A bold experiment to help tenants is advancing.
DETROIT — The federal government is laying the groundwork for a potentially major change to the nation’s largest rental assistance program, aiming to test an idea that would allow low-income tenants to pay rent directly with cash, rather than use traditional housing vouchers.
On Wednesday afternoon in Detroit, at a national guaranteed income conference, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development Brian McCabe announced that his agency is soon planning to solicit public comment on the prospect of testing whether distributing cash directly to tenants might work better for renters, landlords, governments and even taxpayers.
... read more at vox.com
Economists have pretty consistently pushed for cash assistance, rather than in kind assistance, forever.
Pretty much everyone else tends to think that's a terrible idea.
Does that mean I can buy Bitcoin instead of paying my rent?
It sure does.
Excellent. I now rent my house to myself.
Sorry, this scam is only available to Americans.
Even without it you could make a deal with some poor eligible guy - he "rents" a room in your house for an exorbitant amount (but he's not allowed to live in it), pays you with vouchers, you redeem them for cuck bucks -> BTC, and give him a small cut.
Is this a joke or is it really true? Sorry, I'm not American.
Where have I seen this before? Isn't this what happened with the COVID stimulus during Trump's administration?
I don't remember what form the rent relief programs took, but I know a bunch of that Covid stimulus ended up unaccounted for.
I don't have a strong opinion on this matter because I lack the necessary knowledge to make a proper assessment. However, I can identify a few points to consider:
Renters would have more control over how they spend their money on housing-related expenses. This approach could also be considered more efficient as it reduces administrative costs. There is a risk that renters might spend the allowance on non-housing-related expenses. Additionally, the allowance may not be sufficient to cover expenses in areas with a high cost of living.
It will be interesting to see how it unfolds and what kind of assistance they ultimately decide on.
That's it, in a nutshell.
CBDCs fix this ;)
Because giving cash to people always fixes everything.... :-)
Because for them it is free to give it away, for others it is not.
Ask not what the cash can do for your costs, ask from where the cash came from and at what cost to society.
hhhmm...or just lowering rent?
Or providing enough housing?
Or many just cracking down on price gouging?
Most landlords don’t accept rent from HUD