Possibly similar in that the projects here are government owned.
Though I don't know a whole lot about the requirements for Council housing, IF indeed they are primarily for people that have no job and live on benefits or have poor income, I would say that in this respect they are quite different from NYCHA.
Here in New York, Projects are for low AND middle income, which means a family of four qualifies if they make under $61,450 a year
More than 50%, in fact an overwhelming majority DO have a job. In fact, working families are given a priority code called the "Working Family Preference". They are often given priority over those who don't work, especially since Mayor Bloomberg eliminated the separate "homeless" preference. Now Homeless are primarily referred to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
As well, IF a member of the household is not a student, employed, or disabled, they are REQUIRED by law to perform community service.
Also note, in America, it is almost impossible to "not work and live off of benefits" And illegal immigrants do NOT qualify for benefits.
Common unknown facts on American "Welfare" which is now called "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" or also known as "Public Assistance".
Since President Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996... The following changes were implemented.
In America, you cannot LIVE off of benefits as there is a Lifetime 60 months federal limits (TIME LIMIT) on benefits (5 years), once you have used those 60 months, there is NO Welfare for you for the REST of your life, even if STARVING, you don't get a single cent. (A few states have implemented emergency alternatives around this, I believe about 5 or 6 states)
Most Americans don't know that Welfare Recipients PAY THEIR OWN benefits, NOT taxpayers! Welfare recipients are required to work off their "checks" and mandatory minimum wage job assignments, their only "pay" IS their welfare check.
Most Americans Also do not know, that if for any reason a Welfare recipient receives more benefits than their mandatory government assigned minimum wage job, then their Earned Income Tax Credit AND ALL Tax refunds are CONFISCATED and taken by the government to pay for any benefits they may have received that past year.
Welfare Recipients ALSO have their Child Support Checks CONFISCATED (except for a $50 monthly pass through payment) to cover any balance of "benefits" they may have received.
The government also CONFISCATES any Welfare balance from future judgments, winnings, etc that year.
Welfare recipients must ALSO sign that they WILL pay back ALL benefits received within that year should they have the possibility of doing so.
The American Welfare program is ONLY "Welfare" for the disabled (Which MOST people do not qualify, EVEN terminally ill) But i you ARE Disabled for a long term, you are simply removed from Welfare and transferred to "SSI" (Permanent Disability)
For the rest, Welfare is ONLY a temporary NON-Interest LOAN and Job Search Program / Guaranteed part-time LOW Paid Employment. But, work is Absolutely Compulsory. Benefits MUST be returned to the Government!
Hope this helps clear up that residents of public housing are not permitted by the U.S. government to simply "not work" and "live off a check"
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