No, we don't have "reduced rent" or housing assistance - we just live in a city with few jobs and a lot of poverty, so rent overall is lower than most areas and nearby big cities. We have a 1200sq. ft apt, an upper in a duplex and pay $460/mo plus gas/electric. If we would have had that in Cleveland, we'd be paying $525-575 in a bad neighborhood and probably $800 in a better neighborhood.

Someone elsewhere in this thread asked if we qualify or could get low income housing. I am NOT living in the projects or in housing where "projects people" live if you get my meaning. I would eat a kettle of beans before I'd welcome that situation. No thank you.

Speaking of beans, guess what I made today? Last night I got a beef round roast from the church. It was a little freezer burnt but I put it in my crock pot with soy sauce, water, paprika, onions, garlic powder etc. - cooked it overnight on low until it was falling apart. Then I made some white beans and served the brothy meat over them. Hey, it was good and definitely cheap, but it was far more meant for a January day with temps in the 20's than the 90's we had here today in Ohio.