Housing authority changes public housing eviction policy

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – Public housing residents in Chattanooga who fail to meet federal housing program requirements will no longer face eviction.

The public housing authority is set to meet Tuesday to reverse its decision to evict residents who don’t meet requirements of the Upward Mobility program.

Executive director of the Chattanooga Housing Authority Betsy McCright says a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulation forbids such evictions. She says the housing authority will offer residents who don’t meet requirements housing in different sites. A tenant who refuses to accept the move can be evicted from public housing altogether.

The Upward Mobility program requires residents to work, volunteer or attend school at least 30 hours a week.