Carol Hatten sits in her room at Budget Inn. Photo by Richie Richards
Sudden rent increase could leave elderly Lakota lady homeless
Social Security barely pays her present rent
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Managing Editor RAPID CITY –– As the light of morning finds its way into Carol Hatten’s cabin room at the Budget Inn located in Rapid City’s corridor of poverty on East Boulevard North, evidence of years of neglect and filth are revealed on the stained carpet. The elderly Lakota woman has been living at the Budget Inn for 18 months; a majority of this time spent in “one of the good rooms” at this aging motel. On Nov. 18, Carol Hatten received a notification letter from motel management which informed her that rent will be increased from $600 per month to $720, beginning on Dec. 1, 2015. This was less than a two week notice and simply signed “Lisa,” who is the manager of Budget Inn. This increase of $120 per month is a financial burden to which the 72 year-old grandmother feels she will be unable to pay, as she is living on a fixed income. Hatten suffers from a work-related, permanent disability and receives Social Security each month. In a recent interview with Native Sun News, Hatten said, “It’s odd that notices are given before a cold spell.” This untimely rate increase places many homeless in the Rapid City area in a situation in which they have no choice but to pay rent at the expense of other monthly bills.
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: Sudden rent increase could leave elderly Lakota lady homeless (Contact Richie Richards Managing Editor at editor@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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