Thread: Immigrant housing amendment draws concern

Immigrant housing amendment draws concern

By Erik Arvidson Sentinel & Enterprise Statehouse Bureau


BOSTON -- Some local housing officials are concerned about the potential impact of legislation approved by the Massachusetts Senate requiring immigrants to show they are in the U.S. legally before receiving public housing assistance.

Robert Hill, executive director of the Fitchburg Housing Authority, which manages 668 units, said his concern was what to do with the illegal immigrants who might be living in public housing already.

"Long term, how do we deal with the people housed now where the entire household are not legal citizens or legal immigrants?" Hill said. "How does it impact that household's eligibility for housing?"

Housing authorities that administer state public housing units aren't required to ask for proof of citizenship, or that someone is in the U.S. legally when they apply for housing assistance.

The state Senate on Thursday approved a two-sentence amendment to the fiscal 2007 budget which would require authorities to ask for documentation, and to give "priority" to legal immigrants and citizens.

Immigration advocates opposed the measure, and blamed state Republican lawmakers who proposed the measure for trying to be tough on illegal immigrants in an election year.

Federal rules require that anyone applying for federally-subsidized housing show documentation proving they are here legally. Also, federal rules prohibit an illegal immigrant from being eligible for benefits, but the measure approved by the state Senate does not go that far.

"Right now, we're not able to ask questions about citizenship. People who apply to us for housing have to show that they're income-eligible and verify that they have no criminal history. They also have to verify their addresses over the last five years," Hill said.

If someone is applying for elderly housing, they will have to show a birth certificate showing that they meet the age guidelines, Hill added.

"Nothing that we normally get would give us a tip-off as to whether someone is a citizen or a non-citizen," Hill said.

State Rep. James Eldridge, D-Acton, a former member of the Acton Housing Authority, said he supports the amendment approved by the Senate, adding that "public benefits should be provided to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants."

"I was surprised to hear that undocumented immigrants could live in public housing. My experience in Acton was that the benefits were there for people who grew up in the town and are here legally," Eldridge said.

Eldridge added that housing authorities are "understaffed and don't have enough resources," and that he hoped the Legislature would give them a reasonable amount of time to implement the new rules.

Erik Arvidson's e-mail address is earvidson@lowellsun.com.

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_3872797

"Long term, how do we deal with the people housed now where the entire household are not legal citizens or legal immigrants?" Hill said. "How does it impact that household's eligibility for housing?"

Very interesting question. How about....hmmmm...the laws on the books about aiding and abetting coming into play?? hmmmmm

MJ

"Long term, how do we deal with the people housed now where the entire household are not legal citizens or legal immigrants?" Hill said. "How does it impact that household's eligibility for housing?"

if an illegal parent has a child that is a U.S. citizen, the determination is based upon the status of the adult not the child -- they are not legally liable

"public benefits should be provided to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants."

I disagree, benefits should be restricted to citizens PERIOD. American citizens living in foreign countries are not entitled to the privileges of citizenship

P.S. I forgot to praise the state legislature for being tough on illegals -- I thought every one was like Kennedy and Kerry

I do not see why they are worried about it. Most illegals have legals helping them achive breaking the laws. This will just be one more area were they use legals to sign the leases for them. It would be very difficult to determine who is or is not legal within the households. And the landlords will just claim they had no idea because a legal signed the lease.

What they should do is what they have done across the country to landlords for drug sales. If the property renters are busted and convicted, the property is siezed. Landlord looses all rights and ownership to it. Then he will pay close attention to whats going on at all his rentals, how many live there etc.

The parent is responsible for the child until said child reaches the age of majority. If child is US citizen and the parent is not, the parent's status is the determining factor. When the child reaches the age of maturity, they are eligible for all rights and benefits of citizenship. If they want to apply to bring their parents here and sponser them according to the immigration laws so be it. Otherwise, they do NOT qualify for federal housing subsidies.

Wouldn't the easiest and best solution be to eliminate all housing subsidies? It comes up repeatedly that illegals are taking advantage of social services. Then why not eliminate the social services themselves? Eliminate them for everybody and that way nobody can scream "discrimination."

Originally Posted by GodHelpUs

Wouldn't the easiest and best solution be to eliminate all housing subsidies? It comes up repeatedly that illegals are taking advantage of social services. Then why not eliminate the social services themselves? Eliminate them for everybody and that way nobody can scream "discrimination."

Yep! I really wish the would stop the redistribution of weatlh. This is too much like pre-commie Russia. Keep inflation going, wages flat, and taxes increasing...and in no time your ability to move ahead and advance is seriously limited.

LOL.

Do you remember the furor that ensued when Rick Lazio and the Republican Congress tried to amend the National Housing Act?

Not gonna happen.

Originally Posted by Shapka

LOL.

Do you remember the furor that ensued when Rick Lazio and the Republican Congress tried to amend the National Housing Act?

Not gonna happen.

YUP

And do you remember the "debate" .........the press ate him alive and then regurgitated him. {off subject but that picture flew into my mind}