Category: Editorial

The Trump administration proposed a rule this week that would prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving HUD housing assistance. Reportedly affecting about 25,000 households, this is the administration’s latest attempt to close off safety net benefits from immigrants; both documented and undocumented. As reported in The New York Times, the proposal would overturn what the Trump…

America is experiencing an affordable housing crisis as more families have trouble paying rising rents. The dark side of this crisis is an epidemic of evictions. Last year, Princeton University published the first database of evictions in the U.S. This data is intended to be used to discover new information, raise awareness, and help find…

California has a reputation as a progressive state, but its constitution makes it harder to build new affordable housing than in any other state in the country. In December of last year, California lawmakers introduced a bill to repeal that legislation; which if passed, would go to a public vote in 2020. The California Constitution’s…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging Facebook with violating the Fair Housing Act. In announcing the charge, HUD says that Facebook encouraged, enabled and caused housing discrimination through its advertising platform. HUD’s charge is the latest controversy surrounding Facebook, which has recently been involved in issues of selling user data…

In response to recent deaths of two Public Housing residents, lawmakers are now proposing legislation requiring carbon monoxide (CO) detectors for all major HUD rental assistance programs. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced legislation in March, requiring CO detectors in all units funded through the main HUD rental assistance programs. In announcing the Safe Housing for…

HUD Secretary Ben Carson has touted his initiative to create EnVision Centers around the country, which links Public Housing residents to services that promote self-sufficiency. But in the nine months since the demonstration was announced not a single center has opened. The program’s delay is the latest indication of management issues at HUD. There have…

In a recent tragedy, gas leaks at a Public Housing property in Columbia, South Carolina caused two deaths and the evacuation of 411 residents. Managed by the Columbia Housing Authority (CHA), Allen Benedict Court is reportedly the third oldest Public Housing complex in the country. Without adequate funding for program operations and capital improvements —…

If the partial government shutdown continues into March, millions of low-income renters will find their housing at risk. And if the shutdown extends past February, each month, $1.5 billion in rental assistance payments will not be paid to landlords who rent to persons using Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). Tenants will also lose out…