Section 8 housing coming to your neighborhood soon
Right!! We had this discussion months ago - it makes sense to ‘use’ these abandoned homes - with a tenant. Cuts out the middle man (owners of rental properties). See link below for how this stuff works (on the back of taxpayers).
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8
A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA.
A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.