Yeah, that's HUD. Some program they have had going for the past few years. The real estate agents are even beginning to complain about it at homeowner association meetings.
i used to work for a housing agency (funded by HUD) the program called "moving to opportunity" or "regional opportunity counseling" was about courting landlords, who had property in the "nicer areas," to rent to section 8 recipients (who they would normally never rent to). this was to "decrease the concentration of poverty." problem is that no training on how to instruct recipients how NOT to throw their trash out the windows, party til 4 a.m., throw used condoms and diapers in the driveways, clean their house, etc. etc. was ever given. and, no, these tenants were never taught such things as children.
the landlords were shown glossy brochures and promised higher than market rate rents. of course, these landlords had absolutely NO idea what they were getting into. they didn't realize that it probably would have been a good idea to do a criminal background check, credit and reference check with these prospective tenants. after all, the clientele that they had previously rented to (non-subsidized, hard-working, law abiding folk) needed no such background checks. these "special" tenants were even advised on area CHURCHES they could attend (by HUD) to make them feel more acclamated to their new gov't. (thought there was separation of church and state?)
interestingly enough, the housing agency program directors curiously zoned OUT their OWN neighborhoods for participation in the program. . .
What is it with HUD? How come they often seek to place "HUD HOMES" in middle income neighborhoods instead of low income neighborhoods, of which there would be no devaluing of property, therefore prohibiting blight?