Pubdate: Thu, 06 Sep 2001
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2001 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124
Author: Associated Press

HUD CRITICIZED FOR FUNDING ADVICE ON INCENSE, COLORS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government wasted $1.1 million on a program that 
told public housing tenants which gemstones, types of incense and clothing 
colors would best improve their self-esteem, an internal audit found.

The Creative Wellness Program was funded through a federal anti-drugs and 
crime program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development starting 
in 1998. But in a report released Wednesday, the HUD inspector general 
found scant evidence the money had resulted in less substance abuse or 
violent crime in the public housing projects.

"This represents an excessive and ineffective use of public housing drug 
elimination funds with no measurable benefits," the report said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth