The Princeton Council has come out squarely in opposition to a proposed rule change by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that could result in the eviction of undocumented immigrant families from public housing in Princeton and across the nation.
The Princeton Council adopted a resolution at its June 10 meeting in which it requested the New Jersey Congressional delegation to “express its opposition to, and disapproval of, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s proposed rule change that would end housing aid for undocumented immigrants.”
Currently, families of mixed-immigrant status – families that include both American citizens and undocumented immigrants – may live in HUD-subsidized public housing or receive rent subsidies indefinitely. The amount of the subsidy is based on the number of American citizens in the household.
But under the proposed rule change released May 10, those families would not receive housing benefits. Only families made up entirely of American citizens would be eligible for public housing or subsidies under HUD programs.
“The proposed rule change would lead to the eviction of all undocumented immigrants from public housing. It would set in motion the first step toward finalizing a plan that could impact tens of thousands of undocumented parents and their United States children,” Affordable Housing Board Chairman Kate Warren told the Princeton Council.
Under the proposed rule, an undocumented parent could not sign a subsidized housing lease even if their child is an American citizen or legal resident, Warren told the council. HUD’s own analysis concluded that 55,000 children – all of whom are American citizens or legal residents – could be displaced by the plan, she said.
Meanwhile, the resolution adopted by Princeton Council states that the town “prides itself on its long-standing commitment to affordable housing opportunities for a broad range of residents from diverse social and economic backgrounds.”
The Princeton Housing Authority operates 236 affordable housing units. Princeton Community Housing offers 463 affordable housing units, also spread out in the town.
If the proposed change becomes law, “it would result in forcing families to choose between staying in their homes or face eviction within the next 18 months or sooner by choosing to stay together as a family,” the resolution states.
“The proposed rule changes do not advance any meaningful public policy benefit, but rather would inflict hardship on thousands of working families, seniors and children in both this State and across the United States,” the resolution reads.
The deadline to submit comments is July 9. Comments can be mailed to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St. SW, Room 10276, Washington, D.C. 20410-0500, or by email to www.regulations.gov.