When Housing Assistance Fails

“The federal government spends billions of dollars to help low-income Americans afford decent homes—and still, the rental housing crisis is worse than ever. Nearly every U.S. county has a deficit. Even where affordable units exist, they’re not really affordable. Cities, therefore, have become hot spots for evictions. And the average length of stay in subsidized housing is increasing. So, what’s going on? In a new documentary called Poverty, Politics and Profit, NPR and PBS Frontline reporters set out to answer that question. Over the course of six months, the team investigated two key housing assistance programs: the Section 8 housing voucher program, which helps Americans pay rent, and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which helps developers construct more housing at price points low-income renters can afford.”