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There's no such thing as zoning for public housing. There's zoning to allow for multi-family, but it's illegal to exclude housing based upon income. And you'd be shocked at how much "public housing" probably exists in middle-income neighborhoods.
Too bad there isn't some public service foundation which operates a project to tag all section 8 properties on google maps. Then you could get a plugin for your navigation system to display them. It could help some people to house hunt.
My neighborhood has restrictions that effectively do not allow public housing or section 8. There is a covenant which requires all homes to be single family and have a 3 car garage, and it would not be cost effective to subsidize the rental of a house with a 3 car garage.
Unless your HOA specifically prohibits owners from leasing their properties out, it's not prohibiting Section 8.
Unless an owner were willing to lower the rent to secure a Section 8 voucher holder, it's unlikely the market rent would qualify for a voucher assist.
Too bad there isn't some public service foundation which operates a project to tag all section 8 properties on google maps. Then you could get a plugin for your navigation system to display them.
It could help with house hunting if you want to live in a truly mixed income neighborhood. Or perhaps you just want to take your morning walks through there and feel all warm and egalitarian
In pittsburgh a few years ago, there was a big "scandal", because the county was buying $100K homes for these people to live in.. Stories about how they had to rip out jacuzzi tubs and such in order to be "compliant" with standards to downgrade them..
Meanwhile, they were still living in $100K homes while many in the area worked daily to sustain the same priced home.
That's really sad. I can see not putting in the jacuzzis to begin with but to rip them out afterwards just reeks of vindictiveness
Developers get tax breaks to provide a percentage of low income units. Residents of these units do not necessarily enjoy all the amenities (pool etc...) which may require an additional fee. In NYC these mixed developments are built with "poor doors" to separate the 2 classes of tenants.
"the "poor door" trend had spread to Washington DC, with an apartment complex at U and 14th Streets set to be redeveloped, with all of the social housing tenants put in a separate wing, accessed from a different street"
Federal vouchers don't cover additional expenses like massages.
Tax breaks? So then with the money they save they can "create jobs" I would think the cons would love that.
Didn't read all the responses but I have worked as a consultant in public housing and HCV (Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8).
One of the primary goals of the program is to "deconcentrate poverty." That is accomplished by allowing access to higher income neighborhoods for lower income individuals. And FWIW, unlike what the OP article states, usually participants do pay to live in these locations. They pay 30% of their income and can only stay in specific locations that are approved by the local housing authority.
The apartment communities who participate like to let Section 8 tenants live in these locations because they are basically guaranteed rent from the government and many times they get tax credits when they build new locations that allow lower income residents.
Didn't read all the responses but I actually do wonder if those locations are just LIHTC (low income housing tax credit) locations that set aside a certain amount of units for people making a specific amount of money, usually much more than what people on Section 8 make. Most people living in LIHTC are not on Section 8 and can make up to $60K per year. Someone making that much in most locations across the country cannot qualify for the Section 8 program.
ETA: There are locations in specific cities, I know Chicago, that allow what is called a "super voucher" where they can get a luxury apartment in prime locations with their Section 8 voucher. They are not very numerous. One also should consider that many locations that are considered "public housing" are very nice communities, especially those for the elderly. The elderly are also more likely to get into these nicer digs. But there is a myth that people on Section 8 only live in the hood or ghettos. This has not been true for many years. Most Section 8 tenants live in very nice neighborhoods and people don't even know they have a neighbor on Section 8.
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