On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a press release announcing a $1.8 billion grant program awarded to 3,100 public housing authorities (PHAs) in the U.S. as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kansas was noted as the recipient of $10,075,777. Unfortunately, there are 105 PHAs in Kansas that will potentially share these funds. All, I’m sure, have a list of unbudgeted capital improvement projects. How many of the 105 will benefit? While $95,959.78 isn’t a number to sneeze at, it also isn’t enough to pay for repairs to 100 units!

Public housing has notable examples of deferred maintenance. The loss of public housing each year to under-maintained structures is approximately 10,000 units nationwide or under 100 in our state. Besides causing unrecoverable issues for cities and citizens alike,the social stigma surrounding poverty is exacerbated by less-than-ideal living conditions. 

HUD’s Capital Fund Program is available to “build, repair, renovate and/or modernize” public housing in each community. An illustration of the importance of these funds, Jeff Crump, in a 2002 report, outlined policy decisions made in Minneapolis, Minn., where a concentration of public housing in disrepair was considered a part of the issue of poverty. The ensuing conversations resulted in a court case and the eventual demolition of housing units. Because there were no quick replacements for low-income and severely burdened households, people were forced out of their homes and into homelessness.

Most people moving to a community make available housing their primary criteria for residence. It is welcome news that HUD understands the need to maintain a quality housing stock for all levels of income. It will also be critically important for individual communities to do the same.

References:

Brown, J. (2014, March 19). HUD awards $1.8 billion to improve, preserve public housing, grants to support capital needs of 3.100 public housing authorities. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, pp. 1-7.

Crump, J. (2002). Deconcentration by demolition: public housing, poverty, and urban policy. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 20, 581-596. doi: 10.1068/d306