Trump Wants To Cut Funding For Repairs: NPR

Mold. Leaks. Rodents. Crime. These are just some of the things the nation's 2 million public housing residents have to worry about. Many of the buildings they live in for decades. It would cost $ 50 billion to fix them up.

But the Trump administration wants to eliminate the federal fund now.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson says the country needs a new approach because of the current one is not working. He admits that living conditions for many people are extremely poor.

"There are two possible solutions," "Carson recently told a House" subcommittee appropriations.

Part of the problem stems from a steady decline in public housing repair funding over the past decade. About $ 2 trillion to $ 3 trillion has been appropriated in recent years, half the amount approved in 2000. At the same time, the needs have grown, creating a massive backlog.

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Tyrone Garrett, executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, is one of many people trying to deal with the fallout. Earlier this year, Garrett announced that his agency faced "a monumental crisis." Garrett says that they are unfit for human habitation.

"Would we want our parents, our family members, our mothers, or our children, for whom are we decaying around them?" he asks. Garrett says the answer is obviously "no," but about 5,000 Washingtonians now live in those units. He says he needs $ 343 million in emergency funding to meet the most urgent needs.

Garrett shows what he's talking about at Richardson Dwellings, a public housing complex in Northeast Washington. Like much of the nation's public housing, these two-story brick apartments are decades old and have been patched together. Today, some of the units are beyond repair.

"You have roof leaks, ceiling leaks, probably stemming from something on the roof, decaying floors, walls," says Garrett, pointing to water stains on the floor and chipped linoleum on the floor.

The apartment's living room is small and crammed with furniture, stacks of personal belongings and a large refrigerator. It's difficult to walk through the room. Scarlet-colored carpeting on the stairway is so loose, it's difficult to walk upstairs because it's unclear where one step begins and another one ends. Upstairs, Garrett points out more water stains on the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, and to black grout between the bathroom tiles.

"You can see where the mold is, and it's probably more than likely from a lack of ventilation," he says. These apartments were built in 1953 before exhaust fans were standard.

The majority of public housing residents and others are seniors, people with disabilities, and children – those who can not afford poor living conditions.

Jamell Fields shares an apartment at Richardson Dwellings with many people, including two daughters and grandchildren. When Garrett stops by, she tells me that the stuffy air inside has become a problem for all of them.

"Everybody in here is asthmatic," says Fields, who has lived there for two years. "It's so dry in here a lot and the asthma has gotten really bad for all of us. [My daughter] has medicine for it. I have medicine for it. My other daughter, she has medicine for it. Her, he got a little bit, but he did not have as much as we do. "

The apartment has other hazards, including lead-based paint, which has been made available to other people. She says at least the infestations are not as bad as they used to be.

"It's just the mice." "The mice is out of control a little bit," she says.

There's a lot at this complex that threatens the health of children. A tree in the courtyard is decorated with stuffed animals and pinwheels – a memorial to a 10-year-old girl who was caught in a hail of gunfire when she went out to buy $ 5 bill. Her family is now suing the housing authority, saying it does not provide enough security in the area of ​​violent crime.

Garrett says D.C. is not alone. "Other housing authorities in the country are in the same boat." We're looking for opportunities to be able to improve the lives of our families, and it's becoming more difficult with the cuts cuts, "he says. Garrett estimates it would be more than $ 2 trillion to set up all of the city's public housing over the long run.

HUD goal Secretary Carson says the federal government has limited funds and needs to attract more private investment. He told the law that the taxpayer is in favor of the taxpayer, which is called "opportunity zones."

"A lot of money will be pouring into these areas – 380,000 public housing units," he told lawmakers.

Carson predicts that tens of billions of dollars will be invested in these struggling communities, aided in part by reduced regulations and other government incentives.

But housing advocates say there is no guarantee. The tax breaks are also allowed.

Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, says the jury is still out on opportunity zones.

"She said," This is the money that is going to solve your problem, and it's really going to be low-income households, "she says.

Zaterman thinks public-private deals can help in the long run, but notes that they can take care of everything and the crisis is now. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill have also expressed their views on the administration's proposal to eliminate the need for public housing.

This has left residents worried about what will happen to them. At a recent meeting of the DC Housing Commission 's Board of Commissioners, several tenants said they need their living conditions to improve. They do not care where the money comes from.

"It's stressful," said Linda Brown, who has lived in public housing for 12 years with her disabled daughter. She fears being displaced if her aging complex is torn down. She notes that there are currently 41,000 families in the city waiting for housing assistance.

"We should be mindful that we are talking about human beings and not numbers," says Brown, who like other public housing residents is required to pay a third of her income in rent. "We're talking about families that have already been uprooted."

Both the city and HUD's Carson have promised to keep their families well, but it's not clear how they'll end up living.