I am disabled and collect SSDI. My mother is my payee and supplements my disability payments so that I can have a nice, safe place to live. I have been living in a home that she owns in Oregon for the last 8 years. Prior to that my mother assisted me in paying rent in an apartment in xxxx City, Oregon for two years and before that, we had the same arrangement when I lived in an apartment in Lafa for 5 years. Under this arrangement my rent was always paid on time, in full. It’s not uncommon for parents of adult children with disabilities to help them live independently in this way. When you see my mother’s financial statements, you should have complete confidence that we will not have any problems paying my rent every month, on time. Please ask my mom any necessary questions you may still have about our ability to pay my rent. She has the means to make sure I have a nice, safe place to live and can provide you with the statements and documentation you need to feel confident that I will be a stable tenant. I’ve discussed this arrangement with the SSA, they do not wish for me to be homeless due to my disability, which is why my mother is my payee and is a responsible for supplementing my SSDI and paying my rent as well as utilities, etc. so that I may live comfortably. I appreciate your concerns and assure you that paying my rent is definitely something we are able to reliably do every month. My mother is 83 years old and has mobility issues. This was the first apartment she looked at and she thinks it is very cute and can picture me living there. This was ideal, and I was very glad, as it will be physically challenging for her if she has to continue searching for an appropriate apartment that will accept this arrangement. I sincerely hope you will accept our applications favorably.
Lastly, with all due respect, I’d like to be sure you are aware that as a person with a disability, I am protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. it may help if you could please familiarize yourself with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s document “Guidance on the Application of the Fair Housing Act to the Screening of Applicants for Rental Housing.” https://www.fairhousingnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FHEO_Guidance_on_Screening_of_Applicants_for_Rental_Housing.pdf It is a somewhat lengthy document. I am attaching screenshots of the most relevant sections and have highlighted the passages that apply to this particular situation. Please see the highlighted sections of pages 11 and 18 (attached). It is under the protections of the FHA that I am formally making a request for you to provide me with the Reasonable Accommodation that you modify your screening practices to allow my mother, as my payee and co-signer, to supplement my SSDI and assume responsibility for paying my rent, which is necessary due to my being disabled, so that I can have a safe place, of my choosing, without discrimination, to live. Under the law, you have the right to contact my primary care provider to verify my disability (granted that my HIPPA rights are observed in your communication with him), though I am hopeful that my SSDI documents will suffice. Should you wish to contact him, my PCP is Jason and he can be reached at (xxx)xxx-xxx. Thanks so much for your careful attention to the law as it applies to this particular situation. My mother helps me because I need her to due to my disability and will be a reliable payer of my rent. I am extremely fortunate to have such a loving mother who has the means to help me. I look forward to hearing your favorable decision and approval of our applications in a timely manner, hopefully soon so that I can begin moving preparations. I promise that I will be a good tenant and neighbor. Thank you,