Carson Wants Poor to Pay More Rent, Work For Assistance

Ben Carson

Ben Carson, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, unveiled a major overhaul of the nation's rental housing assistance program, reports Katy O'Donnell of Politico. She writes:

The proposal reshaping the way HUD helps 4.5 million people meet their rent is part of a broader Trump administration push to link anti-poverty programs to employment.

Rental assistance recipients currently spend about 30% of their adjusted income on housing, with subsidies picking up the rest. Under the proposal HUD is sending to Congress, recipients would have to contribute 35% of their gross income or 35 percent of their income from working 15 hours a week at the federal minimum wage.

During a call with reporters, Carson said the current rental-assistance system is "unsustainable" and discourages people from earning more income. The proposal calls for verifying tenants' incomes and eligibility every three years instead of every year, which would allow for residents to pocket more money if their wages increase.

To learn more about the proposal, click on the link below to read the Politico story.