Actually, independent living in and of itself, is cool. It’s the systems that I need for support that I’m finding incredibly frustrating. Going to keep up the good fight to live a self-directed life!

“No matter how far I go, I always end up back here”

Remember when I said I was getting a housing voucher and I was totally amazed and how that would help me able to stay in my apartment for a long time because of that math problem of living on SSI of $841 a month doesn’t actually cover $1335/month in rent? Nothing’s ever as easy as it seems like it should be, right?

Well, first a voucher for a 1-bedroom was approved. A 1-bedroom doesn’t work for me with 24-hour caregiver staff and the amount of equipment and space I need to navigate around an apartment. If I had 1 live-in caregiver, and not multiple caregivers providing 24-hour care, then they would have approved a voucher for a 2-bedroom apartment. So, 2 doctors’ letters later, and a 2-bedroom apartment as a reasonable accommodation was approved on a Friday about 2 months ago.

But wait! By the following Monday, it was denied again because my income-restricted Section 42 apartment ends up being $58 too expensive. The landlord is unable to lower the rent.  So now I am working with my doctor on another reasonable accommodation letter to start this process again and allow me to remain in this apartment that I know works for me even though it’s $58 too expensive each month.

I understand that there are rules and formulas. I also know that lives for people with disabilities don’t always go according to plans, rules, and formulas. Anyway, wish me luck with what’s now turning into 6 months of a frustratingly frustrating process.

“Take back the power”

I have had a couple of independent living successes. I applied for SNAP food benefits and Minnesota Support Grant and found out I got both! Yay! Programs like SNAP food benefits and cash assistance help me live independently.

Oh and I started rewriting my book. AAAHHH!!! Frustratingly fun is way better than frustratingly frustrating!

Watch for my live music post later this week. Preview: Much better experience at the Armory for the HAIM concert last week than I had for the Maggie Rogers concert there about 3 years ago (Maggie Rogers at the Armory: Accessibility Check). I was able to sit much closer to the stage this time! Yay! Tonight is The Bad Man record release show and Wednesday – so beyond excited for The Interrupters and Flogging Molly!

Start dancing now! Title and subtitles in this post are quoted from some of my favorite Interrupters songs:

Title Holder (YouTube) by the Interrupters

In the Mirror (YouTube) by the Interrupters

Take Back the Power (YouTube) by the Interrupters