Ombudsman assists woman on fixed income facing rent increase

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to us at 11 W. Monument Ave., Suite 606, Dayton 45402, call 937-223- 4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org.

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to us at 11 W. Monument Ave., Suite 606, Dayton 45402, call 937-223- 4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org.

Editor’s note: The Dayton Ombudsman Office provides weekly columns to the Dayton Daily News to bring awareness to issues it sees in the community.

A woman recently called the Ombudsman for help because her rent through the Section 8 program has increased by more than $100 per month. The woman receives a fixed income, and this increase represents a significant burden for her. The woman has a case manager at a local agency, and she provided the Ombudsman with the case manager’s contact information.

The case manager was attempting to eliminate the large increase in rent payments for her client. She had made little progress in receiving return phone calls from the agency she was working with, so she left the message that the Ombudsman office had been called. After that happened, the case manager received immediate action.

The rent was recalculated and was reduced by $95. Both the woman and her case manager were grateful for the willingness of the Ombudsman to become involved in resolving the woman’s problem. The Ombudsman Office staff were glad that the possibility of an investigation by an independent agency led staff at the agency to respond and resolve the problem.

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to us at 11 W. Monument Ave., Suite 606, Dayton 45402, call 937-223- 4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org.

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