Monterey, CA Seniors And The Disabled Waiting Years To Get Affordable Housing

View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California President Barack Obama is looking in every nook and cranny of the budget to try and cut costs and the latest is public housing.  He reportedly has plans to allow the housing authority to set time limits or work requirements for those using public housing.  I agree that if someone is able-bodied and doesn't want to work but instead wants to rely on public assistance, they should be put to work.  Our nation is just too far in debt to support people that don't have the initiative to go out and get a job.  There are long waits to get into public housing and the new rules could open up units for those that really need it.  Many of those on the waiting list are seniors and the disabled, and they desperately need the housing.  The new rules are similar to welfare, which now has a five year limit.  Public housing benefits, on the other hand, can last a lifetime.  Only about 1% of the nation's housing authorities currently have the authority to limit the time one stays in public housing and the ones which don't are lobbying for the new rules.  They believe the current system doesn't motivate residents to become financially independent and it's not fair to those who need assistance but currently have to wait years to get it.  These seniors and disabled adults need the housing, let's give it to them.  Roughly half of those in public housing are seniors and the disabled, a sad statistic.