HUD’s proposed legislation could severely hurt the nation’s poor and housing unstable

Proposed legislation from the Trump administration could triple the cost of rent for tenants in federally subsidized housing, the New York Times reported. The legislation, propelled forward by Trump’s budget director Mick Mulvaney as well as Housing and Development secretary Ben Carson, would allow local governments to establish work requirements for public housing tenants if they are considered fit enough to work. It would also increase the rents of elderly and disabled people after six years, agency officials told the Times. Carson said the proposed legislation was intended to start a conversation about reducing housing assistance as a strategy to decrease the deficit. The legislation has been condemned by congressional Democrats and is not predicted to pass the Senate.