MFJ Lawsuit: Sec. 8 Tenants Forced to Pay 80% of Income for Rent

In this article in AM-NY, MFJ Supervising Attorney Justin LaMort explains why MFJ and other legal services providers are suing the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) for problems in the way rent is calculated for tenants receiving enhanced Section 8 vouchers. Through discovery, it was found that more than 800 former Mitchell Lama residents who receive these vouchers are charged rent that is 80% or more of their income. HUD has expressed willingness to settle the case but HPD has not.

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