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MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1985
THE COMMITTEE HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS:
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AFTER THEIR INITIAL 10 YEARS OF STAY IN PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS SHOULD BE CHARGED TWICE THE NET RENT PLUS RATES, UNLESS THEY DECLARE AND CAN PROVE TO THE HOUSING AUTHOR I TY THAT THEIR INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED A SUBSIDY INCOME LIMIT.
* THIS SUBSIDY INCOME LIMIT SHOULD BE FIXED AT ONE AND A
HALF TIMES (I.E. 50 PER CENT ABOVE) THE PREVAILING WAITING LIST INCOME LIMIT, WITH ALLOWANCE FOR DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD SIZES AND FOR FAMÍLIES WITH MORE THAN ONE EARNER. BECAUSE THE PROPOSED METHOD OF INCOME CALCULATION TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ONLY 60 PER CENT OF THE INCOME OF EARNERS OTHER THAN THE TENANCY HOLDER AND HIS/HER SPOUSE, THE SUBSIDY INCOME LIMIT IN EFFECT WOULD BE NEAR TO TWICE THE WAITING LIST INCOME LIMIT IN RESPECT OF MANY HOUSEHOLDS WITH OTHER EARNERS,
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THE ONUS OF PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTINUING TO PAY THE EXISTING RENT WOULD REST WITH THE TENANTS.
IF THE INCOME OF HOUSEHOLDS PAYING TWICE THE NET RENT SHOULD FALL BELOW THE PREVAILING WAITING LIST INCOME LIMIT, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR RELIEF AT ANY TIME.
TWO CATEGORIES OF HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD BE EXEMPTED: HOUSEHOLDS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH ALL MEMBERS AGED 60 OR OVER AND WHO WERE ADMITTED THROUGH THE ELDERLY PRIORITY SCHEME.
FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO MOVE AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SUCH AS IN REDEVELOPMENT CASES, THE CALCULATION OF THE INITIAL
10 YEARS WOULD START WITH THEIR NEW TENANCY.
MEASURES TO REDUCE HOUSING SUBSIDY TO THOSE PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WHO ARE NO LONGER IN NEED SHOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY.
AS TO WHAT IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INCOME CALCULATION, TWO OPTIONS ARE SET OUT FOR PUBLIC CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST OPTION IS SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT ARE USED IN THE INCOME CALCULATION FOR WAITING LIST APPLICANTS, IN WHICH ONLY INCOME ARISING FROM EMPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENTS WOULD BE COUNTED.
THE OTHER OPTION IS THAT IN ADDITION TO INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENTS, HOUSEHOLD INCOME SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE 5 PER CENT OF THE ASSESSED VALUE OF NON-INCOME GENERATING ASSETS, CONVERTED TO MONTHLY EQUIVALENTS.
THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTS THAT ALL AFFECTED TENANTS SHOULD BE GIVEN AT LEAST SIX MONTHS' NOTICE BEFORE BEING REQUIRED TO PAY THE NEW RENT AND THAT TENANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT A DECLARATION FORM WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE NEW RENT ON EXPIRY OF THE SIX MONTHS' NOTICE.
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