Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson arrives to testify at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill on June 27, 2018.
When Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was crafting his rent reform proposal for Americans living on housing assistance earlier this year, he spoke to leaders at the Charlotte Housing Authority in North Carolina about their work requirements.
The "Making Affordable Housing Work Act" would allow housing authorities more flexibility to impose work requirements on tenants, which Carson said helps promote self-sufficiency.
That's why the secretary homed in on Charlotte. CHA has been requiring that tenants work since 2011, and is widely praised for its success in providing supportive services in the form of education, training and help finding assistance for child care and transportation, which all make it easier for tenants to find work and earn more money.
Sponsor MessageBut some question whether Charlotte's model can work in other cities.
"This is my start"
CHA is one of 39 public housing authorities out of more than 3,400 across the U.S. that participate in a demonstration project known as Moving to Work. It allows authorities the leeway to use federal HUD funds to experiment and tailor strategies based on local needs.
Charlotte requires able-bodied adults ages 18 to 61 to work 20 hours a week. If residents can't find work, then they can volunteer or must enroll in job training.
Paulette Culbreth, a resident with Charlotte Housing since 2003, hopes to be one of the city's success stories.
She lives in Southside Homes, a sprawling development with nearly 400 units in Charlotte's South End neighborhood.
"[There] wasn't no support at the beginning with Charlotte Housing with me," Culbreth said. "So I was pretty much on my own."
And, for Culbreth, life has been a challenge at times.
She was a single mom, has spent time in jail, and has battled drugs and alcohol over the years. Now the 45-year-old grandmother says her life is moving in a positive direction.
Culbreth is enrolled in Charlotte Housing's supportive services program and is assigned a case manager who helps her stay on track with life and work goals.
Paulette Culbreth, a resident with Charlotte Housing since 2003, hopes to be one of the city's success stories. Brakkton Booker/NPR hide caption
toggle caption Brakkton Booker/NPR 
Paulette Culbreth, a resident with Charlotte Housing since 2003, hopes to be one of the city's success stories.
She completed a financial literacy class, and earns $12.50 an hour as a part-time jobs coach with the authority, connecting other residents with employment training and benefits programs.
Sponsor MessageOn one side of her modestly decorated work cubicle, Culbreth has messages of inspiration, including signs that read "Family is Forever" and "Thank You For Being You." On the other side is a certificate recognizing her completion of a two-week program that covered skills for the workplace.
"I never had a desk of my own," Culbreth said. "It's a wonderful feeling. This is my start."
Across the street from her workplace is the two bedroom unit she shares with her daughter and two grandsons. Culbreth pays 30 percent of her adjusted income towards rent, which comes out to roughly $188 per month.
She recently started a class to receive her property leasing agent certification. Culbreth has plans to find full-time work and make more money. Some of her long-term plans are laid out on a vision board she keeps by her bed.
"That's my house, my Lamborghini and my yacht," Culbreth said with a chuckle. "And I'm going to be celebrating that in 15 years."
Moving to self-sufficiency remains a challenge
Don't dwell on those particulars.
The real focus should be on the fact that Culbreth is brimming with confidence and striving to set an example for her family, according to William Rohe. He has done extensive research on Charlotte's work requirements as director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"The people who have gotten jobs have typically gotten low-wage jobs and part-times jobs," Rohe said. "With that kind of salary you're really not going to be able to afford rent on the private market."
