150,000 poor New Jersey families could soon be facing higher rent.
The Trump administration’s policy proposals to increase rent obligations for those living in subsidized housing would affect 99 percent of renters who receive assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a report from the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
NJ.com reported that family rents would increase by 18 percent on average. And if the proposal were to pass Congress, the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania metropolitan area would undergo an increase of $930 per year for subsidized rents, the nation’s third largest increase.
“This proposal would do incredible harm to families across New Jersey and make our state less affordable,” said Anthony Campisi, a spokesman for non-profit housing rights group Fair Share Housing.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson unveiled the nationwide proposal in April. It would impact some 4.7 million families. While tenants receiving subsidies like Section 8 put up as much as 30 percent of their income in rent, the Trump administration would like to bump that up to 35 percent. The proposed bill would also make it easier for local housing agencies to impose work requirements on tenants receiving subsidies. [NJ.com] — Will Parker