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af·ford·a·ble
That
can be afforded: affordable housing; an affordable risk
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af·ford
To
have the financial means for; bear the cost of: not
able to afford a new car.
To
manage to spare or give up: can't afford an hour for
lunch.
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Books on Poverty- See the
Guide to Books |
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Poor people
in America? Not here, right?
Section 8,
homeless shelters, Food Banks, Public Assistance and Food
Stamps.
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We complain about paying high taxes whether it be property,
sales, or income tax. Some of that money makes it way back to
helping those in need in one form or another.
We talk
about money going to help the “developing” nations – such
as in Africa or even Russia and China. We must realize, however
, that right her in the United States, people are poor –
extremely poor. Some people cannot just simply “escape”
their environment due to circumstances beyond their control.
The purpose
of many federal and state programs is to assist those less
fortunate. Many programs come and go. One of the most basic and
hardest requirements to fulfill is that of housing for the poor.
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Housing Projects (1940
– 1960) were an idea whereby cities and states would build
Public Housing “Projects” for the poor. While the idea was
correct – it did not go far enough to “mainstream” (up and
coming word) the poor
(socially and economically) into another world. We simply lumped
a group of economically disadvantaged people into one, new,
government built section of a city – keeping them separate
from the rest of the city socially.
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At the time
these new projects were built, it was on the less desirable
pieces of property in the City – near major highways,
industrial sections of town etc.
These
projects began to fail as the surrounding communities faltered,
buildings deteriorated and continuing services were not rendered
– social services, physical services etc.
Across the
nation, we have slowly begun to dismantle these projects with a
bulldozer or spectacular staged explosions (St. Louis). See the
offices Demolition
and Disposition Program
SECTION
8 - HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS
The
new Housing Programs or Social
Service Programs , designed and administered by
US
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
are designed to encourage the disadvantaged to seek housing in
the generally community they wish to live. This is mainstreaming.
This is the same concept being used in schools across the
nation. The idea is bring those who are disadvantaged the same
general opportunities (equality)
as those without the disadvantage.
Many people
are poor due to disability, abuse, physically handicap or age. Others may have been in trouble in the past, but are seeking a
new life.
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SECTION 8 DIRECTORY
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NYCHA’s Section 8 program is the largest in the United
States. They administer approximately 83,000 Section 8
vouchers serving 270,000 New Yorkers. Over 29,000 landlords
currently participate in the program.
Go to: NEW
YORK SECTION 8
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| As of May 15, 2007 NYCHA will only accept Section
8 applications from emergency applicants, until further notice. |
Currently, the two main Section 8
programs are tenant-based vouchers and project-based vouchers.
In the tenant-based program, eligible families with a
certificate or voucher find and lease a unit and pay a portion
of a reasonable rent. Their portion is based on income,
generally around 30%. The local housing authority pays the owner
the remaining rent, capped by the Fair Market Rent (FMR) or a
fixed percentage thereof. The housing authorities determine the
reasonable rent and the FMR is determined by the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Section
8 (Housing Choice)
tenants qualify for federal housing
assistance for a number of different reasons.
There are
no racial, ethnical or other criteria over who may or may not
qualify.
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