About two weeks ago, the city of Steubenville asked U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson for help to put a stop to crime in the city's public housing areas.

Now, city leaders said they're now one step closer to getting help with those issues.

On Tuesday, Johnson sent a letter to the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, outlining all of the issues and concerns and asking that some policies be revised.

"I'm deeply concerned that HUD is showing preferential treatment to those with criminal records rather than approving needy, law-abiding seniors and the unemployed veterans that are some of the categories in need of public housing," Johnson, a Republican, said.

The letter is a result of fast action for a very serious problem with crime, a problem that both city officials and Johnson agree the community should not pay for.

"Every resident, every individual that is paying federal taxes should have the same stance … 'That's my money.' And that's how the city is taking it," said Steubenville City Manager Cathy Davison.

"I'm concerned that the tax payers of Steubenville are seeing their tax dollars used against them, negatively impacting their property values and their safety," said Johnson.

The main goal of the letter is to get HUD to get the public housing authorities in the area to pay more attention to their tenants' criminal history so that the community is safer and so those who need it can benefit from public housing, officials said.

"I think it's critically important that the same compassion and consideration that HUD has shown for criminals and ex-offenders also be given to tax payers and to the community," said Johnson.

City officials said they hope this step proves to the community how serious they are about putting a stop to crime in public housing.

Johnson said he is not sure when he will hear back from HUD, but he said he is looking forward to the response.

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