Synopsis-- people who wait years for HUD vouchers including the homeless have two months to make a successful rental application resulting in a very large percentage of people who receive vouchers being left with nothing.
The root of the problem is probably the limited amount of rental property and the willingness of landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers. The strategies that Boston has implemented are a useful model of how to make the best of this bad situation.
Ultimately, the most effective strategy would be to increase the supply of housing so that landlords would have a greater incentive to accept Section 8 tenants.
Big Al
-------------------------------- Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.
Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro
A lifetime of experience will change a person. If it doesn't, then you're already dead inside. -MarkJ
Posts: 7466 | Location: Western PA | Registered: 20 April 2005
I would add to what Big Al said by mentioning acute income inequality and wealth gaps between the property owners and the homeless/would-be renters.
The typical personal finance advice given to the typical consumer is to not spend more than 1/3 of gross income on housing. (And landlords often want to see would-be renters have gross income that is 3X or sometimes 4X of rent to qualify.)
Sad thing is, even when working a “full time” job, and adding the Section 8 voucher’s amount to gross income, the would-be renter still does not satisfy the “income > 3x rent” threshold to qualify.
