Resident Participation Public housing is facing declining resources.
Critical decisions have to be made.
There is no allowance for supporting the empowerment activities tenants must engage in to protect their interest in public housing. 237 gives the Secretary the discretion to require resident councils to use housing authorities or other organizations as contract administrators for financial assistance received under the program. In addition, resident groups are prohibited from contracting for technical assistance in advance of being awarded a grant. The Senate bill contains no provisions comparable to the House bill requiring resident councils to use housing authorities as contract administrators and barring them from contracting for technical assistance prior to the award of a grant. Residents will need sufficient resources and technical assistance to participate in the management of their homes, thus higher Senate funding should be adopted.