HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s housing plan would raise rents by 20% on Oakland’s poor

HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s housing plan would raise rents by 20% on Oakland’s poor

New study reveals HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s budget cutting plan would raise rents by 20%

By Lynda Carson - June 7, 2018

During 2017, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the Oakland Housing Authority had 13,422 federally subsidized housing units in it’s section 8 inventory, and 2,122 units in its low rent inventory formerly known as public housing units.

If Hud Secretary Ben Carson’s proposals to raise rents by 20% on Oakland’s low-income renters in HUD’s subsidized housing programs are not rejected by Congress, thousands may be placed at risk of losing their housing, and becoming homeless.

A new analysis released by the Associated Press and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reveals that HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s budget cutting proposals for HUD’s subsidized housing programs would result in a 20% rent increase for millions of low-income renters in the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, creating more homelessness in Oakland, the Bay Area, and across the nation.

Reportedly, in some of the major metropolitan areas, “rent for the poorest tenants in Baltimore, where Carson was a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and where his own story of overcoming poverty inspired generations of children, could go up by 19 percent or $800 a year. In Detroit, where Carson’s mother, a single parent, raised him by working two jobs, rents could increase by $710, or 21 percent. Households in Washington, D.C., one of the richest regions in the country, would see the largest increases: $980 per year on average, a 20 percent hike.”

According to additional HUD records, in 2017 San Francisco had 9,711 units in its section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and 3,756 units in its low rent inventory. San Francisco was in the process of privatizing more than 4,584 public housing units under the RAD program. South San Francisco had 80 units in its low rent inventory.

In other cities in the Bay Area, the Richmond Housing Authority had 1,851 units in its section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and 559 units in its low rent inventory.

Berkeley Housing Authority had 1,935 units in its section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and has sold its 75 public housing town homes to some out of state billionaires.

Alameda Housing Authority had 1,845 units in it’s section 8 subsidized housing inventory. The Alameda County Housing Authority had 6,341 units in it’s section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and one low rent housing development managed by the agency.

In Contra Costa County, there were 6,921 units in their section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and 1,177 low rent units.

And Marin County had 2,162 units in their section 8 subsidized housing inventory, and 496 low rent units during 2017.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson appears to backtrack:

Adding confusion to the already dire situation for low-income renters, after facing a backlash for his proposed budget cuts, earlier today reportedly HUD Secretary Ben Carson appeared to backtrack, claiming that the rent increases may not have to happen because more funding came through for HUD’s budget, and that the rents will only have to be raised if they have to.

Based on HUD’s own records, 79% of HUD-assisted households have an average annual income below $20,000, with 40% of those households having an annual income of $10,000 to $19,999. Only 20% of HUD-assisted households have an annual income of $20,000 or more.

Congress recently approved budget cuts to the Home Program and Section 202 housing programs for the elderly:

Among the many affordable housing projects in Oakland that may be affected by the proposed budget cuts to the Home Investment Partnerships (Home) program if enacted, includes Adeline Lofts, Allen Temple Manor, Altenheim Phase 1, Effie’s House, Bancroft Senior Homes, Bishop Nichols Senior Housing, California Hotel, Clinton Commons, Coolidge Ct, EC Reems Gardens, Eastmont Court, Fruitvale Transit Village, Harrison Hotel, International BLVD Family Housing, Lion Creek Crossings, Madison Lofts, Mandela Gateway Rental Housing, Merritt Crossings, Northgate Apartments, and other affordable housing projects.

Redwood Gardens Senior Housing in Berkeley is one of the many local affordable housing projects that may face budget cuts if the proposed budget cuts to the Section 202 program are enacted, including Bancroft Senior Homes, and Maggie Kuhn Apartments.

Reportedly, there are only 490 Section 202 properties in California and 6,166 in the country.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson in painting with Jesus as he attacks the poor:

As HUD Secretary Ben Carson takes aim at the poor with his catastrophic budget cuts to make up for the massive tax breaks given to the rich by Congress during the past year, he resides in luxury in Vienna, VA. Ben Carson has a net worth of $30 million, had a painting done of himself with Jesus, and he owns an additional luxurious home in Maryland.

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com

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(HUD budget cutting story appears at around 6:21 PM into the KPFA news broadcast)

KPFA 6:00PM Evening News - June 7, 2018

https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=287267

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