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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NY nonprofit was meant to support older, disabled Americans — then it lost $650K and forced them to move out
Moving is hard under the best of circumstances, but imagine being an older or disabled person and given less than two weeks to pack up and leave. That's what happened to residents of the Enriched Housing Program in Rochester, New York, operated by the nonprofit Family Service of Rochester. The program was set up to help older and disabled people live in apartments independently. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'All I can tell you is it's very stressful. Very stressful for all the residents,' resident Bonnie Allsup told News10NBC in a story published May 28. 'They were made to move in 10 days without any kind of knowing why,' According to the local broadcaster, New York's Department of Health found Family Service's care had deteriorated so badly that it posed a risk to the health and safety of residents. Participants had trusted with program with their Social Security and disability checks in exchange for support services and rent payments. So, what exactly happened, and how can Americans prepare for the unexpected? Family Service's latest IRS 990 tax filing paints a troubling financial picture. The organization ended its 2024 fiscal year $650,755 in the red, News10NBC reports, raising serious questions about whether residents' benefits were properly handled. The program was also $400,000 behind on rent payments. News10NBC says it reached out to the CEO listed on Family Service's 990 form, Neil Cavalieri, along with the entire board of directors, and all declined to comment. Earlier in the week, days after the program's closure, News 8 WROC reported it received a statement from Family Service: 'The programs are being closed to ensure the continued health and safety of the resident participants. Residents in the programs are receiving assistance from both the Department of Health and Family Service in finding appropriate/safe alternative housing and health services.' If federal funds were misused, oversight of any investigation would likely fall to the U.S. Attorney's Office, per News10NBC. The broadcaster says it contacted the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York but did not immediately receive a response. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Sudden shifts in things like housing and care services can leave many vulnerable folks scrambling. Families are often left with tough financial and personal decisions including: Hiring private caregivers: Without affordable community-based services, families may have to turn to private in-home care, which can eat through savings quickly. Working adults cutting hours: Adult children may need to leave the workforce or reduce working hours to become caregivers for their aging relatives, resulting in lost wages and stalled retirement contributions. Tapping into retirement savings: Those in a fixed income may find themselves withdrawing from 401(k)s or IRAs prematurely, increasing the risk of outliving their savings. Rising household debt: To cover these costs, some households may be taking on credit card debt, personal loans or second mortgages, putting their long-term financial stability at risk. Despite these challenges, there are strategies older Americans and their families can consider: Medicaid and public aid: Some may qualify for Medicaid long-term care coverage or other government-funded programs. Check eligibility and get guidance on these programs. Community-based services: Nonprofits and local agencies might offer subsidized services such as meals, transportation and part-time caregiver relief. Long-term financial planning: Work with financial advisors who specialize in senior care and benefits, like the VA's Aid & Attendance program. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This New York woman was charged $150 in tolls that were meant for a state police trooper instead
Barbara Lipsky of Brighton, New York, knew something was wrong when she noticed several charges by E-ZPass — an electronic toll collection system — on her credit card in January and February. After four charges of $25 each, she decided to contact E-ZPass for an explanation. When the E-ZPass representative opened Lipsky's account to investigate, the woman started laughing. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Here are 3 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? 'I asked, 'What's so funny?'' Lipsky recounted to News10NBC in a story published March 19. 'She says, 'Well, I just saw the picture. It's a state police car with your license plate.'' The license plate in question is 1M20, which somehow also got assigned to a state trooper vehicle. According to the local broadcaster, each time the state police car drove into Manhattan's congestion pricing zone, it triggered the E-ZPass system — except Lipsky was the one charged. Brighton, it should be noted, is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Manhattan. In total, Lipsky was charged nearly $150 by E-ZPass. Lipsky says her late husband originally received the 1M20 plate in the 1960s and she still uses it today. But somewhere along the line, a state police vehicle was issued the same license plate — something that isn't supposed to happen. The broadcaster says it received a statement from New York's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) explaining that when state police request a new fleet vehicle plate, they're supposed to verify with the agency that the number isn't already in use. But there was a mix-up in this case, and it had real consequences. 'It's just spooky. It's upsetting. It's inconvenient. It's all those things. And it's starting to really cost me money,' Lipsky said. Thankfully, after bringing up her case, News10NBC reports the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will reverse all charges against Lipsky. She was dinged 16 times for $144. The DMV also says it's working to replace the state police vehicle's duplicative license plate. In a strange twist, state police told News10NBC the MTA has wrongly charged state police vehicles — which area supposed to be exempt from congestion pricing — upwards of $13,000 since the beginning of the year for driving in the Manhattan toll zone. Read more: Trump warns his tariffs will spark a 'disturbance' in America — use this 1 dead-simple move to help shockproof your retirement plans ASAP Mistakes like this are rare — but they still happen. Whether it's a plate mix-up, a misread toll camera or the act of a fraudster, it's important to catch these types of problems quickly and know how to resolve them. Keep an eye on both your E-ZPass (or other toll accounts, like SunPass) and the credit card on file. Reviewing statements regularly will help you catch issues early. Collect any evidence, such as screenshots or toll photos from your account (if you have access to them) bank statements and photos of your car. Having evidence ready before you call to complain can help speed up the resolution. Each region has a different toll authority. Be prepared to explain the situation, provide any evidence and follow up if you don't get a timely response. Some banks let you set up alerts for purchases over a certain amount or for specific vendors. These notifications can help you catch not just toll issues but also other types of fraud. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Cost-of-living in America is still out of control — and prices could keep climbing. Use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what Trump does This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
