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Explosion of homelessness predicted for Obama administration voucher plan to desegregate low-income tenants

August 26, 2016

A well-intentioned Obama administration move to combat segregation of the poor is a recipe for disaster in New York City, a growing chorus of critics says.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to change the way it doles out housing vouchers to low-income tenants.

The idea is to break up concentrations of poverty in New York City and 30 other metro areas by paying less to subsidize apartments in high-poverty neighborhoods, and more in upper-income neighborhoods.

The hope is that it will shift low-income tenants into neighborhoods with lower crime and better schools — but a growing number of city critics say that won’t play in New York City.

Issues:Housing