HUD Scandals Uncovered

I have been attempting to persuade HUD to change its policy concerning the “County-wide Waiting List Rule.” Local facilities are prohibited from marketing vacant units to qualified seniors in the immediate area and must offer them instead to seniors throughout the entire county.

Many seniors in east and south Los Angeles have turned down units in Valencia because of its remote location, and despite newspaper ads, posters and flyers in public facilities they still remain unoccupied.

Not only does this archaic practice affect the vacancy rate, require repeated notification, costly processing and administration, it also results in a precious loss of desperately needed space in subsidized units for the ones who need it most--our low-income elderly.

Repeated complaints to HUD have fallen on deaf ears because they are bound by a higher authority in Washington. It’s time to change this antiquated practice and allow applicants the choice of first being placed in their local area.

JO ANNE DARCY

Mayor Pro-Tem

Santa Clarita