Rick Lazio: “Brooke Rents This provision protects the very poor currently in public housing. It would put a cap on rent of up to 30%…”

“Brooke Rents This provision protects the very poor currently in public housing. It would put a cap on rent of up to 30% of income for families with income levels at or below 30% of area median income (currently, about 76% of the public housing inventory is occupied by such families). It would also impose a rent cap of up to 30% of family income for the elderly and disabled currently occupying public housing, regardless of their income levels. Adding the elderly brings the number of residents that would pay no more than 30% of their income as rent to 83% of current public housing residents. Adding the disabled would bring the number of those paying 30% of their income or below as rent up to 87% of public housing residents. For prospective residents, those families with income levels at or below 30% of area median income would continue to pay up to but no more than 30% of their income as rent. It is important to note that the Brooke Amendment currently imposes a 30% floor on rents--a family will pay 30% of their income as rent. If their income goes up, their rent will go up.”