Residents in decaying public housing see futures on the line as Democrats trim spending bill

Douglas Covington has had a gaping hole in the ceiling above his toilet for most of the past four years, with the temporary patches from New York City public housing’s repairmen typically only lasting a few months before it reemerges.

Covington’s circumstances show what’s on the line as top Democrats seek to pare down a massive social spending bill to win the votes of centrists in their party who say they are concerned about runaway spending. President Biden has promised vast new benefits for the young and the old, but lesser-known aspects of the plan would deliver billions of dollars to fill gaps in the current safety net.

More From The Washington Post (subscription required):