9:09 A.M. Today: I just wanted to let you know that PRAT reviewed and approved the request for rent subsidy for both girls, effective 7/1/11!  

That email came from our case manager just as the other mother and I are about to visit two potential rental sites. Timely for two reasons: PRAT approved an increase in the rental ceiling, which makes living in the town of our choice possible; and they provided a date, 7/1/11, when the funds wil be released.

 Reality Knocks: This is amazing and scary: Reality always adds the shock of gravity to any enterprise. We have to get this right now because the engine has started running.

3:30 P.M. Today: Back from visiting two apartments. Neither worked but they did raise an important question: if  and when we find the ideal 2 bedroom in this safe and accessible housing complex, we will have to move fast. The complex rentals go very quickly. The glitch is that the apartment will have to pass inspection, meeting specific codes and regulations determined by the agencies involved. Will we be able to get approval fast enough not to lose the apartment?.

Deal Breaker?: As the realtor cogently asks “What would be a deal breaker?” I have a call into our case manager to see if she can shed some light and some hope on this dilemma. The other mother, the realtor and I are going to have to figure this out.

©Jill Edelman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. 2011