(Crankers) Taxpayers in Arizona are covering the costs of rent for Section 8 housing up to $6,020 per housing choice voucher (HVC). Critics say this is giving recipients the lap of luxury instead of helping them out of poverty – and taxpayers aren’t happy about it.
During a conversation with The Center Square, National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp said: “It’s unfair to ask taxpayers who can’t afford mortgages or rents of six thousand dollars per month to foot the bill for subsidies amounting to that much.”
But wait, there’s more. Some HCV recipients have remained in the program for just over 15 years, with taxpayers footing the bill. In order to put a stop to that, the Trump administration is trying to limit Section 8 to only two years, according to Scott Turner, the Urban Development Secretary.
One major concern of Section 8 is finding out that recipients are able-bodied and can go to work, but have chosen not to because they take advantage of the system. Some folks are raised on Section 8, then raise their own children on it, and the cycle of poverty continues instead of being fixed.
The positive theory suggests that families should be encouraged to get off the system, not remain on it, and that the system should be used if and when it’s truly needed.
Many critics believe taxpayer funds should not promote a lifestyle in the projects, but rather a stepping stone to get out of poverty.