Most of the public housing in American need repairs on a yearly basis for basic up keeping but the federal government does not have the funds for these basic repairs according to this New York Times article. This article focuses on the public housing in New York and New Jersey and many tenants complain about drainage holes and paint chipping and both can lead to serious health hazards. The drainage holes lead to mold growing and insects and rodents invading the public housing and there is a wait of up to 3 years to get any of these repairs done, some of the time a nonprofit organization will have volunteers help with the repairs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has drafted a proposal where the the public housing agencies to use their land and houses as equity and get loans from the private sector and money from Congress will repay the debt over time. This is a great example of the 3 legged tool analogy of how the 3 sectors (private, public and nonprofit) all work together. The government bureaucrat( HUD) is using the nonprofits to help with their public housing needs but is also is relying on the private sector for the funding.
-Hannah Shearer
www.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/nyregion/25repairs.html?pagewanted=1&ref=us
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Its encouraging to know the Department of Housing and Urban Development drafted a new proposal for public housing. Providing safe and healthy public housing is important, but shouldn't be updated so often. Instead our government should invest more money into the actual buildings and build nicer housing for the poor. I liked how you mentioned the 3 legged idea, the non-profit organizations should have a bigger role concerning public housing.
ReplyDeleteI like how The Department of Housing and Urban Development has drafted a proposal and that they are trying to fix the problem with public housing.The proposal will involve public agencies using their land and houses as equity and the private sector will give loans and money and Congress will repay the debt over time. This type of movement throughout the government is a perfect example of what Hannah stated above as a 3 legged tool. I also wanted to comment on the fact that this article although spending money for repairs does not discuss how high the rent is for these not so kept living quarters. This should also be included in the proposal.
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