I need advice...

[Karen]

Another thought/question:

Have the homeless ever theatened anyone? Might you be able to just have a sheet of paper ready with the names and address of any homeless shelters that you could silently hand them?

[IRescue452]

You pay heat and water seperate in your current apartment? I know that won't come near $120, but its included with the rent in the new place. It sounds like a nicer place and either way you do want to leave the current place. Do you have a local salvation army that you could ask to spot the lease transfer? In WI at least we have very few people who don't qualify for help, so long as we feel that they have enough income to support their expenses and support themselves, we do the one-time help.

[CathyBogart]

I say go for the new place. Then again, if I could find a place for $580 a month I'd be all over it in half a hearbeat.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

It's obviously a highly personal decision, but for me, I have to feel safe and comfortable in my own home. Being home is sort of like a sanctuary for me...if I were in that position, and felt uncomfortable in my current place, I would move if I could afford it, even if I had to cut corners somewhere else.

[Catlady711]

Not knowing what your normal montly bills are, or what kind of winters you have there I can't say if the higher rent with heat/water included makes good financial sense or not.

I'd say sit down with your heat/water bills and figure your average for at least 2 years and find out if that additional $120 is actually as high as you think.

Where I live winters are cold, and just the savings in the heat bill alone would be enough I'd take it.


Good luck either way.

[Cataholic]

I think I would have to be REALLY afraid for my safety before I took on a financial burden that I MIGHT not be able to shoulder. I don't say this without empathy. I have lived in places where homeless people have existed. I don't think I was afraid for my safety by the homeless than I was of the neighbor paying rent next door. You have been in tight money places before, I think I would wait this one out.

[Kalei]

I have to agree with most people...it certainly is a tough decision, and you shouldn't even have to make it. Doesn't the apartment have managers that could kick the homeless out? I guess if I was in that situation, I would first have to know if the homeless have ever hurt anyone or stolen anything or broken into apartments. And then see if there was anyway at all to make them stay away from my apartment. If not, I would definately move...I don't like seeing strangers around my home or car just sitting around (which happens sometimes) its unsafe. I have to feel very comfortable in my home, so I would most likely find a way to come up with that money and move that way you won't have to be scared when you should be at peace in your home.

I hope you can make the right decision that works for you