Letter: Bill on 'homelessness' is misleading

HB2775-SA1 is erroneously titled in a way that makes anyone against it seem like a cruel person. It is named Homelessness Prevention, when it doesn't create more housing. In fact it discourages investment in rental housing.

HB2775 takes away the rights of property owners to decide if they want to sign one-sided non-negotiable HUD contracts. These contracts give the Housing Authority the right to enter their home or office and inspect books and records and computers, change the rent mid-contract (has happened in recent years), and inspect the rented property demanding repairs even when the repair is for tenant-caused abuse.

I no longer own rentals in areas that demand participation in the Housing Voucher programs. After participating for years, I gave up. More than $50,000 of damage done to one property, with no consequences to the abusive tenant and their new drug dealing husband. More than $2,000 in water bills left unpaid by a tenant that was getting utility subsidies. Six months for the Housing Authority to start paying rent after a tenant moved in. Some residents have been good. A few expensive problems more than destroy any benefit.

Illinois politicians need to think about what they are doing. Many housing providers are selling out to owner occupants, driving a shortage in rental housing. Others sell out to corporate landlords who have more resources to deal with the increased compliance burdens and litigation risks from regulations. Policies do have consequences.

Through pilot programs, HUD is studying possible changes that would make this voluntary program more attractive to housing providers. Illinois is once again on the road to jumping the gun and mandating it, destroying all incentives for fixing it.

Jane Garvey

Glen Ellyn