U.S. public housing needs $26B for repairs

The United States’ 1.2 million public housing units need an estimated $25.6 billion for large-scale repairs, according to a study released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The new capital needs estimate far exceeds our annual budget for these repairs and illustrates why America needs a long-term strategy to address the loss of thousands of public housing units annually,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Many of the nation’s public housing units are buckling under a severe backlog in capital needs.” The report focuses on improvements required to make the housing “decent and economically sustainable,” such as replacing roofs, updating plumbing or improving electrical systems to increase energy efficiency. — Alexander Britell

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