Scott Turner, newly confirmed housing and urban development secretary, quickly announced that Elon Musk's controversial government efficiency bureau was coming to HUD.
Turner I posted a video to x, Social Media Platforms Owned by a mask: “We are pleased to announce the Doge Task Force at HUD. …We will be extremely detailed and discreet about all the dollars spent serving tribal, rural and urban communities across America.”
You don't have to be a mind leader or fortune teller to predict what the response will be. Turner's efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse are met with racist claims. But as I spent most of my adult life in public service as an elected official in Newark, New Jersey, I saw firsthand the fraudulent failures of our housing policy.
I have seen the damage done to our community, and I have seen the heart-warming sacrifices that fail has brought to the most marginalized people. I'm here to tell you that ending waste, fraud and abuse is not racism. In fact, the opposite is true.
All the dollars lost in waste, fraud and abuse come at incredible costs to families and individuals who rely on HUD. Turner is absolutely right to work with Doge to make sure every penny we spend will help people rather than politicians.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg. If Turner is really committed to change, he should be committed to systemic reform, put financial responsibility, and tackle the failed regulatory barriers for families and communities across the country.
Here in Newark, I have seen the vicious cycle of failure, attempts to change, and once again failings when it comes to housing. For example, the Biden era Promote fair housing positively The rules have violated the ability of state and local governments to respond to community needs and added a government mandate laundry list to socially re-equipped neighborhoods through deficit and zoning requirements. The result was a costly, ineffective, one-size approach that made it difficult for families and communities to realize their American ownership dreams.
I've seen this playbook before. If we truly break this cycle and improve the lives of citizens who need to actually reach out, fundamental reforms are needed to protect the integrity of our neighborhood and return local property rights to local leadership. Secretary Turner was right to do just that by ending this Biden-era rule and restoring confidence in the community and property owners.
Every effort must be made to empower the tenant association. No one knows the needs of the community better than the residents of that community. Tenant associations should be empowered to bypass bureaucracy and decide how dollars are used.
We need to protect men and women living in low-income housing. That means ending an incredibly dangerous practice People living young, perhaps elderly and “disabled” In our advanced housing project. You also need to invest in the existence of physical security. Cameras don't keep residents safe or keep criminals out. Human safety is required in all housing projects.
We must encourage and develop public-private partnerships to build housing that you want to raise your family.
Private businesses and local, state and federal governments need to work with local charities and community organizations to encourage them to build the next generation of housing.
Here are some examples of what works. In Raleigh, North Carolina Kingsridge just opened The 100-unit affordable housing community provides cutting-edge housing and services to the area's most in need. Kingsridge was a joint effort between government, private businesses and local charities.
Kingsridge residents pay one-third of their income to rent and utilities. A home is considered affordable if the household spends less than 30% of income on housing costs. Kingsridge is reserved for households with incomes of less than 60% of the region's median, with 30% of households given priority. In addition to housing, the complex offers support services to support residents, including case management, physical and mental health care, employment coaching and childcare. Such comprehensive wrap-around care ensures that residents have the resources they need to build a better life for themselves and work for the future without government support.
The development of King's Ridge recognizes that the lack of affordable housing impacts almost every aspect of individual and family life, from academic success to mental health, substance abuse issues, to family stability. What's happening at King's Ridge is a recipe for success that can and should be replicated.
What we need today is courage, acknowledge our failures, move forward on new paths, and ignore politically usefulness in favor of being morally right. Our politicians and our leaders have said, “Courage is an internal determination to move forward despite obstacles. Co-disease is a surrender of obedience to the situation. Courage creates creativity. Co-disease suppresses fear and is acquired by it. Cowardice asks questions, is it safe? Conscientious asks questions, is it politics? Vanity asks questions, is it popular? But conscience asks questions, is it right?”
Secretary Turner is taking the necessary bold actions. I praise his leadership – it's time to do the right thing for the most vulnerable people in our country.
Gale Cheney Field Jenkins is a longtime member of the Newark City Council and an advocate for affordable housing
