Posted on 02/20/2008 10:10:29 AM PST by BenLurkin
The Section 8 housing program - is funded by the federal government and administered by local housing authorities across the nation - is supposed to provide a hand up for needy or disabled people to make ends meet. It's not supposed to be permanent and, most of all, it's not supposed to be for people with criminal records, or people who use illegal drugs, or people who invite in unauthorized tenants or people who receive unreported income to cheat the system.
Yet, as we've been reporting for the last two years, all these activities are rampant in Section 8 housing.
We've written many times in praise of Lancaster and Palmdale, as well as Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, for attacking the problem with regular inspections as well as for setting up a tip line to report fraud or abuse.
So it comes as no surprise that, as reported in a Los Angeles newspaper on Monday, federal auditors have found that Carlos Jackson, director of the county housing authority, has not properly administered the $200 million program.
Under Section 8, tenants pay what they are able for a house, condo or apartment, and the government pays the rest of the rent to the landlord. Tenants typically pay about a third of the full rent.
So, for example, if the rent is $1,500, the tenant pays $500 and the government $1,000.
But the Feds say money sent to Los Angeles County has been mismanaged - and they want millions of dollars back.
Problems include failing to check annually on tenants' eligibility and tenants receiving larger subsidies than they are entitled to.
Jackson disputes the findings.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
An area of section 8 housing was burned in the latest San Diego area wildfires. That section 8 housing regularly had 7 series Beemers, Land Rovers, Hummers, Escalades, Mercedes AMGs and other trophy vehicles parked in front because the ENTIRE condo complex was owned by a single drug and gun dealing extended family on section 8. (Several baby mamas, mothers, grandmas of baby mommas, mothers aunts of the dealers etc)
Best yet, area residents have now heard that the entire extended family will now be given new accommodations specially built for them so they can maintain family cohesion.
Not all Section 8 neighborhoods/complexes are bad, however like any kind of neighborhood they do have their problems.
We went in spurts where I lived. Some of the most ardent supporters of our neighborhood watch group were Section 8 residents. But they were the kind of folks you don’t mind being on Section 8 because as soon as they got themselves back on their feet they were out of there and off Section 8.
We had some great neighbors, but had to get out of there because of our daughter. She wanted to play with the other kids on the street and I had no problem with that and even welcomed them into my home.........until I caught one of them stealing from my daughter’s piggy bank. The mother of that child was NOT a participant in our neighborhood watch group.
Thanks. Long time lurker, finally decided not to be intimidated by some of the great thinkers on this board!
We have the 60’s “Great Society” to thank for this cycle. This was the RAT’s “War on Poverty” that was supposed to eliminate poverty, but all it did was escalate into the behemoth it is now. Thanks, LBJ!
Carolyn
I live in a section 8 subsidized apartment.. and it is great.. my land lord keeps the area up, as well as the tenants, planting flowers, etc..not all people taking advantage of a government program are slums... please...
:)
Does anybody know of a website where you can locate these units? We seem to be having some problems locally with Katrina relocations and I have no doubt this is the driving force. There is no way they could afford the rent otherwise. They stuck a 9mm in my buddy’s Mom’s face at her business when they robbed them. And we just don’t have this kind of problem in this neighborhood...until now.
‘
Questions: Are they the core constituency for a certain party? What is the percentage of these people that actually pay their portion of the rent? They should award it to: Homeless Veterans and Woman escaping domestic violence situations. I do not understand the mindset of these people: are there not a few good apples amongest them? Why do they let these neanderthals in their communities, make life miserable for them?/Just Asking - seoul62........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.