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Wednesday, November 15, 1972
NEW HOUSING AUTHORITY TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION
OF WEALTHY FAMILIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING
The Commissioner for Resettlement, the Hon. I.M. Lightbody, described
as a "sound and attractive idea in principle" the suggestion that wealthy
families living in public housing should move to the private sector.
However, he stressed that it could only be applied to manifestly
well-off families who were able to afford a self-contained unit in the private
sector "at a probable minimum rent of around $600,"
"The problem is to define what constitutes a level of family income
that would justify moving them on; and then to find out which families are
earning more than the accepted limit," he said.
As to checking on family income, Mr. Lightbody said it was in effect
a kind of means test and making continuing checks of this kind on such a scale,
because of the vast numbers in public housing, did not appear to be a practical
proposition.
It would need an "army" of inspectors who would be exposed to "endless
temptations",
However, Mr. Lightbody added that it would be one of the many questions
which the new Housing Authority would be asked to consider.
On the subject of the present certified square footage in the housing
units, the Commissioner said that it was already the subject of frequent review
and discussion.
As always the problem faced was of striking a balance between "the
numbers we can house, housing standards and the availability of funds". At the
same time, he said, lower densities required more land.
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