The Housing Crisis gets Desperate
On March 13, the Palm Beach Post in Florida reported that Boca Raton police clashed with a crowd of citizens attempting to apply for housing vouchers. Apparently a crowd of more than 500 people awaited reciept of housing voucher applications at the Local Housing Authority. The applications ran out sooner than expected, and the police wearing riot gear were sent to disperse the remaining crowd.
The crowd of mostly mothers, were forced to leave after having waited as long as 8 hours in an attempt to be put on the waiting list for housing assistance. Housing Authority officials stated they were not prepared for the volume of people that day. This is an astounding example of how desperate many of our neighbors have become in their attempt to find housing they can afford.
In this current economic state, I doubt Boca Raton is the only place where we could witness such a scene. While the foreclosure crisis facing homeowners across this counrty is getting the most media attention, we have to be aware that homeowners are not the only people experiencing increased challenges. The housing market in general is suffering as a result of the lending issues we've heard about. Families in every part of the market are being squeezed.
What can we do about this? Why are there consistently too few vouchers for families that need them? What action should our own local authorities take to prevent such a traumatic event from happening here?
No one should have to face the indignity of waiting in line for 8 hours, just to be put on another waiting list. Housing is a basic human right.
As the economy heads further
As the economy heads further and further into the tank it will only get worse for those struggling to secure basic necessities like housing, food, fuel and transportation. It is time that federal, local and municipal governments reverse the trend of housing subsidy disinvestment. A recent study by the Center for Housing Policy found that most jobs occupied by low skilled workers here in the commonwealth do not pay enough to meet fair market rents. Where our economy has failed the public must provide. Particularly to those workers who are driving our economy. Housing subsidies work because:
-they provide affordable housing opportunity where housing stock already exists
-they allow low to moderate income earners to live among people from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, thereby promoting economic integration and diversity.
-they provide landlords and property owners with a wider range of potential rental applicants thereby reducing vacancy rates and rates of inconsistent revenue
-they provide an offset mechanism in addressing the housing affordability gap
-they allow people the dignity of choice when selecting a community or neighborhood to raise their families
In terms of the appication procedure at this Housing Authority, recognizing the potential for families to wait for hours in the cold -often with children- most HAs have implemented lottery systems to make it easier for people to apply. It's time HUD made this a requirement. Housing subsidy programs should not be administered like UN food drops!
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