Section 8 program driving high rents ? (2015, apartment complex, rent)
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I would be very interested in jurisdictions that require landlords to accept Section 8...
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You seem to have a good system going if you've been in the program 30 years.
California, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and D.C. appear to prohibt discrimination based on type of income or assistance status. And then we already know some counties and/or cities add legislation for the smaller areas.
(I got the info from a quick lexis search of state Fair Housing Acts.)
You seem to have a good system going if you've been in the program 30 years.
California, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and D.C. appear to prohibt discrimination based on type of income or assistance status. And then we already know some counties and/or cities add legislation for the smaller areas.
(I got the info from a quick lexis search of state Fair Housing Acts.)
Many owners here would not use HUD supplied rental agreements so, until recently when HUD now allows this, these units would not be eligible.
I understand the source of income provisions... it is just that a person can be on Section 8 and still have a normal job, no bad credit and good references as opposed to none of the above.
In the interest of full disclosure... I have some Section 8 tenants that have been with me 25 or more years... my last new Section 8 tenant just moved and was with me 5 years.
At one time, part of the back bone of the program is the Housing Authority would guarantee two months rent in lieu of the tenant paying a full security deposit... when Housing got out of the Security Deposit end of things, many owners stopped taking new assisted renters.
Landlords rented to tenants that moved in with maybe a $50 security deposit with Housing on the Hook for up to two months of damages find they have a tenant with a $50 deposit and housing is out of the picture... Housing recommended landlords set up a payment plan to collect a full security deposit... don't know a single situation where this proved doable.
I would be very interested in jurisdictions that require landlords to accept Section 8...
I have been with the program as a property manager for roughly 30 years...
There are several components necessary to execute a Housing Assistance Payment Contract...
1. The rent must meet program guidelines and be rent reasonable compared to similar units in the area according to the family's eligibility.
2. The unit must meet minimum Housing Quality Standards...
3. The landlord and tenant must agree to follow HUD regulations.
Lacking any of the above... it simply is not possible to participate.
In addition, some owners are prohibited by law from accepting Section 8... I ran into this years ago when a large complex was partially owned by a government official.
When you live in a city or state run by radical liberals anything and everything is possible.
While housing advocates have applauded the move as a groundbreaking measure that will give lower-income tenants more options, the landlord community is looking into the possibility of a legal challenge. New York City currently has roughly 85,000 Section 8 residents and expects to add another 22,000 to the system.
"We think there are grounds for legal action, but we haven't determined if we will proceed," said Frank Ricci, director of government affairs at the Rent Stabilization Association, which represents landlords.
The chances of overturning the law seem unlikely. Several other cities (including Washington, D.C., and Chicago), along with the state of New Jersey, mandate that landlords accept Section 8 vouchers. Court rulings have upheld state and local laws.
Engel said he knows of several Section 8 horror stories, like the tenant who refused to allow access to an apartment even though it needed significant repairs. While the tenant held out, the voucher payments ceased, and the landlord lost six months of rent.
Until you live among section 8'ers than you will never understand. There is a definite increase in trash, noise, crime. The values are not the same. Their mentality does not change. The schools start to fail bcause of lack of parent involvement, bullies, behavioral issues. If there is a medium percentage, then there is a territorial issue. The quality of stores in the neighborhood change. The walmart in my vicinity doesn't even come close in merchandise to the walmart/target across the turnpike. The difference is drought versus rain. Same thing in Kroger. Basic Kroger versus gourmet kroger. The section 8 experiment is not working. If a partial part of their rent is paid, this is not an incentive to come off of section 8. Who would want to pay the whole amount if the government is paying part. There should be limitations.
These stories are being told all across America but unfortunately no one in power really cares. As someone pointed out this program is supported by both parties for different reasons. Kind of like food stamps.
These stories are being told all across America but unfortunately no one in power really cares. As someone pointed out this program is supported by both parties for different reasons. Kind of like food stamps.
Over the years... I have had very few what would be called success stories... that is where a family transitions into and then works their way to independence.
One was a young single mother that was in nursing school and another was in a training program with the transit agency... so I do know it happens.
More common is several generations on assistance... it is the only way of life the family knows... and Section 8 opens the doors to a myriad of other programs... it can be overwhelming when earning that 1 dollar more means loosing the only way of life you know.
Others, are disabled and seniors... they will be on assistance for the long term...
What I see now is many tenants are taking full advantage of Voucher portability and porting out to other areas... so you may be approved and receive you eligibility certificate and bound to stay in the district the first year... after that, the entire country is possible as to where to move.
Those working basic jobs have many worries... they don't have the luxury to pack up and relocate knowing rent assistance will be waiting at their new destination...
At one time, many had never heard of Section 8... now most know of it.
Remember, Section 8 was touted to the answer for the problems of the projects... the intent was to mainstream low income families throughout the fabric of the nation and never again concentrate in projects.
The cities are generally controlled by Democrats and they would rather not deal with questions such as race and class. Especially when the results conflict with their firmly held beliefs in regards to crime and poverty.
Wow, you must be magical.......if I make a controversial post like this......well, the results are not good......I agree with your post though.
If you believe any of that then you are just plain old silly. This is all bull. No way in hell this occurs.
Wish that were the case, but it just isn't. Welfare fraud of all types is prevalent. Check out this link, and remember it's just one of many, and one of the few who get caught or prosecuted: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pres...darrestspr.pdf
Might be different where you are... Section 8 fraud occurs and is a big problem in some parts of the country...
Several local agencies in the last 10 years have had major overhauls after HUD audits...
you cannot get welfare if you have a job making that kind of money and you pay taxes on it. now perhaps there's a part of the story that's missing, like grandmother in the basement who's the one receiving the welfare but i'm not buying the fact that somehow 4 grown adults with good tax paying jobs are receiving welfare.
These stories are being told all across America but unfortunately no one in power really cares. As someone pointed out this program is supported by both parties for different reasons. Kind of like food stamps.
edwarda
have you ever lived outside of america? like really really lived outside of america? i have, on several continents and one thing prevails. this so called "liberal" american system is a godsend.
i will take american style section 8 and housing projects any day over favela's or shantytown's.
the sad part about it is that, the people who you think you are going to hurt, i.e. poor and minority, are probably going to be the ones who thrive even if there were no section 8 or housing assistance (see: any third world country). the people who will hurt the most are more than likely the majority who now consume most of section 8 and housing subsidies (white women and elderly people). someone already pointed out in here that less than 2% of baltimore's population receives vouchers. this doom and gloom that you guys paint is ridiculous. instead of blaming the program, blame the landlords who don't screen their tenants properly. blame the landlords who don't care who they put in their properties so long as the rent is paid. it's the same reason why communities like towson passed ordinances that required no more than 2 or 3 unrelated persons can occupy one property (due to college kids ruining property value and causing disturbances). if you're tired of you're community looking like crap, put some pressure on the landlord and tell them that you demand better neighbors or at the very least, demand that he take care of his property (every jurisidiciton has codes; i.e. keep your grass cut, no auto equipment in the front yard, no untagged/titled cars on the street, etc.). the problem is people would rather complain and do nothing and whine to politicians than take action and do something.
i could go on about all the political welfare that both conservatives and liberals dish out to countries like israel, palestine (yes, i consider them a country), and others via "aid" but NO ONE wants to touch that with a 1000ft pole.
just be careful about whining about "welfare" and "abuse", no one party has clean hands on this issue, not one...
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