http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015100605
Quote:
New York, NY (AHN) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun charging rent to homeless families who live in publicly run shelters but receive income from jobs.
The new policy is based on a 1997 state law that was not enforced until last week when shelter operators started requiring shelter residents to pay a portion of their income based on factors including family size and the shelter being used, without exceeding 50 percent of a family's income.
City officials said the new rent requirement is in line with the federal Section 8 housing voucher program and has been in development since a 2007 state audit forced them to pay back $2.4 million in state housing aid that should have been covered by homeless families with income.
While it is unclear exactly why the state law was not forced until now, New York City does have an above-average rate of working homeless families than anywhere in the state, as well as higher living costs than almost anywhere else in the country.
Quote:
New York, NY (AHN) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun charging rent to homeless families who live in publicly run shelters but receive income from jobs.
The new policy is based on a 1997 state law that was not enforced until last week when shelter operators started requiring shelter residents to pay a portion of their income based on factors including family size and the shelter being used, without exceeding 50 percent of a family's income.
City officials said the new rent requirement is in line with the federal Section 8 housing voucher program and has been in development since a 2007 state audit forced them to pay back $2.4 million in state housing aid that should have been covered by homeless families with income.
While it is unclear exactly why the state law was not forced until now, New York City does have an above-average rate of working homeless families than anywhere in the state, as well as higher living costs than almost anywhere else in the country.