Nine days before she moved into public housing, she paid cash for a $12,000 SUV. We found that she owned two homes on the east side of Indianapolis that had an assessed valuation in excess of $100,000.

In 2013, 1 percent of poor renters lived in rent-controlled units; 15 percent lived in public housing; and 17 percent received a government subsidy, mainly in the form of a rent-reducing voucher. The remaining 67 percent—2 of every 3 poor renting families—received no federal assistance. 32 This drastic shortfall in government support, coupled with rising rent and utility costs alongside stagnant incomes, is the reason why most poor renting families today spend most of their income on housing.

They just paid the cash and got the person. In many cases I think they were wondering what they had on their hands, and had no way of finding out.

I own a Jaguar, but I bought it eight years old and paid $11,000 for it in cash. You can't get a new Honda Accord for that, ... I could have afforded a more expensive car, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without having to make car payments.

The danger when you're in your 40s and 50s is to be house-rich and cash-poor.

Three days later, they're still on cloud nine.