It is sad to see that some enterprising people are renting out their homes. And to think that the home is being subsidized by the government as assistance to the homeless or squatters in Metro Manila. Most of those subsidized rental homes are being sublet as a boarding room. With 2 rooms in the house, they would rent out 1 room to students or workers and leave 1 room for their family that sometimes 6 in a room. That's obviously trying to earn from that government grant.
I didn't know this was happening from government subsidized houses. While I can't imagine how a family could fit together in such a small space and then add along a tenant, I guess they really need the money to help make ends meet. With all the hardships of life nowadays, people could really turn to any means just to make money. Maybe having just one tenant would be okay but it would already be an unacceptable household situation if they add more to their number of tenants.
@gracer, those enterprising homeless people who are assisted by the government is taking advantage of the subsidized housing program. By the way, some of those housing program have very minimal monthly rent that is less than $10. Having one tenant, you say is all right. By golly, there are families renting out the whole dwelling unit for money and they go back to the street and sleep in their wooden carts. Sometimes it is unthinkable but my husband had interviwed some of them, with photos and even videos for proof. That is the reason why the government's program for the poor wouldn't work.
Them renting out their whole dwelling and then going back to the streets again definitely isn't a good thing. I was thinking that they were just renting out to at least one person as a means of gaining additional income but if they rent out the whole place and they end up going back to the streets again, that is really something else. They just make the government's move useless for that matter.
This has to be illegal. That is not to say that it can't be done but if you know or see this happening you can always report it to the appropriate authorities. It's basically stealing from the government so I'd imagine it would be dealt with pretty quickly and efficiently.
I think that when it comes to doing this, then different rules would apply to different countries and in some places it might be allowed. Here in the UK we have something called the bedroom tax, and if a household as more bedrooms in their house than what they need they have to pay extra, so over here if you did rent a room out of a council house, you'd not actually make that much money anyway because the rent you charge would just pay the extra charge you'd have to pay anyway.
Indeed it is a shame, as punishments should be far harsher, especially as housing needs get worse and worse (here at least). It should warrant permanent exclusion from ever qualifying for subsidised government housing again, on top of additional fines and possible jail time.
I understand the financial pressures that cause the homeless to sublet their homes. But a closer look reveals that this is a form of exploitation. The reason is that those people who take to such accommodation are also likely to be poor. Add to this is the fact that by paying rent, they will be paying double taxation since they also contribute to the exchequer that funds those homes.
The Philippines has just elected a new president who has the potential to be a game changer when it comes to anomalies in the government. The housing projects, in particular, for the homeless would be reviewed for possible revision. I am hoping that everything will be put in the proper places like the housing subsidy for the poor who in turn would sublet to earn money for their personal use. If the new government would be strict with the compliance I guess there will be no more homeless people especially in the cities.
