Scott Williams swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano County housing officials are looking to Washington, D.C., for an answer on how to handle families living in public housing with incomes exceeding $100,000 a year.
Members of the county housing authority agreed Friday to await federal guidance on an issue that was highlighted in a nationwide report published this summer.
A family living in public housing in Shawano was listed among thousands found nationally to have six-figure incomes that would normally make them ineligible to move into public housing.
John Wartman, the housing authority’s executive director, told board members Friday that a second family living in public housing in Tigerton has recently surpassed $100,000 for its household income.
Wartman, however, said he has canvassed other housing authorities in the region and found that none are taking steps to evict such families or set new policies to address the situation. Other authorities expect that federal housing officials in Washington will come forward with rules or procedures on the issue, Wartman said.
“They said, ‘We’re going to sit tight and wait,’” Wartman added.
The situation came to light this summer when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report showing families collecting six-figure incomes while living in public housing. Federal law restricts how much a family can earn when they move into public housing, but rules are not universally enforced for residents whose incomes increase after they move in.
The Shawano family qualified for housing in 1994 when the family’s income was within guidelines. With both parents now working for a casino, the family’s combined income is about $108,000 a year. The family rents a four-bedroom house in Shawano for $575 a month plus another estimated $200 a month for utilities.
Wartman said Friday that the Tigerton family includes two parents working at a restaurant. When a daughter’s boyfriend moved in, the household income surpassed $100,000 a year.
Although housing authorities have the discretion to evict such families, Wartman said, he also noted that Shawano County has vacant properties with no applicants waiting for public housing. The agency maintains 202 housing units of various sizes at taxpayer expense to accommodate low-income individuals and families.
Board members last month talked about setting new limits on how much a family’s income can grow after they have moved into public housing.
Members agreed Friday to postpone action another month to see if HUD officials in Washington will provide some guidance.
Board member Mike Hille said he saw no reason to differ from other housing authorities that are awaiting answers from the federal government.
“If they’re doing it, why can’t we?” Hille said. “I don’t know why we should go out on a limb.”