Posted by Nick at 11/29/09 10:55AM        Post ID#: #19345

This kind of "housing" is readily and commonly available in this and nearby neighborhoods. Most are likely built without a permit and Yakima's local slumlords are growing fat from rentals to migrants who are vulnerable and need temporary housing. Usually comparably large rents are charged as well, upwards of over $600 per month - cheap, if one is looking for a lease-free, under-the-radar place to live. I am surrounded by them, where I live, not too far away.

Often, but not always, these places are also shared by several unrelated men, all probably employed by some local business hiring cheap migrant labor. I garage behind my house has been the home for up to 7 migrants most of the summer, then they left and about 5 more moved in. I guess the high rent is cheaper with a bunch of roommates.

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Posted by insider007 at 11/29/09 06:53PM        Post ID#: #19379

I remember 15 years ago at a council meeting that someone was actually trying to set a reliable comparable that a 3 bedroom 2 bath unit on the southeast side should have a much higher price if it was rented to illegals. The price was concerning section 8 HUD housing. For one it is illegal to have any section 8 unit higher priced than a normal one. And in addition it is illegal to have illegals on it. But whoever was doing this didn't care. They were actually saying that because it was so hard for illegals to find housing that the value for such a unit should be (I think it was) somewhere around $1900 per month. So one can see how a killing could be made supplying such housing. But they are creating a bubble that may not be sustainable.

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Posted by fullofworry at 11/29/09 10:05PM        Post ID#: #19390

nick....i read alot of your comments that are posted on this site and i am just curious, why is everything about race and illegal immagrants? in case you have not noticed, the economy right now is horrible. so in this case, how do you know that it is not an elderly couple with no other option. maybe the adjoining house are family members willing to help in their time of need. i am so tired of people believing that they know all the circumstances around these stories. to me it sounds like a very sad situation. not all these stories are about illegal immagrants! and please people....stop comparing your own stories with every problem that arises. it's always, i know a guy who know's a guy who is related to.....enough already.

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Posted by thehellyousay at 11/30/09 03:49AM        Post ID#: #19397

Fullofworry is right. And very well put.

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Posted by Nick at 11/30/09 06:49AM        Post ID#: #19400

Fullof - many of my comments are regarding the impact of illegal aliens on our overstressed systems and infrastructure because those impacts are based upon facts. My purpose is to remind others that, due to the high number of illegals we have here, nearly every single thing in our lives are impacted by illegals every day.

By the way - immigration, legal or not, is not a racial issue, but you and others continuously attempt to make it one.

However, it seems awfully easy for you, and some others, to assume that I am only commenting on illegals when I'm not. A case in point: The above comment states "migrant workers", not "Illegal Aliens". There is a big difference in definition and context in those words. Please pay attention.

In this particular case, while I completely agree with Insider's position, I was actually chastising the slumlords for taking advantage of vulnerable "MIGRANTS", (among others with low incomes) by charging exorbitant rents for slummy places to live. I was trying to be more inclusive of a broader demographic that is affected by slumlords and high rents than just illegals.

Since YOU brought up the subject of illegals: Yes, it is easier to get by with this when those living there are "illegal", since who are they going to complain too. The point is, they are being taken advantage of simply because of their needs, and they can't, don't dare, complain. If you want to carry it one step further, the people who employ them are also taking advantage of them by paying them less than what their work is worth.

The part that I DO NOT abide is that anyone will sneak into our country, (from anywhere, not just Mexico) knowingly against the law, and take away jobs of people who are here legally or are citizens. This is a scam and is blatantly and inexorably wrong.

You claim to be concerned for others' welfare, yet you will condone crooked employers, taking vicious and greedy advantage of less fortunate people. That makes you a hypocrite.

You are right about including some older people in the mix - I am one of those. It happens that MY landlord charges a fairly reasonabe rental price compared to others around me.

Furthermore, if one doesn't "compare" their experience with those of others, then where's the comparison and where's the credibility in their comparison? It is a way to offer some provenance instead of just conjecture to you points.

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Posted by fullofworry at 11/30/09 05:27PM        Post ID#: #19441

nick- first off, we don't need reminded everytime a story breaks on the news about the fact that there are illegals, or migrants as you so call them. i am pretty sure that we all know what a serious issue we have. you seem to forget what the story was even about by the time you are ready to put your two sense in. secondly, do not act like you are in some way trying to protect anyone. everyone has read your comments often enough to know that the above was not pointing a finger at slumlords. lastly, my only point is this, people need to have a heart for the story at hand. these are people living at prabably the only place possible. we do not know who they are or whether they are living in migrant housing or if they themselves are migrants. they are people who have fallen on hard times. it does not need to be turned into a story of your own about how horrible a completly different subject is for all of us. i think we all know the cicumstance that we live in. i happen to think thay they should be requred to be legal in order to live here also, but my gosh, have a heart regarless. they are people. but i am not even going to get on the subject. point is is that not all these stories are about illegal immagrants or migrant workers. save the warnings and lectures for the stories that actually say they revolve around those issues.

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Posted by insider007 at 12/01/09 07:01PM        Post ID#: #19480

fullofworry
Did it ever occur to you that it is slightly creepy to pack so many people into a tiny space? What about kids crammed in with adults? It is slightly distasteful. Then your kids have to go to school with kids that have seen things no little kid should. So it affects your family. And you get tired of all these bleeding hearts that aren't really being affected so they don't have any idea why some are disgusted by this kind of thing. How would you feel if you started suspecting that there were about a dozen people living in the two bedroom apartment next door? Good grief.

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