The management system of Hanse's low-rent apartments can make residents feel unfree. But compared to other shelters, that's pretty forgiving.

Those shelters ask for more. For example, the power will be cut off at 9 o'clock in the evening, and after the time, you are not allowed to enter or leave at all. Ask to do things like take out the garbage after washing. If you don't do it, you will be informed, and it will be very humiliating. And after being notified three times, they will be driven away. Both children and adults who live there will have a strong feeling of being under the fence.

There are also a lot of rules for low-rent apartments. But the relief here does not put on a face of charity, which makes people feel respected.

Therefore, there are many people who apply to live in low-rent apartments. The ten-dollar rent will not cause any burden for the vast majority of couples who have children. Because people who dare to have children usually have a plan for their lives. There are unemployment benefits for such people. Although it is only a few hundred dollars a month, after living in a low-rent apartment, you don't have to worry about utility bills, you don't have to worry about food, and you still have some medical protection when your child is sick. They can even use that money to get a new job.

Link first had a meeting with the staff of the low-rent apartment. None of these staff members are full-time except for security guards. The main tasks are to distribute food to the residents, ensure the safety of the apartment, and other tasks. None of them are volunteers, but they are paid, and these staff are usually single mothers or fathers who have applied for accommodation and whose children are already in school.

There are about 80 of these employees, who work up to six hours a day and three days a week. Salary is calculated on the basis of the minimum hourly wage. In that case, the staff would be paid about $200 a week.

He said to the staff: "The families who move in, they are all tenants of the apartment, and they are no different from the people outside. So I hope that you will work hard during your work and treat everyone fairly and justly. But we don't want you to make this job a career. It is unlikely to bring you a comfortable life. We will try our best to introduce the families to the residents. And you will be the first to get your chances. Of course, you can also seek employment opportunities on your own, and we will try to create conditions for you as much as possible. However, if you violate the work system, you will lose your job and in serious cases, you will be terminated. ”

He looked up at his watch as he spoke, and then said, "If there is no problem." This concludes the meeting. The first 300 households should have been waiting outside. Everyone is moving and getting ready for work. ”

He's right. The low-rent apartment was scheduled to start operating at 9:30 a.m., and now it's only 9:20 a.m., and the telescopic iron fence door is still tightly closed. But outside, families with all their possessions were already gathered and waiting outside the door. The vast majority of them came from other shelters.

Because Martha thinks that only after these residents have spent time in those shelters will they not be picky about life here. So they require families who have been in the shelter for three months before they can apply to move in.

The first case in the United States of using low-rent apartments as a substitute for shelters and conditionally accepting homeless people is available. So a lot of the media is paying attention to this different form of philanthropy.

Catherine had already brought in about two dozen media outlets, but instead of waiting, they looked for some families to interview.

After a Nevawa cable reporter found a white single mother, introduced herself, and was given permission to interview, the reporter asked, "How do you feel about being one of the first residents to qualify for a low-rent apartment in Hans?"

The white single mother glanced at her son, who was holding her hand, and said, "You know, I'm a single mother. I lost my job more than a year ago. And I haven't been able to find a stable job for a long time. Because my child was still young, I couldn't afford to send him to daycare, and it was even more difficult for me to find a job because I had to take care of him. There is a free nursery and free food for the children. This is very important to me. Because in the past, the benefits I received didn't even guarantee enough nutrition for my children. I didn't even have the money to take the bus to the interview. So I'm glad to be here, and I can at least go to the interview and leave my child in the nursery. There are also bus fares to go to the interview. ”

"Don't you think that it conflicts with charity that they have to collect rent since they are doing charity?"

"Do you mean ten dollars? What can you do with ten dollars? You can only buy eight medium-sized hamburgers. But now it allows us to be tenants, not homeless. We signed a rental contract with Hanse Cheap Apartments, and they provided us with cheap accommodation when we were in trouble, as well as free food, water and electricity. It's a kind of equality for us. As long as we follow the rules of the apartment, we are no longer homeless. I think that gives me more self-confidence: I'm just an unemployed, not a homeless person. Yes, living here, our lives will not be comfortable. But I believe I will try harder to find a job as soon as possible and bring my children to a more comfortable community. ”

"Do you think that if they have the conditions to choose to live in residents, will it be unfair to some homeless people?"

"I regret the other homeless people who were unable to apply for accommodation. However, we also learned that the Hanse Affordable Apartments were originally set up for children. Therefore, it is very normal to limit the stay of families with children. As for the income limit, I think that's fair. If you have a regular job, you can pay the rent. ”

The single mother paused and said, "Although we have become tenants, I also have to admit that I am unemployed and need relief from a low-rent apartment. Relief should be given to those most in need right now. ”

As she spoke, there was a commotion ahead. She looked up and saw the iron door open. A group of people came out of it. A young Asian man in a white T-shirt stands in the middle of the gate, holding a megaphone and talking. This young man she knew was none other than Link Hans, a wealthy Chinese man who set up this low-rent apartment.

She heard Link say, "Welcome, the first three hundred tenants of Hans's low-rent apartments. You should have your house number. Please take the house number to the corresponding floor, and go to the reception desk of the corresponding floor with the house number and ID card to collect the key. Later, we will have a staff member to register your child, mainly to determine the child's health and whether they have any food allergies, so that they can be treated in time and avoid eating the wrong food when serving the child. Now, welcome again!"

After Link's words, he handed the megaphone in his hand to the bodyguard next to him, the first to applaud, and get out of the way.

More than 20 staff members outside the gate also lined up to applaud the first batch of residents. This posture was not only recorded by the media, but also made the occupants feel a sense of respect. Some of them had been in several shelters for the first time, and they had been welcomed with applause.

When the first family entered the compound, the staff inside saw that if there was too much luggage or too many children, they stepped forward to help carry the luggage. If you are arranged to a lower floor, take the stairs, and if you are on a higher floor, or if there are elderly people, take the elevator.

The reporters followed the families into the compound and saw that there were two elevators installed in each building. Just slammed into the elevator. This is really different from the shelter.

While a considerable number of people were waiting to go upstairs, a car drove into the yard. Sinclair got out of the car.

Link was a little surprised, the mayor of Las Vegas hadn't said he was coming. However, he walked over and stretched out his hand to the other party: "Mr. Mayor is coming, why don't you notify me in advance? ”

"I suddenly remembered that it was Hans Cheap Apartment that started to operate today, so I came to take a look. I must say that Mr. Hans has pioneered a new model of philanthropy. This model can provide a relatively comfortable environment for children to grow up. That's key to their mental health!"

Mr. Mayor came, and the media spotlight, of course, was on him. At the same time, they also tried to see if they could interview Link.

Link was not averse to being interviewed at this time. The reporter in front of him said: "The original intention of setting up a low-rent apartment was for those children. I myself was an orphan who was adopted by my current parents at the age of five. If it weren't for them, even if I could have grown up, I might be a street thug now. I am well aware of the importance of a good family environment for a child's development. Let their parents have a relatively safe environment to raise their children. That will be a great help for the child's mental health development. ”

After dealing with the reporters, he and Sinclair visited several new residents who had settled in. After asking the reporter to take some photos of the people, Sinclair left.

After all the residents had gone upstairs, Catherine approached him and said, "Link, most of the media here this time are Nevada media. Three are national newspaper outlets. We can't guarantee that the big TV media will promote it for you at the moment. ”

Such a media lineup is not large. But he wasn't disgruntled. Because he knows very well that the positive news of him, those media are reluctant to report. If he wants to spend money, it depends on whether he can spend it.

He smiled and said, "It's good to be like this today." It's just the first one anyway. "He may even set up one in some states with large populations. He doesn't believe in those media, so he really doesn't promote anything.

Catherine added: "But we have our own website. In addition, there are social networking sites that belong to low-rent apartments, which are mainly used to call on everyone to pay attention to the mental health problems of children from poor families. ”

Link gave a thumbs up and said, "Do it with your heart, and if you need funding, talk to Martha." ”

"Link, can you take up your time for a while?"

Link looked back and saw that it was an acquaintance.

Amanda Heard, the beautiful journalist who interviewed him twice.

He turned to shake hands and said, "Amanda, why are you going out alone today?

"I've resigned from CNN. Now I'm a freelancer and mostly write columns on the web. ”

"That's a shame. ”

"You don't see pity on your face. Amanda said with a smile. She knew very well that Link was a little disgusted with CNN. If it weren't for her previous report, it would have been fair. There will probably not be a second interview. But it was the second interview that made her lose her job.