Public housing should be for only those who need it

It is important that the federal government provide housing assistance to those in need. It should also be important that only those who deserve such federal help receive it. And for the most part, that is the case. Butnot in all cases. This problem is just now coming to light. It seems that the income limit for receiving assistance through HUD is about $50,000 per household. But there are some families receiving federal assistance to live in public housing who make much more than that. A new report from the Office of Inspector General finds more than 25,000 families receiving public housing assistance make in excess of the income requirements. How is that possible? Because people who apply for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development program only have to meet income requirements at the time they sign up for the program. Once they are on the program, they can continue to receive government assistance indefinitely, even if their family income rises. So if someone is living in public housing, but wins the lottery, then can continue to receive government assistance without doing anything wrong. A family in Wisconsin has income of about $100,000, but still receives the benefits. That is wrong. Why not have recipients report any rise in income, or file an updated income report every year to determine if they are still eligible for the program? Otherwise we will continue to subsidize housing for those who no longer deserve it.