Minneapolis Public Housing Authority is moving forward with plans to adopt the RAD program in two of its highrises and is applying to expand this program to more of its buildings. The RAD program transfers ownership of MPHA buildings to a private entity and the people living there become voucher holders rather than a resident of publicly owned housing. This constitutes a loss of a public good in order to chase private dollars for capital repairs. It also threatens to displace some of the most marginalized members of our community at a time of skyrocketing rents. RAD was developed under Obama but has become a cornerstone of HUD strategy under Carson and Trump. See this article from the Intercept for more info on the program.
The Housing Justice Branch along with Defend Glendale, Young Muslim Collective, Harrison Neighborhood Association and Minneapolis for Responsible Governance have publicly opposed this plan and developed this letter stating the need for MPHA to abandon the RAD program on its buildings.
We are asking member of TCDSA to stand in solidarity with public housing residents and demand that MPHA not go forward with this short-sighted plan to privatize public housing. Public comments for the 2020 Annual Plan are open until August 30th and we need as many people as possible to speak out.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please also CC [email protected] so that they have an independent record of public comments submitted to MPHA in opposition of this plan.
In Solidarity,
Chris Knutson
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