HUD Section 8
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Community Revitalization
Forum Description: Middletown Community Revitalization News
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4966
Printed Date: Nov 22 2024 at 12:03am
Topic: HUD Section 8
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: HUD Section 8
Date Posted: Dec 30 2012 at 1:17pm
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Letter from HUD to MPHA dated |
Replies:
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Dec 30 2012 at 1:36pm
| Sounds like a plan to me |
Posted By: JEF
Date Posted: Dec 30 2012 at 6:53pm
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I'm confused about 2 points, can you please explain? In the 4th paragraph it says there are 1662 allotted vouchers, and in the 6th paragraph it says that the vouchers will drop to 654. So, will there be 1662 vouchers allowed? And if so, why would the number below say 654? Maybe I'm reading it wrong? thanks
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Dec 31 2012 at 6:37am
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Mr. Adkins wants to remove 1008 vouchers from the program. |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 01 2013 at 12:24pm
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Jef, Mr Adkins and other city leaders want to reduce the number of voucher administered by MPHA from 1662 to the 654 by attrition. The City has for many years had an excessive amount of S8 Vouchers for a city it's size. When you look at NYC, which the last I checked a few yers, it had 1 for every 99 citizens. Middletown has aprox. 1 S8 voucher for every 28 citizens.
It is time to reduce that number so that Middletown may have a brighter future. Pacman  |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 04 2013 at 2:43pm
| vivian has dougie heard back from hud on his proposal to them? |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 3:10am
It seems like HUD lowered the boom and offered only three choices:
Read the entire story here: http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/hud-to-middletown-fill-the-vouchers-transfer-the-p/nTnFR/" rel="nofollow - http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/hud-to-middletown-fill-the-vouchers-transfer-the-p/nTnFR/ A response to HUD is due by January 31. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
over the hill wrote:Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 9:56am
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This is only half of the problems that City Hall and Mr. Doug are facing concerning HUD programs and funds in the coming year. It is evident that HUD gave City Hall enough rope and they have now hung themselves. HUD must now have enough evidence to remove the Section 8 Program from city control. I’m sure that HUD now has a file cabinet full of complaints from tenants and landlords about the way the program has been operating or the past few years. This is a very serious matter. While City Hall stands before Council and complains that the Section 8 and other HUD programs are costing them millions of dollars they are using both hands to stuff HUD FUNDS into their favorite pet projects and not the areas of greatest need. The big secret that City Hall doesn’t want you to know is without all this HUD Money…..the City of The “ |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 9:58am
| thanks Mike it will be interesting to see what judith and dougie do with this how they want to spin this the city does not need another law suit to pay for we need JOBS! how about we consintrate are efforts there |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 10:03am
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Thanks Vivian You hit the nail on the head. Judith's grand idea has now put Middletown in dire straights. When will council wake up. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 11:14am
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Over the Hill As I have said many times before…there are two people in this world you really don’t want to tick off or pick a fight with, one is the IRS and the other is HUD. The bullies at City Hall picked the wrong opponent this time. As Ganny would say “You shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds ya.” |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 3:42pm
| I must have read a different article from you have all read. |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 4:47pm
| KABOOM Wow I cant believe it has taken this long for the Director of MPHA Mrs Judy Gillelands plan of attack to get noticed. OK now that we are all on the same page people check this out Mr Doug says that the only way that the City can lose any HUD funding the agency would have to first find that a regulation violation had been committed and that the city refused to cooperate to regain compliance. People I have seen letters from the MPHA and Doug Adkins forcing voucher holders to pay old water bills on units that were never on the program but were owed to the city of Middletown for example a person rents a house in 2008 has a water bill balance off 150.00 and vacated the unit unpaid and is now on the program but the unit they live in now the landlord supplies and is responsible for the water. Under the Hap contract at this point the city of Middletown or MPHA would not have the grounds to demand payment of a old water bill but they notified the voucher holder that he of she will not might be terminated from the program if this old bill is not paid within ten days of there notice. Wow does this sound like manipulation of the program by the city or what? more to come on the program later tonight |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 05 2013 at 5:05pm
| KABOOM Wow I cant believe it has taken this long for the Director of MPHA Mrs Judy Gillelands plan of attack to get noticed. OK now that we are all on the same page people check this out Mr Doug says that the only way that the City can lose any HUD funding the agency would have to first find that a regulation violation had been committed and that the city refused to cooperate to regain compliance. People I have seen letters from the MPHA and Doug Adkins forcing voucher holders to pay old water bills on units that were never on the program but were owed to the city of Middletown for example a person rents a house in 2008 has a water bill balance off 150.00 and vacated the unit unpaid and is now on the program but the unit they live in now the landlord supplies and is responsible for the water. Under the Hap contract at this point the city of Middletown or MPHA would not have the grounds to demand payment of a old water bill but they notified the voucher holder that he of she will not might be terminated from the program if this old bill is not paid within ten days of there notice. Wow does this sound like manipulation of the program by the city or what? more to come on the program later tonight. Your right Mrs Moon they thought no one of the understanding of the HUD regulations was watching I have watched this manipulation of the program go on long enough HUD needs to give it to Butler Metro. This program and the city needs new management starting at the top what is the Mayors opinion on this topic you would think that since he is elected by the people of this city he would want the best for all poor and rich I understand balancing the cities economics but not by removing families of the the city limits just what he is doing like i said new management from top to bottom. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 06 2013 at 11:09am
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I like Mr.Adkin's plan--seems that he is bucking a very powerful outfit who probably holds all of the cards. Hard to see this playing out well for the city. So--Admin/Commissions have put us squarely buried underneath this mass of poverty and commitment. Blame CONSOC, inspection groups, our controlling housing Agency, whomever. It all comes down to Admin grabbing $$ at the expense to schools, public safety, business and neighborhoods. If Mr. K is responsible, then he must be removed. Doesn't say much for last Councils and city managers either. Asleep at the wheel. Give it up--let the county take it over. Give the $$ back--it wasn't worth it to anyone outside of the entitled zone formerly known as downtown. Time for those properties to grow up and be self-sufficient. A reality check Then move on and ahead. Only way we begin to get out of this mess imo. |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 06 2013 at 11:48am
| I completly agree with reducing the # of vouchers. But Duogie's way is to vilify the PEOPLE taking part in the program. As I understand, even if it was all moved to Butler Co. The # of vouchers will still remain the same for Middletown. Judith came in to town running her mouth about how SHE was going to get ride of sec 8. She started down a path before she knew all the facts and now she is soley responsible,as the director of the MPHA,for the mess we may be in with HUD.She didn't bring the vouchers in, her buddy Kohler did, she is responsible for any legal action that may come to pass. |
Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: Jan 06 2013 at 1:41pm
| im still pattin myself on the back for moving out of mid town 6 or 7 years ago, done forgot! lol.. for sure its alot worse now than what it was then...unlucky if i head that way once a month now, darn shame after being born in mid town in 1955. well but back to the subject of 1600 + WOW... sounds like they done got their t it in the ringer.... |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 06 2013 at 1:44pm
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City Hall spends thousands of dollars every year doing studies on everything in this town. Since all the new Section 8 vouchers were issued over a five year period don’t you think someone at City Hall should have done an impact study before they kept increasing the number of vouchers again and again? Middletown requested the increase in Section 8 vouchers, misspent the other HUD funds on pet projects and now they want someone to step in and clean up the mess because all of our leaders at City Hall were asleep at the wheel. PLEEEZE |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 10:34am
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Beautiful and real, Ms.Moon Thank you! Maybe a citizen could raise these concerns tomorrow night? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 12:03pm
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You must be mistaken Vivian in your concern about the finances, spending and the handling of city money by city hall.......everything appears to be alright with Ms. Greis. Today's Journal..... Former auditor tapped as new finance director Greis: “I think the city’s going in a good direction.” (NO WONDER JUDITH LIKES HER ENOUGH TO PROMOTE HER. SHE CAN DENY REALITY TOO) MIDDLETOWN — Although Michelle Greis has been with the city for five months, she has been tapped as the new finance director once Russ Carolus retires at the end of this week “I think the city’s going in a good direction,” she said Carolus ends on Friday his three-decade tenure working for the city of Middletown. ”I have tried to serve Middletown to the best of my ability,” he said. “When you work for a city for 30 years, part of your blood is in that city.” DOES RUSS LIVE IN THE CITY, OR LIKE MOST, CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE AT 5 WHEN THE "WHISTLE BLOWS"? HE OUGHTA LIVE HERE IF "PART OF YOUR BLOOD IS IN THAT CITY", RIGHT? “Being a public servant these days is pretty much a thankless job (EXPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO IT LIKE OLE RUSS DID USING THE CAROLUS METHOD OF MAGICAL MYSTERY BUDGET MANIPULATION. but one that is highly rewarding when we make people’s lives better,” Carolus said HAS THIS HAPPENED YET? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 12:55pm
| I think every dine of any HUD money coming into this city should be audited and checked out throughly to see where it has gone. there needs to be answers.IMO |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 1:29pm
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Letter from HUD to City of I have a copy of the letter from HUD that I have now read twice. I believe that HUD already has the proof that they need to remove the Section 8 program from MPHA and transfer the program over to BMHA. Now MPHA will be put in the unique position of begging HUD in order to keep the Section 8 program but I’m afraid its toooo little toooo late. So now we will still have Section 8, without any control and without all that HUD money. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 1:56pm
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Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 2:05pm
| And is Dougie going to try and spin this to city council and tell them it's all going to be OK. Does Ann Mort really think there is any negotiations to be had in this mess? I truly hope there will be LOTS of guestions asked TUES. NIGHT. Even more I hope there is answers. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 7:21pm
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Today |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 7:57pm
| SOUNDS LIKE HUD'S SAYING YOUR FIRED |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 08 2013 at 8:11pm
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Watched 2nite's meeting--
Thanx 2 Ms.M and co. for their annual Light Up Middletown effort!
Great job as always--super local treat, with 1/3 of the vviusitors coming from out of county!
Thanx 2 Mr.Carolus for his long tenure, fair open attitude and conversation, and sensible demeanor.
Thanx 2 C St for coming to town with the perfect attitude and determination to make their area something eventually!
Thanx 2 Mr.A 4r his most excellent explanation and possibilities regarding the HUD discourse.
His plan makes sense 2 me--hopefully he has ahold of his nuts and his ducks r in a row.
This will be interesting 2 follow
Thanx 2 everyone who cares enough to speak up about the town and cares about making it better
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Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 08 2013 at 9:20pm
| WOW Can Doug Atkins be more "in your face" than at council tonight. Dougie, You are in VIOLATION by not filling the vouchers #. He has the gonads to ask for an extention to figure out what to do. We are headed toward a law suit because Dougie thinks he's not in violation. Council has no idea what is about to hit them. And then he ask BMHA to countinue with any leagal action against violation He preceives to be happening. He still wants to vilify the people involved in the program.He is the cancer in this program. I was appalled at the proclomation given to Hope House proclaming January as Homeless Month in Middletown. Then we have Doug trying to get rid of all "poor people" in Middletown. What hippocrits. Talking to people involved in the program, I think moving it to BMHA is the best option.Don't let us get into a law suit with HUD. jmo |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 08 2013 at 11:37pm
| The program needs to be removed from the city all they care about is keeping enough vouchers to allow the city to ask for Hud for money and like Joush said that money comes with a price. Doug run the program right and quit making it hard on the tenants. and landlords you are going to keep pushing these people around and they are going to all go to hud and then it will be really bad there has been alot of questionable actions that Mr Doug has been in forcing on this program its coming to a head and at the right time. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 5:08am
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HUD hates publicity of any kind. If you think HUD will continue to let Mr. Doug drag the Section 8 Program through the dirt month after month on the front pages of the newspaper …you’re in for a big surprise. If you think HUD is going to give Mr. Doug a 90 day extension to answer their letter of I believe City Hall’s contract with Nelson & Assoc is due for renewal in mid- March. So I believe that would be a perfect time to turn the program over to BMPH. However City Hall wants the HUD money but they don’t want the HUD Programs. Lots of luck with that plan Mr. Doug. Here’s the other big secret you need to know…HUD can fine City Hall for every day the Section 8 contract is in violation….$$$$$$$$$
HUD will not continue to sit back and let Mr. Doug flip them the bird and smile about it before the TV cameras. HUD's going to squach Mr. Doug like a bug |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 6:43am
It'll be alright Vivian. Dougie and company will fix everything. After all, with their decisions of the past, haven't they taken this town in the right direction? New economic growth, new, abundant jobs, the "Cadillac" of Section 8 programs, a thriving downtown, open green spaces galore, money flow a-plenty, people fighting with each other just to relocate here, a fair, honest, open city government, smart people at the helm...... The new finance director thinks we're just fine. Judith thinks so too.  Dougie's got a reason to be cocky. He knows how to tackle this HUD thing. Just needs an extension to figure out how.  ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 7:23am
| The program needs to be removed from the city all they care about is keeping enough vouchers to allow the city to ask for Hud for money and like Joush said that money comes with a price. Doug run the program right and quit making it hard on the tenants. and landlords you are going to keep pushing these people around and they are going to all go to hud and then it will be really bad there has been alot of questionable actions that Mr Doug has been in forcing on this program its coming to a head and at the right time. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 7:37am
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I don't see what we have to lose by following Mr.A's approach----
Vouchers?
Govt.$$?
The program?
If he loses this battle, then instead of doing it HIS way, HUD/govt.takes it away anyway?
Our #s are way too high by any standard measurable, and the consequences have been brutal.
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Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 11:27am
I for one was very exited about the artists from Cuba coming to Midd. This is a wonderful gester from Cinn St. I will not miss that when it happens. Just try to contain youselves at city hall. Let Cinn St handle it. But do hope Midd. Journal is all over it. 
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Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 11:43am
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READ THE LETTER FROM HUD MRS MOON HAS POSTED THE LINK GET THE TRUTH NOT WHAT DOUG IS SAYING HE AND THE CITY IS NOW BACKED INTO A CORNER AND THOSE NUMBERS HE KEEPS SHOOTING OFF ARE NOT THE NUMBERS THAT THE COMPANY THAT WOULD BE HUD THE CITY'S BOSS WANTS TO USE TO RUN THERE PROGRAM THIS IS NOT THE CITY'S PROGRAM TO RUN INTO THE GROUND AND MANIPULATE TO REDUCE THE VOUCHERS AND THE SO CALLED ATTORNEY MR ADKINS IF HE WAS GOOD AT BEING A ATTORNEY WHATS HE DOING NOW HUH ? DOUG TELL THE TRUTH TO THE CITY STOP THE ATTACKS ON THE LANDLORDS SUCH AS DAN TRACEY NOT GUILTY GIVE IT BACK TO HUD. LISTEN TO JOSH THE CITY CAN RUN WITHOUT THE HAND OUTS SUCH AS HUD LOANS. WHO IS REALLY ON SECTION 8 THE VOUCHER HOLDERS OF THE CITY OR THE CITY ITSELF? MR ADKINS WAS SURE TO SAY WE WILL HAVE THAT MONEY SPENT BEFORE HUD CAN TAKE IT BACK
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 11:56am
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still don't see what the city has to lose by following Mr.A's plan. As mentioned, we have no charges pending, and probably will have ample opportunity to rectify any up-coming issues. One step at a time--and we may not be there yet. We are seriously over-saturated with vouchers %-wise, and reduction to "normal" levels shouldn't be an unusual request. If the city admin has to pay back HUD $$ due to attrition of vouchers, then so be it. They rode this train one way--round trip is reasonable to assume. Interesting opinions from Mr.Faulkner(obviously a credible citizen/property owner), though it seems that he holds far fewer cards than Mr.A. The govt.program has been used by landlords and Admin alike---time to level it to the gain of the rest of the community imo. All of the blustering doom/gloom crisis here is pretty much hypothetical smoke at this time. May well be real down the road, however I don't see any bloody axe falling. Cut the couchers to under 10% subsidized housing level, regardless of what programs bear the brunt. We need a much higher % of property owners with self-generated income. Will never get that by expanding subsidies imo. Where am I wrong?
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Posted By: ktf1179
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 12:25pm
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Personally I would like to see Middletown take on HUD, no matter what the legal actions in order to take back this city. If Middletown gets stuck with Section 8 housing, I wounder it there is a way they can designate one neighborhood as Section 8 housing that way they are all going to be concentrated in one area and not spread throughout the city? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 2:50pm
Don't see how that would happen ktf. Alot of Section 8 landlords participating in this saturated program with property scattered throughout the city with some exceptions. I'd like to see the Section 8 blight corraled and a nice high wall built around it- out of sight but not going to happen. We, the people, are stuck with this ghetto maker and we didn't even have a say-so in the decision to bring the disease here. Personally, I'd prefer to eradicate it all together but would settle for the 600-700 vouchers that we are suppose to have and send the rest to our deserved neighbors who took none when HUD was giving them out. They were smart. Our leaders were as dumb as a box of rocks as usual. While I'm on the soapbox concerning Section 8 and our tax money being used to cater to the "needy" (and a certain % of leeches/criminals) This town has been hurt badly by the acceptance of all these vouchers. Low class image, more crime, putting out the welcome mat for the criminal element from out of town...all for some fed dollars. We here in Middletown are like the feds with their immigration program. When the other countries want to purge their criminals and low lifes, they send them across the border to us. When the HUD folks want to find a home for their "clients", they send them to Middletown......and the leaders of this country just let 'em walk right in....just like the leaders of this town have done. Incredibly ignorant. None should be leaders. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 7:14pm
http://www.picturesof.net/pages/100216-035623-188042.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 7:55pm
Oh THOSE are the fine cigars ehh? Hell, for years, I've been smoking A&C Grenediers and thinking I was in high cotton. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 8:52pm
| What,no cohabas? |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 09 2013 at 9:37pm
| kft When you concentrate ALL low income people into one area that's where all of the crime will be concentrated. Ask the police about that. I know you don't want to hear this,but you are actually better off to spread the vouchers through out the city. It's like putting too many cats in a box or only having a couple of cats in the box. |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 12:26am
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The city boarded up one of Mr Faulkners home as stated in the journal what they failed to tell the public was that Doug Adkins wrote him a letter stating the home was improperly boarded up lets see the house was boarded up at the end of 2008 that gave Mr Faulkner four years to get the city to fix the damage but no help from city and to be fair the board up was order when Mr Koler was in command you know Mr section 8 himself. I believe this was after the city was harassing Mr Faulkner for having a banner placed on one of the apartment buildings projects in the city that he brought back to life. I believe that a program can benefit this city if ran correctly such as 1. Get the fair market rents right that means a house on Baltimore st that a investor purchased in today's market should only get half of the market rent of the house unless that investor rehabs the building for example the market rent is 800.00 three bedroom the house has a old roof no siding or old dull paint single pane windows old furnace no ac old plumbing I just describe 80 percent of the downtown ok so the rent would only be in this condition 400.00 ok if MPHA would set up a scale increase in rents for the program wow problem solved see we only need to get the investors who own the properties a incentive to put the money back into the properties that will get them the rent that they want a new home in the community tax dollars for the city and permitt fees for the building department this is the way this program should be ran not everyone of the investors would agree but a lot of them do so we can keep the vouchers keep HUD happy quit beating up the landlords DOUG on the program to discourage them from inrollment of there properties I believe someone said once use what we got and make it work. Let's get to it And people let me tell you the city has violated the rights of the voucher holders of this program HUD is just giving them the chance to save face the water department has been tracking section 8 voucher holders and in writing told voucher holders that they have to pay old water bills off on properties that were never on the program and they were not a voucher holder at that time I have seen them that is why HUDonly wants county's to run this program no conflict of interest Doug but you already know this don't old boy get out while you can
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 5:21am
Council weighs options for response to HUDBy http://www.middletownjournal.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — The city is not at risk of losing federal funding or being sued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development if it proceeds with a plan to eliminate 1,008 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers over the next five years — at least not right now, said Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins.
“You’re at no risk right this minute,” Adkins told Middletown City Council at the board’s Tuesday meeting. “Zero.” Adkins presented council members with five options for responding to a Dec. 21 letter the city received from HUD about its plan to cut Section 8 vouchers. In the letter, HUD officials told city officials that they needed to either fill Middletown’s available vouchers, transfer the city’s voucher program to the Butler Metropolitan Housing Agency or face possible legal action. Adkins told council he disagreed with characterizations of HUD’s letter as being “strongly worded.” He said he thought the letter was “diplomatically written” given each side’s differing point of view on the matter. “No fair housing or civil rights threats were made, no regulatory violations were cited,” said Adkins, a former attorney with the U.S. Labor Department. “We have been politely asked if we would like to walk away and give our program to Butler Metro… As an attorney, I’m looking for, where’s the hammer?” Adkins said there is nothing in HUD’s regulations that says Middletown can’t cut vouchers. He said he’s “100 percent comfortable moving forward” with the city’s plan because HUD needs to cite the city before they can say any federal funding would be in jeopardy. Still, Adkins said city staff would research and make a detailed presentation to council in two weeks about five ways they could respond to HUD’s letter. The options include:
The city must respond to HUD’s letter by Jan. 31, however, Adkins told council he has asked for an extension until March so that the city could thoroughly review its options. The proposal city leaders sent to HUD, which was approved by the Middletown Public Housing Agency on Oct. 16, reduces the city’s total subsidize housing to 10 percent of the city’s total housing stock. It also places the city in compliance for HUD regulations to have 95 percent of its vouchers filled. With more than 1,600 vouchers issued, the city only had about 82 percent of them filled. Staff proposed and the MPHA board, which consists of all seven members of city council, approved the plan to reduce the vouchers to 654 and transfer the remaining 1,008 vouchers to another housing authority or back to HUD. Jeff Faulkner, of Wilbraham Road and a Section 8 landlord, said he felt HUD’s letter was clear: comply by filling the available vouchers or risk losing the program and local control. Faulkner said he’s “fed up” with the process and the way the city is “beating up” Section 8 landlords with its strenuous property inspections.
Faulkner has sued the city in small claims court on Dec. 28 for boarding up his rental property at 2108 Winona Drive four years ago, and alleges it cost him potential income and thousands of dollars in repairs. He is seeking $3,000 plus interest from the city. “This program now is getting a bad reputation of not being landlord friendly,” Faulkner said. “It’s all about the landlords. We’re the vendors, we’re the ones that own the homes, we make them available for people who need them.” Councilman Joshua Laubach assured Faulkner that council wasn’t “unfairly going after or targeting landlords or Section 8 owners.” Laubach said the city’s plan is about maintaining local control of how Middletown looks demographically and not being governed by outside federal dollars. But other council members expressed concerns about challenging HUD. “My concern is the same as the vice mayor’s, that we run the risk of losing a lot of what we built over the last three years that I’ve been here,” Councilman A. J. Smith said. If HUD comes back and says the city did violate some regulation, Adkins said City Council will have time to regroup and reassess its position because “they have to cite us with something, they have to find that we have broken something.” Then they have to allow the city to have an action plan to regain compliance.
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 10:23am
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In my humble opinion this discussion should not be about Section 8, landlords and tenants…this discussion should be about the TOTAL FAILURE OF CITY HALL over the past 20 years. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 10:50am
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Pretty much on the money, Ms.Moon Scapegoat the poor, who have only taken what was offered(why shouldn't they?) And whitewash the destructive actions of planning, zoning, city managers, Councils and Commissions. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 11:55am
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Spider |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 12:35pm
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Yes Ms.V Voucher-holders and landlords have only taken advantage of what was openly offered to them. They are honestly low on the list for blame, though they now scream bloody murder over something that should never have been a never-ending way of life. Everyone could see the damage to the community long-term If $$ has to be returned--so be it We shall hear the pigs squeal I honestly see Mr.A's attempt as reasonable and necessary As to what has been going on prior and within the process--not so sure Tenants and landlords know far more than me
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Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Jan 10 2013 at 1:27pm
| Exactly Spider.There are landlords that has taken advantage of this and should be kicked off the program.They have made there money far to easy IMO.Mr.Faulkner wants to complain about the "Inspections" but how long does it take to comply with what is suppose to be done? IMO you shouldnt be able to have over 5 properties under section 8.Dont get me wrong,City Hall deserves every bit of what is about ready to come down on them. |
Posted By: greygoose
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 12:13am
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Vivian, You just can't help yourself when it comes to the negative spin that you put on "everything" that relates to the city's leadership. Several months ago, you were griping about the number of vouchers that "PAST" the city leaders allowed to accumulate. Now you have a couple of leaders that recognize that this was a mistake and you are critical of their efforts to correct the problem. You have no credibility to anyone other than your "chronies". Although I am a supporter of Mr. Adkins and his efforts to attack the housing issues in this town, he is barking up the wrong tree on this issue. HUD has already gone on record that the only way that vouchers can be reduced is a reduction in need. The last time I checked, the poverty levels in Middletown have not improved. GreyGoose |
Posted By: greygoose
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 12:36am
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Hi Spider, Its good to see that there is still an "honest" voice posting on this board. You have a much stronger stomach for the BS than I do, thus I just check in periodically. Grey Goose |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 5:34am
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GreyGoose |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 5:57am
| Is that a promise Vivian? |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 9:10am
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thanx goose glad 2 c that u r still out there don't b so shy! the bs comes from everywhere, and is pretty easy w wade thru without getting 2 messy I very much appreciate Ms.Moon's effort and informative postings glad that she is not intimidated by the dark side of our city we need more like her to bring openness/honesty/transparency we don't have 2 always agree
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 7:07pm
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GG, It is recollection that the letter from HUD to the City gave the city 3 options: 1 Show a reduced need for S8 vouchers, which the city most likely can not do. 2 transfer the program to BMHA. While this may have an immediate affect on the number of vouchers in Middletown, over time you may see some reduction in vouchers. 3 bring the number of vouchers in use in Middletown to 95% or face legal action. Pacman |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 10:41am
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Well, Pacman, You didn't have any trouble understanding the violations or the options. Why is city council so blind that they want to follow Doug Atkins down the Primerose Path to distruction. Has Ms Gilleland forgotten her name is at the top of the page as EXCECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR of the program. She too may have egg on her face. |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 7:41pm
| Wonder what Mr Faulkner was talking about with the water bills and section 8 voucher holders. Was there fraud by the city demanding voucher holders to pay bills that have nothing to do with the program or there unit seems that judy and doug got uneasy real quick when he brought it up anybody know anything about this? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 6:53am
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Journal story.... MIDDLETOWN HOUSING Middletown to HUD: We’re going to reduce Section 8 vouchers MIDDLETOWN — Middletown officials aren’t backing away from their five-year plan to reduce the city’s complement of Section 8 housing vouchers by more than 1,000 despite objections from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Doug Adkins, the city’s director of community revitalization, said HUD officials “have their own issues to deal with beyond us.” Adkins was referring to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s recent testimony before Congress about the impact of the across-the-board federal spending cuts — known as the sequester — on Section 8 vouchers. Donovan testified the March 1 sequestration “would have devastating effects on homelessness and on other vulnerable groups that HUD works with on housing needs across the country.” “They would anticipate 125,000 vouchers would be losing funding almost immediately,” Adkins said. “We may be off their radar for a little while.” THAT'S IT? THAT'S THE REASONING HERE? WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO AGGRAVATE HUD BECAUSE THEY ARE DISTRACTED AND WE MAY BE OFF THE RADAR FOR AWHILE? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE BACK ON THEIR RADAR DOUG? I LIKE THIS PART..... City officials contend Middletown has more Section 8 housing per capita than any other city in Ohio. Section 8 vouchers account for 49.8 percent of all subsidized housing and 14.3 percent of all available housing in Middletown, officials say. Too much Section 8 can impact the overall image of the city and hinder progress and economic development, they say YA GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME!!!! DUH. HOW LONG HAVE WE ALL BEEN SAYING THAT THE SUPERSATURATION OF THE CITY OF SECTION 8 WOULD AFFECT THE IMAGE, INCREASE CRIME, ETC???? NOW......NOW, THESE CLOWNS IN THE CITY BUILDING COME OUT WITH "TOO MUCH SECTION 8 CAN IMPACT THE OVERALL IMAGE OF THE CITY"??? HELL, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO INVITED ALL THIS CRAP IN HERE FOR THE ALMIGHTY FED DOLLARS THAT IT WOULD BRING. GOOD LORD! THESE PEOPLE MUST GO. Section 8 landlords and other supporters of the program argue drastically cutting vouchers will have more of a negative impact on the city than officials think Because of all the jobs lost in recent years, Tracy said the need has increased. And until the need is reduced, the vouchers shouldn’t be reduced NO TRACY. THE REASON YOU AND THE OTHER LANDLORDS DON'T WANT IT STOPPED IS BECAUSE IT'S A MONEY-MAKER FOR YOU AND YOU, LIKE ANYONE ELSE, DON'T WANT TO SEE THE MONEY TAP TURNED OFF. MERCY. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: ktf1179
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 8:33am
| "Government is like that creepy guy offering candy in a unmarked van. Sure the candy tastes good, but you will regret it in the end" |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 10:29am
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 10:57am
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If people on the East End of town could sell their houses tomorrow for what they are worth we would need to hire an extra policeman just to direct traffic for all the 5,000 moving vans trying to get onto I-75. |
Posted By: ktf1179
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 11:33am
| I know in the Ayrshire neighborhood, there has been a lot of people buying foreclosures recently, and flipping them. 801 Dover Ave, 5120 Phillip Ct., & 500 Boylston St are currently being flipped. Let's hope these investments in flipping houses results in a better Middletown. |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 9:11pm
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Mr Adkins, Move along with your plan. It seems to be the only hope of Middletown ever having a chance of reducing it's S8 vouchers. Pacman |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Feb 21 2013 at 10:02pm
| This whole S8 thing is like shuffling the deck chairs. The real question is - how can demand for houses, either through ownership or non-S8 renters, be increased? And how can more employment be created? |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Feb 22 2013 at 7:23pm
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Bill, This city will never create 1662 jobs in a reasonable amount of time to have any effect on S8. Pacman |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Feb 28 2013 at 10:51am
| Pacman, You don't have to create 1662 jobs to have an impact on the health of the city. There are elderly and disabled people holding those vouchers,too.If our "community revitilation" director was actually trying to "revitilize" our city instead of concentrating all his attention on fighting sec 8, maybe he could think out side of the box and acually do some good for our city with fresh ideas for bringing JOBS to our city same for Ms G and all of city council! IMO |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Feb 28 2013 at 7:37pm
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You are right OTH, we actually need more than 1662 jobs to bring this city out of it's decline. The problem is where and how will we find these jobs in this city? I am referring to jobs that pay more that $15 per hour not the minimun wage jobs.
Pacman |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Feb 28 2013 at 8:53pm
| I can't think of ANY city lately,that has created 1662 jobs,and certainly not $15 an hour ones,but 200 would be a mircle in this city.I'd be thankful for ANY we could get to come to this town with a desent pay. |