Innvision Georgia Travis Center

I believe in helping the down and out but there needs to be more accountability. GTC does good work, but if they let folks abuse the system, hardworking tax payers get the shit end of the stick.
In January 2010, I put up an ad on Craigslist looking for a roommate to share my 2 BR apartment. I received an articulate response from a «honest» and «respectful» single mom who said both she and her son were in school full time. I met with them, she was quiet but liked the room so they moved in. She said she would have the check for me on move-​in day.
Day after move-​in day, I asked for the check and she said she’d «go get the check from ‘the guy’ tomorrow» The next day, she said «The guy wasn’t there so I’m going to get it Friday». Friday came. «The guy said the check was not ready so I’m going to get it next week.» At this point I smelled bullshit.
She gave me a letter from this «guy», hand written on binder paper, assuring me that the check will be here by a certain date. It wasn’t. I asked for his phone number and she gave it to me.
Turns out «the guy» was someone at the GTC who managed a program that pays the first months rent for clients who were moving out. HOWEVER, the last name on the letter was not his. SHE HAD FORGED THE LETTER. At least she had the decency to give me his real number.
Prior to calling, I did not know she was coming from a homeless shelter. The email failed to mention this
I left «the guy» several messages but did not get a response. Finally, he picked up. He said he remembered the girl, but she needs to turn in her application before getting the check. Basically, every «tomorrow», «next week» etc she had told me was a lie. When confronted, she hands me a stack of papers and says «this is all he needs». I was baffled.
I drove to the GTC with the papers and met with «the guy».He said they were NOT what he needed. It was ridiculous that I had to be the liason for all this, but the woman did not have a car and was too lazy to get on a bus, and too goddamn stupid to put an application together for her own and HER SON’S housing.
Typing this right now, I can’t believe I put up with all that shit. I was young, sheltered and trusting. She was also stealing my food from day 2, so I guess I was worried she’d steal something bigger if I pissed her off. But I digress.
I brought the girl with me back to the GTC. A week later, he first month’s rent came in 3 weeks late. Every month after that, her rent was late, but it was always «going to here tomorrow» or «next week».
Even worse is that the original email was a complete lie. Neither one of them ever went to school the 4 months they lived here. They were home all day, and frequently had one of her friends over to smoke pot in the room WITH THE KID INSIDE. I told her it was not OK and she said they would stop, but I would smell that scent again and again. I’d find a whole case of empty corona bottles in the kitchen some mornings that wasn’t there the night before.
The email was most likely written by someone at the GTC, because every subsequent email and text I received from her w4s speld sumthing lik dis.
At one point during her stay, the roommate did apply to the medical assisting program at Evergreen and attended the first day. However, a week later I noticed that she was always homein the daytime. I asked how school was going and she said she could not continue after the first day because she did not have her GED.
Why did the person who typed the email at the Georgia Travis Center think this girl was going to any school full time without a GED?
I think that it’s nice of InnVision to provide first months’ rent to help clients get on their feet, and also assist with housing applications. However, the application for the check needs to begin before the application to rent.
They also shouldn’t lie for their clients. Transitional programs are vital but they should be thorough. This girl clearly did not have the means to get a job or go to school at the time she left the GTC. Also, having volunteered at a homeless shelter, I know I would want to know if the person I rent to is coming from one.
I myself was working over 40 hours a week, (2jobs) to support myself and my mom (living elsewhere). This girl ended up leaving abruptly while I was out of town without having paid that month’s rent. She never paid a cent of her share of the bills (P.G. E and Comcast), over 300 dollars. I even bought her diapers once. She asked that cable TV be added for her son. I don’t watch TV so I told her she would have to pay for the full bill. She always said «My check will be here next week» (meaning government assistance) but she never paid.
She once had me drive her to her friend’s house saying she knew where it was. She didn’t. I was late for work because of it.
I called «the guy» at the GTC after she ran off and left a message. He never called back.
I was too kind. I’m cold and cynical now.