That's why KCCHA has been chosen by the federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development to carry out the "Mark to Market" Program. Mark to Market was developed to evaluate older subsidized housing to ensure that units are safe and livable, not only for seniors like Bob, but also for the disabled and families who need rent subsidies.

"The object is not to replace orange carpets or dark brown cabinets," says KCCHA

If Chase finds problems, he works with the owners, who are often seniors themselves, to help them qualify for rehabilitation loans.

As part of the Mark to Market Program, Chase also evaluates the subsidies and restructures federal loans the apartment owners have. This part of the program is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next few years.

"In the '70s, market rates were high, so loans and subsidies were developed to make it attractive to owners to offer subsidized housing," explains Chase. "But over the years, it's gotten out of hand, and there are some apartment owners who - between rent and federal subsidies - earn at least 120 percent of what is fair market value in that area."

The success of the program depends on a delicate balance, Chase says. "We need to make sure that people like Bob have safe places to live, so we need to pay a fair subsidy to the apartment owner, but we also need to make sure that subsidy isn't more than the owner could get on the open market."