Trump Slashing Housing Funds For The Needy But Protecting Millions In Subsidies He Receives

As President Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress begin their coordinated assault on the most vulnerable members of American society, rest assured that they and their wealthy contributors won’t have to sacrifice anything. From health care to taxes, food assistance to housing, Republicans plan to cut away billions of dollars currently being used to provide a social safety net.

One such program that the Trump administration is preparing to cut is housing for the poor. But while the president and his GOP allies take their knives to funds which help the neediest, the administration would leave in place subsidies which are paid directly to landlords by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Donald Trump just so happens to be one of the landlords who benefits from HUD subsidies. As a part owner of Brooklyn’s Starrett City, the nation’s largest subsidized housing complex, Trump’s most recent financial disclosure shows that his 4 percent ownership stake in the complex garnered him at least $5 million between January of last year and April 15.

A HUD spokesman told the Washington Post that the partnership that owns Starrett City has received more than $490 million in subsidies since May 2013.  $38 million of that has come since Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

Trump’s father, Fred Trump, a well-known New York slumlord, was the first member of the Trump family to invest in the Starrett City partnership. When he died, the children inherited his holdings. As Bob Liff, a spokesman for Starrett City Associates, explained:

“Upon Fred Trump’s death, his four children inherited his interests. There’s been no change, except that Donald Trump’s holding was placed in a revocable trust upon becoming president.”

In other words, at the same time Trump and Congressional Republicans will be creating more homeless Americans, their leader is still sucking at the teat of HUD money. And while the president allegedly turned over the running of his business interests to his sons when he was elected, does anyone believe he doesn’t benefit from the revenue being produced?

Trump is a hypocrite and very likely a traitor. He is determined to carry out his reverse Robin Hood plan for this country. And millions will suffer as a result.

This article was originally published by the same author at LiberalAmerica.org

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