Logan_Holmes t1_jbq9fjk wrote on March 10, 2023 at 9:49 PM

Full quote from Rep Burns

“Why isn't the executive director of the Johnstown Housing Authority elaborating on the findings of this "ongoing structural inspection" that are so serious that everyone has to move out of the Prospect Housing complex? The public -- and not just public housing residents -- deserves an answer to why this upheaval is necessary. If the unit-bloated Johnstown Housing Authority is emptying out its Prospect Housing complex because of an "ongoing structural inspection," let's hope that means these units will be torn down and not replaced We need less, not more, public housing in Cambria County.”

Rep. Burns on public housing in Johnstown and Cambria County

my404 OP t1_jbqpd9y wrote on March 10, 2023 at 11:41 PM

Rep Burns on public housing on Nov 17 2022:

"One of the issues I discovered while canvassing the city this summer was a profound concern of local residents over the influx of people from Philadelphia in Section 8 housing. If the Johnstown Housing Authority (JHA) has a surplus that they can fund the housing wish list of people from Philadelphia that purposely move here just to get a government benefit then perhaps the Housing Authority needs to downsize the scope of its Section 8 program."

woodcuttersDaughter t1_jbqqskd wrote on March 10, 2023 at 11:52 PM

That’s a lot of words for “I don’t want more black people in Johnstown”.

my404 OP t1_jbrjv72 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 3:48 AM

I don't know why you're getting downvoted, but I got a few good guesses

worstatit t1_jbtzchm wrote on March 11, 2023 at 6:21 PM

Don't know much about Johnstown, but, desirable as it might be, I can't imagine Philadelphians clamoring to move there. It's a considerable distance, for starters. Philadelphia has public housing of its own, I understand.

BethiIdes89 t1_jbxsmi2 wrote on March 12, 2023 at 3:34 PM

It might have to do with the Philadelphia Housing Authority having a tens of thousands (I wish I was joking) on their waitlist for public housing. This has been a problem for years, so I’m guessing some people are willing to move somewhere more rural where they have a chance to get the housing.

worstatit t1_jbxw4n5 wrote on March 12, 2023 at 3:59 PM

Was not aware of the wait, though this seems common for public housing elsewhere, too. Like I said, aside from casual visits and drive-throughs, I'm not too familiar with Johnstown, but have to wonder how they apparently overbuilt? At any rate, can't help but wonder if complaints about people from Philly moving in en masse are exaggerated...