That's a link to an RSS feed of all the "action" in a particular area of the site, including ideas and comments, etc. To learn more about what RSS is and how you can use it, HUD should focus housing $$$ to the lowest income levels 0-40%AMI, the private sector can't do it.
Use of ever diminishing public funds should be focused where it is most needed, for those persons living in poverty at 0-40%AMI. On average, 10% of the populations in communities across the country make poverty level wages or lower. Research shows that individuals and families making 50% or more of AMI (Area Median Income) can find and afford private sector housing. The percentage of HUD and Local Government public monies for vouchers and bricks and mortar should be increased for the lowest of incomes, with a priority for housing rental vouchers. We can't end homelessness without access to the existing and new affordable housing needed to move them into.
anonymous
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5 comments
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Brian M Smith
commented
Tulsa Oklahoma MHA Greg Shinn (above) makes very valid points........... The Human Service Providers with funding from Federal & State sources CANNOT solve increasing demand of those @ 0 - 40% of AMI on thier own .Collaboration, support for, and involvement of the private sector is essential.
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Ken Maness
commented
This post does not indicate that the private sector does not have a role in providing affordable housing for individuals and families at 0-40%AMI . Otherwise, Mr Shinn's comments on this item are correct and on target. The Private Sector, HUD, CoC agencies, or any other funding vehicles can not provide housing for this segment of the population alone.. all must work together to address this critical need in communities across our country. At this time, however, in the current economy we will never be able to meet the needs for this level of housing (as Mr Schinn says - hundreds of thousands of units) if we focus too extensively on new bricks and mortar projects. The use of existing housing resources through subsidies must be expanded for this income level, while continuing to explore ways to build new low income housing. Both the rental subsidies used to make existing housing affordable and new housing should certainly become components of mixed income neighborhoods in communities across the country. Your vote on this item should focus on the point that HUD shoud focus housing $$$ to the lowest income levels 0-40%. The Private Sector can't do it ALONE, nor can anyone else, but increased attention to a variety of funding resources must be given to this critical need for housing among our lowest of income citizens.
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Greg Shinn
commented
I agree that funding levels need to be increased and that development of affordable housing for the 0 - 40% of AMI needs to be a priority. However, it is NOT true that the private sector has no part in the solution. The fact is this: The social service sector CANNOT solve the housing crisis. With or without vouchers, with our without tax credits, Federal Home Loan Bank or any other subsisdy vehicle. This inlcudes the Continuum of Care. These subsidies and the CoC are only PART of the answer. The problem is far too large and it is way beyond non-profits and social service providers ability to solve the problem. It is IMPERATIVE that the private sector/ for profit sector - be brought in to help solve the problem. This is where the expertise lies to get the job done. we need hundreds of thousands of units of affordable housing across the country.
Social service/non-profit and private sector/for profit parterships is where the answer lies. The for profit private sector needs incentives to develop affordable housing. It has to be profitable for them. Large tracts of high density 0 - 40% occupied housing projects were a bad idea from the beginning. We are still trying to undue all of the problems associated with that from the past. The affordable housing must be developed for mixed income/mixed population to build in sustainability. This is about true community planning, not just solving the housing crisis for the 0 - 40% of AMI population. We need to change the way we are addressing the problem or we are never going to get to the end point. Greg Shinn, Tulsa, OK. www.mhat.org -
Beth Hamilton McFarling commented
As the parent of an adult child (who has a child) I can attest first hand to the crisis we have in our community for low income housing. My Grandaughter is now in 7th grade and has yet to attend any school in our area for more than one year because the location of "home" changes with the tide. My daughter does not qualify for Section 8 vouchers. At the age of 17 she forged checks that belonged to my Mother totaling $1500 and some change. My Mother allowed the bank to press charges. At teh age of 24 they prosecuted her. She plead guilty and ended up in Women's Prison for almost a year and a felony conviction. the deed was done before she told us what had happened. A few minutes with an attorney and some legalease would have likely saved her from the hell she now lives. A felony conviction no matter how small keeps many things that we take for granted out of her reach. She's a good hard working woman a great Mother. She doesn't drink or do drugs but as a single Mother with her conviction she gets very little. There are so many out there like her. Good people who made mistakes in their youth and now living on the streets trying desperately to find that "infamous" step up. It is heartbreaking to see the faces and hear their stories. We can raise millions for disasters in other countries by texting a number but the same kind of suffering and hunger and lack of medical treatment exists in our community and we do nothing.
ONE TRIBE Y'ALL! -
Ken Maness
commented
I posted this, don't know why it was listed as anonymous....
Additional rental vouchers should be at the highest of priorities for HUD. In Raleigh NC there is a 3-5 year wait for Sec 8 vouchers and they are getting even harder for some as the HUD Criteria for misdimener offenders has locally been increased, ie the HUD Bar has been raised locally to a level higher than it should. There are 5-6,000 persons on the Housing Authority Sec 8 voucher waiting list and 1-2,000 persons on the waiting list for Housing Authority properties. So many persons needing help and not able to get it sends a clear message that we are simply not able to produce the affordable housing locally to meet the need not only for those living here but also for those 300 new families projected to move here each year that will be making poverty level wages at jobs providing the services we all need each day. Private Sector Rental Housing which is currently beyond the affordability of families living at the lowest of income levels could be used if rental vouchers were available. Our Human Service Agencies are clogged with individuals and families that are desperate for affordable housing and are willing and able to work to stay in it, but it simply isn't available. Additional Housing Vouchers are a critical part of the solution to Ending Homelessness in our communities, funding levels should be increased and local governments required to shift their priorities for use of local and federal funding to provide housing for those living in poverty with incomes at 0-40% AMI.
www.raleighnc.gov/endinghomelessness
