Families Face Losing Rental Assistance
By: Katie Kyros
Updated: November 15, 2012
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD - Some families who receive rental assistance are facing a crisis. They could lose their housing, and it's all in the hands of Congress.
Housing agencies across the Four-State are facing an 8.2 percent cut. They say they may have to cut families for the first time.
"My rental assistance has given me a chance to have a decent life," says senior Cora Farquharson, who has a Section 8 voucher. "This is a safe place to live. It has security. If I didn't have it, I don't know where I would be."
Farguharson is one of 600 people who receive rental assistance in Washington County.
More than 1,400 families are hoping for that sense of safety; they're on the waiting list for rental assistance. The Housing Authority has seen the number jump since the summer.
But the waiting list won't move, and many households will be cut if Congress allows cuts to take effect in January.
"We have never had to withdraw rental assistance from someone that was actually getting it," says Richard Willson, executive director of the Washington County Housing Authority. "If Congress is unable to get through that logjam, we will be actually withdrawing assistance from families getting it. We're right now trying to figure out how do you do that fairly."
Going over the fiscal cliff would mean the Housing Authority would have to cut 40 to 50 families in January.
Housing agencies across the Four-State are facing an 8.2 percent cut. They say they may have to cut families for the first time.
"My rental assistance has given me a chance to have a decent life," says senior Cora Farquharson, who has a Section 8 voucher. "This is a safe place to live. It has security. If I didn't have it, I don't know where I would be."
Farguharson is one of 600 people who receive rental assistance in Washington County.
More than 1,400 families are hoping for that sense of safety; they're on the waiting list for rental assistance. The Housing Authority has seen the number jump since the summer.
But the waiting list won't move, and many households will be cut if Congress allows cuts to take effect in January.
"We have never had to withdraw rental assistance from someone that was actually getting it," says Richard Willson, executive director of the Washington County Housing Authority. "If Congress is unable to get through that logjam, we will be actually withdrawing assistance from families getting it. We're right now trying to figure out how do you do that fairly."
Going over the fiscal cliff would mean the Housing Authority would have to cut 40 to 50 families in January.
Comments
Me too! My husband has taken pay cuts over the last four years and we've had to adjust our budget and lifestyle somewhat and we're working for what we have!
Sandy S.
November 16, 2012 at 2:37 pm
hmmmm....suddenly that cliff doesn't look so ominous. It's about time these leaches were thrown out of town. Oh sure...waawaawaa....the seniors are gonna be thrown out on the street. Nonsense. I'm so sick of their whining and non-stop demand for public handouts.
Shawn B.
November 16, 2012 at 6:23 am
