Living in public housing is a service provided to help families and individuals with lower incomes to live in a safe and habitable environment.
In recent years, there has been an outcry regarding the more than 25,000 families nationwide living in public housing that earn “too much” to receive this service. This has reportedly prevented families on long wait lists from having a suitable place to live.
U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) has responded by compiling two years’ of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data and using that research to introduce the “Fairness in Public Housing Act,” which would require tenants in public housing who have earned more than 125 percent of the median area income for more than one year to move out, so families with greater need may have a place to live.
“Public and subsidized housing is available to help struggling individuals and families, and it’s encouraging to know many people have been able to get back on their feet and increase their wages,” Roe said. “Still, I strongly believe that once a family has risen and stayed out of poverty, other needy families should be given the same opportunity.” Roe said this is a nationwide issue, citing the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) finding that nearly 18,000 of the 25,000 over-income families had earned more than the qualifying amount for more than a year. Additionally, the OIG estimated HUD would spend as much as $104.4 million in the next year for housing units occupied by families over the income limit.
Median income for this area (including Carter County and surrounding counties) is $52,400, according to the HUD data for 2015.
Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency Executive Director Kelly Geagley said none of his residents make more than 125 percent of the median area income, $65,500, or even make the median income. This means the bill would have no immediate effect in Carter County, and that residents living in EHDA housing meet existing requirements as well as Roe’s proposed requirement.
Geagley said if HUD mandates they establish a policy regarding over-income residents, they will establish one.
“I hope it would consider income over a year and not just for months or weeks, because income and hours worked fluctuate; it’s just not steady,” said Geagley.
Though there are about 100 applicants that have been accepted to be on the waiting list when an apartment opens, Geagley said they have not had a problem with over-income earners keeping those names on the wait list.
“We verify income eligibility tomake sure applicants are income eligible for public housing,” said Geagley. “When they become residents, we verify their income annually, and they report any changes to income immediately.”
Due to the economy and the nature of jobs available in the area, Geagley said income fluctuates and some residents do not make the same amount of wages for a full year.
“Our experience has been that residents who consistently make good money will move out on their own and get a home or a private market place to live, because the higher the income, the more rent they pay,” Geagley explained. “I would like there to be a transition phase so if you are over-income for a period of time, we work with the family to provide resources to assist them in obtaining home loans or renting private places that are not income-based rent.”