Low-income residents receiving federal assistance in Alabama might soon see their rent go up by more than $800 a year.
Al.com reports the possible rate increase could impact more than 180,000 people and about 83,000 households according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The center says the average US. Department of Housing and Urban Development rent would go up 20 percent.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson introduced the rent increases in April as part of the "Making Affordable Housing Work Act." The act would require households that receive federal housing assistance to pay 35 percent of their gross income in rent, up from the current 30 percent.
The average annual gross rent per affected household in Alabama is $3,270 and would balloon to $4,090 based off the possible rent increase.