HUD Chief Cautions on ‘1-Strike’ Eviction Law

Local officials should use “compassion and common sense” before evicting a family from public housing because one member was caught with drugs, the federal government’s housing chief said.

Housing Secretary Mel Martinez also urged local officials to view taking away the often poor tenants’ homes as a last resort in the effort to purge public housing developments of drugs.

At issue is the “one-strike” provision of a drug law that gives local public housing authorities the option of evicting tenants if a guest or family member uses, sells or possesses drugs, regardless of whether the use was on housing property or if anyone else knew about it.