it but the housing authority has sent out several letters stating to keep windows and doors closed or they are going to charge 50.00 dollars so these people are well aware of the consiquences of thier own actions so they all just need to deal with it they also sent out letters to wrap in blankets put warm clothes on to conserve the oil and everyone out here is aware of the rules and if they break something they will be charged for itthey are told this right in the orientation so if you dont like it here move out or deal with it and dont complain

Oh yeah, as for those maggot infested, dope smoking, long haired, unshaven, unbathed, do gooding scumbags at the Maine Equal Justice Partnership, thanks from all of us taxpayers for tying up our courts and wasting more taxpayer money on these two brood mares. If your so concerned about them, why don't you give em jobs in your worthless organization, and let em live in your homes. See how much you care about their rights after two weeks with them.

"Capehart Mom" here, I dont work, I recieve TANF,Food Stamps, and FREE child care. That being said I must be scum right well if you know me which you dont you would understand....I dont have to justify myself to strangers. Be careful what you say and how you vent because one day you may be on the other end. I said and still do say some of the things being said here and yeah we all get fed up but remember that things happen that are out of our control and you could end up "Capehart Scum" like me. I recieved a bill last year for heat, we had a hearing and at that hearing we were informed that only 31 people got billed and that the amount that they billed us was wrong and they gave us a lower amount, Well at the time I didnt fight it I told them that even knowing it was against the rules I put Plastic on the windows in my sons room, I wasnt going to lie, but honestly I think we put our heat above 65 maybe two times. If you have a problem with someone and know they are up to no good than report them! Get off your high horse and do something about it! The more reports maybe you will see better results, I know that when I see something that is not right I call the police, like a child left unattended and almost getting run over, The neighbor that screamed at her "live in" boyfriend at 2am, I do my part!

I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made and the ones that I am working towards! Be kind and know that yes people take advantage of the system and others everyday, but there are some that dont and need every bit of help they can get!

Well mom to Alex..If you are getting an education with that free child care you recieve I am sure ALL of us on here would agree it is WONDERFULL!! You are reading our of context..comments made on this forum if you haven't figured it out are being made towards the ones ABUSING OUR TAX DOLLARS! If my tax dollars are going towards you child care costs so you can get an education for yourself and your child then I praise your efforts!!

When OUR tax dollars are taken from OUR children to pay for lazy useless, sit on their ass all day while their kids are in school, floosies popping kids out left and right so they can get more services for free..We tend to get a little pissy!

I am assuming you are in school if you are getting free child care...Once you are out of school, working full time, on your 2 feet supporting yourself and your child and you get your paycheck and they took 200.00 in taxes and your left with just enough to get you by till next week...I think you'll see things a bit differently!

I seriously think that all of us TAX PAYERS should head our complaints right to Governor Baldacci..Maybe after he recieves a letter from each of us HARD WORKING PEOPLE telling him how SCREWED our system is and what WE would like done with OUR money...Maybe we will be FINALLY heard!

Trying to make a point to the un educated, lazy, welfare moochers who think we are belligerant..Well it's just flat out useless...

That comment is made directly towards the MOOCHERS just like the 2 who filed this suit....

I think Kristin tried to help y'all out with employment...Anyone head to Mc Donalds for an application today?? I was at Tim Hortons on my way home from WORK..They are hiring all shifts....Ohhh I'm sorry what was that you said...I DON'T FEEL LIKE WORKING BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU ARE PAYING MY WAY THROUGH LIFE WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS THE GOVERNMENT STEALS FROM YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO ME!!!!!!!!!

Useless point I am trying to make hahahhahah!

you people have the wrong info, not all people who live in the capehart are on welfare . most people who live here do not recieve tanaf or food stamps and do work and try to get by on small pay checks . some are young family that are just trying to raise a child or two with no help from the state . so why put everyone down that live in capehart . i do not recieve food stamps i am retired and caring for 2 grandchrildren here my son works and live home and help care for his chrilren . so when you ride throught the capehart remember there are hard working family here and yes maybe some have a sataslite dish but thay pay for that them self not you , and proble do strugle to pay the bill for it , but chrildren do need something to entain them self . do not judge till you know the facts . stop call us scum .

i dont think anyone in capehart is sum i think there are a select few that just dont have there prioritys straight because i know that alot of people work out here but there will always be those bad apples you can never get around that because some of my neighbors work and i commend the grandmother all the way because that is a very hard job but i think that housing should take complaints without you have to give your name out so that they could weed out the bad apples i also agree with the drug testing . and i also understand the tax paying people they do not want to support the person who does not want to work because my boyfriend sure doesn't like to do itbut there are some people out here that dont need to be here i commend housing because i have seen so many people get evicted in my short time of living here it takes takes them alittle bit of time but they get them out as for one of the girls in the lawsuit she should have been evicted along time ago for some things she has done

Maybe y'all should go back and read the comments...I can guarantee you that I and many others did not specify "all" capehart residents and plenty of us also made it clear it was not just "capehart" it is the entire low income housing divisions in this State. This arcticle just so happens to be regarding 2 capehart residents whom we are all refering to...Our commments do not pertain to those whom work and pay their own way...Our comments are directed to those who don't!

boogyman... you're very sweet! and i absolutely agree with your comment about the lawyers taking on this case. And I think you're my new best friend.

And you know what... it sucks because most of us on this forum probably have really big hearts and want to help others who really deserve it. I don't think anyone can deny helping the elderly pay for their meds, or meals for wheels programs... or their heating bills. and people who are truly disabled who recieve SS. Unfortunaly... because of bottom feeders like the people in this forum defending the social welfare system, these programs are being cut to support your lazy ass. MMMMHHHMMM. so to you... taking away from the elderly and the truly needed. I say to you... suck it. and if you bottom feeders need money, my apartment is pretty disgusting.... Because between COLLEGE and WORK i'm pretty busy. mmm but you wouldn't know what's like.

I personally have a friend who lives in Subsidized housing, she was married, has a child with extensive special needs and has been unable to work for the past 12 years because of her childs needs..She was married, had a house of her own until her husband had an affair and left her high and dry with no where to go...I will tell you this.. she does recieve SSD for her daughter who well deserves it, she recieves foodstamps for she well deserves those as well BUT...She works 20 hours a week while her child attends a special school, she DOES NOT have satelite/cable nor is she driving a car that has a payment! Her apartment does not look like a condo of the upper class of home enterior! She buys meats/veges and fruit as well as dairy..makes wonderfull meals for her family with her foodstamps...Her children are healthy and happy free of rotten teeth! She is always conservative with her electricity asking them to please turn the lights off when not in a room, she never leaves doors and windows open, and she never abuses the right of her thermostat!

I do not view her as scum....I view her as an angel for she has it tougher than anyone I have ever met in my lifetime and although embarrassed of her living situation and financial status and te disability of her child and now being a single mother recieving minimal child support..SHE IS ALWAYS SMILING!! SHE IS ALWAYS OFFERING A HAND TO THOSE IN NEED, SHE IS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT EVERYONE AROUND HER INCLUDING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN! Never would she take from the moth of another to feed her own! I wish all my tax dollars went to people like her! I would never complain!

I will also add that she does not have a computer, she utilizes the library on a daily basis...She is taking online at home college courses to become a medical transcriptionist so she will be able to work full time with a fully disabled child!

Maybe all you bottom feeding handout seeking smoochers should take a lesson in self sufficiency from my friend!! I would in a heartbeat give her anything she needed!

You moochers have no concept what so ever of the fact that if you have no job, you have no education, you have no money...DON'T HAVE KIDS!!

I, thank god, no longer live in any public housing. My husband and I bought a home earlier this year after living in public housing for almost 6 years. Public housing authorities are very controlling in every aspect of a person life. A very close friend of mine seperated from her husband earlier this year and moved in with her parents cause a deal to move into a trailer fell through over money. While she was seperated she worked PT in a hospital cleaning the OR. Yes, her husband has a good job and works about 45-50 hours a week. The reduced rent is all they get for assistance. The Brewer HA removed her from her lease that she had, after she told them not to cause they were working on their marriage, and left her husbands name on as head. Without her permission. When they decided to reconcile, the Brewer HA gave them alot of crap about getting her back on the lease. (She was off it for a month before they decided to get back together) They were told the HA didnt believe that she had ever moved out, even thou her father gave them notice that she had been living with him and mail with her addy and some other stuff, and they still accussed them of fraud and demanding they pay more rent before she could move back with her babies and husband. Even accused her of not controlling her kids and keeping track of them while she was there! Told her she did not have the housings permission to be there. I know for a fact she stayed with her parents and she even stayed with me a few nights. She would leave her kids around 11pm and get back before they would wake about 5 am. I take her there on my way to work. She was told she needed rent reciepts (from her father), utility bill (from her dads OWNED home), drivers licence change or something with the new addy on it. She has volunteered on a housing council for over 5 years, never lied to them and been a good tennent.

To me, that is a greater problem and issue than this money grubbing lawsuit! Gimmie a break if the usage was excessive, it would have been for all the apts in that row. Its time to own up and conserve like everyone else does. Dont like the rules and regulations, MOVE! When you pay bills like the rest of us then you have the right to complain! You get alot of breaks and perks in PHA's and to try to bilk more is selfish and childish. I cant bellieve a lawyer would agree to take that case on and not help my friend.

Just to let you all know!!!!

Drove by Public housing today, as everyday from work

temp 35 degrees

4 housing units

6 OPEN WINDOWS one with a fan in it....

Pointy and case, 80% of them are wasting my tax dollars....

Recently, Bangor Housing has come around and set all of our thermostats to 69 degrees...I think they are supposed to be setting them to 70 deg. but mine will not go above 69deg. (This is fine with me...my child is not a small baby and I am hot all the time) The thermostats will not go above the temperature that they are set at...housing told us if we try to force it, it will break and we will be charged. Okay, I see that we should all conserve energy and throw a sweater on if we get cold..but a few years ago, they hired people to come in and change all of the outlets, wiring, lighting, etc. The problem is this--they did not insulate the outlets, and the ones that are on an outside wall have cold air blowing through them on cold days/nights. The doors need new weather strips, among other things that will keep the heat in and the cold air out. It is our responsibility to inform them of these things. They charge 50 dollars if they see our outside light on more than one time in the daylight. Okay, fine....BUT one time---I mean one time--- I went out for my early morning walk and turned my outside light on this morning because there had been a skunk around the previous night and morning. When I got back, the sun was just coming up and sure enough.....there was the Head of Maintenance riding around before going to work, like every morning, looking for outside lights on. My light was on for not more than 20 mins. I never turn the outside light on because I don't need to..I don't have visitors at night, nor do I go out after dinner. I received a letter in the mail stating the exact day that my light was on and if they saw it again, I would automatically be charged 50 dollars on top of my rent. This infuriates me because I am extremely frugal and conservative with everything. They took away our outside spigots, set date and time limits on our Christmas lights, many many other things and now our thermostats cannot go above 69 or 70 degrees (depending on your therm.)

I could go on and on but it is no use. Although I am grateful for subsidized housing, I absolutely hate being treated like cattle....some people probably think that we are a bunch of systems leaches and abusers but believe me....those people would never put up with what we have to put up with.

Again,

Today, 28 degrees.

3 open windows, one had an air conditioner in it....

and again the same window with a fan in it...ON

There should be no warnings!!!!

no one that is paying for their heat would have an open window....

I do not think you are all bad, but you, YES YOU should be reporting these things to help out your self and fellow people that are trying to break away from aid... you live there, you see what is going on... if your that concerned then report it.... maybe some day you will be supporting the leaches...