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Does anyone here live in (or know someone who lives in) a subsidized apartment building/complex run by the Volunteers of America? If so, please tell me what it's like to live there.
Some things I'd like to know:
Privacy - I wonder about the staff on the premises, ie., whether they're nosey/keeping tabs or letting you be.
Inspections - do they require periodic inspections? If so, how often?
Maintenance - do they regularly have pest control and building repairs, and how responsive are they to problems in your unit? How well are the grounds and building maintained?
The units/amenities - are the 1-BR apartments tiny, but laid out well? Conditions good and everything functional? Also tell me about laundry and any other amenities they offer.
Since I doubt you'll get many replies here and I've read about VOA stuff in the past, I did a bit of googling.
Let me state a few things right up front. 1. Finding positive reviews for ANYTHING is tougher than negative reviews - people spend more time complaining than complimenting (online and offline.) 2. I usualy have no personal bias for or against non-profits with a region as part of their mission. 3. I sympathize with people who find themselves needing subsidized housing, but keeping expectations low is part of the deal. Clean, safe and a modicum of privacy.
Anywhere, reddit has quite a few threads, not all recent. Google search Volunteers of America housing reddit. And some other stuff I readily found with the same search words with reddit replace with reviews:
A lot depend on where the facility is located. Some are converted SRO while others transient facilities made long term. Some have individual apartments while some have rooms with shared facilities. I would say, expect an SRO and you won't be disappointed with what it ends up being. Some locations have assistance service right within the building, while others are living accommodations only. Some require participating in programs, others do not.
That's a very good point. I'm not sure about the VOA, but Goodwill are managed on a regional basis, almost like a franchise. The regionals pay money to a national/international Goodwill, but the majority (all?) of the business decisions are made at the regional level. That includes financial decisions, including executive salaries and how else to spend their "charitable income and donations." Which is why you can have a Goodwill of Central NC that is a den of thieves wrapped in a 501(c)3 they don't deserve while Goodwill in other regions are well run, honest non-profits doing good work.
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