Posted on 07/07/2009 6:52:09 AM PDT by Libloather
Housing authority eyes potential federal budget cut
Updated 07/06/2009 06:29 PM
By: Ed Scannell
WINSTON-SALEM – A potential cut in federal funding to the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem is threatening to put hundreds of families out on the street.
It's a scenario being played out in communities across the country.
The head of the authority was hopeful the Department of Housing and Urban Development would come up with money for the vouchers the families use to help pay their monthly rent.
HUD told the authority to use its $3 million in reserves to cover the cost of housing vouchers to some 4,100 families and to scale back voucher amounts effective Sept. 1.
"They've asked us to reduce our standard voucher payments from 100 percent to 90 percent, so if a voucher is worth $500, we're now only going to be paying $450," said Larry Woods, the housing authority's chief executive officer.
The authority is looking to HUD for additional funds to cover a $2.2 million gap in the voucher program.
Woods said if the agency doesn't get any relief, the situation would get worse.
"As of Oct.r 1, there will be 1,800 families that will be notified that their voucher payments will be discontinued as of that date," Woods said.
Mayor Allen Joines called the potential funding cut incomprehensible.
"In terms of HUD's doing this throughout the country, it's not just Winston-Salem," he said.
Joines said forcing the housing authority to use all of its reserves to pay for vouchers is not a good use of the agency's money.
"Because they need those dollars in case of emergency," Joines said.
But Woods said the problem has the attention of elected officials and HUS now is looking for ways to close the gap.
"Moving money around from other programs, maybe deferring some new programs coming down the pike," he said.
Woods said the impact to families cut from the voucher program would be devastating.
"Particularly for it to happen in October where kids have just gone back to school," said Woods. "All of a sudden, now they're uprooted. Where do they store their furniture? Where do they eat? You can't prepare food if you're homeless."
The housing authority has stopped issuing vouchers to new applicants until the budget shortfall can be resolved.
Woods said some 60 families have been impacted to date.
LOL a few years back HUD money was used to build a local “art colony” in Jackson Michigan. Apparently they didn’t use all the money and now want to use it to start building a “river arts walk” in hopes that stimulus money will finish the project.
Hey,just get the government to print up some more funny money.
So that means these people will have to begin living like the rest of us...you know, paying their own bills and working and stuff like that??!! What senseless cruelty!
Am I to understand that those on welfare, who have big screen TVs, XBoxes, etc. may have to cancel the $100/month cable package and go with the plebeian $50/month package as a result? Horror of horrors!
Well, all I know is that Great Leader is going to personally pay for all our housing, utilities, and groceries. We won’t have to work any more, just as soon as he fixes this economy that he inherited and did not create. Just wait till Great Leader gets going then all will be well.
Years ago when my ex wife and I were looking to buy a house we asked the realtor about HUD as a possibility in helping us get a loan. She told us that we would never get help because we were both working and also said that we wouldn’t want their help because they would own us. She said it would put our name on all sorts of lists that would lead to things like inspections by child protective services.
“She said it would put our name on all sorts of lists that would lead to things like inspections by child protective services.”
Good Lord!!
Government help doesn’t come with strings, it comes with chains.
Pass me the “jaws of life”, please.
And, where are they going to store those massive electronics while they are homeless? We will probably be issuing vouchers for their storage units. Let’s see, they get free food, free rent, free health care, seems like we should dig deeper and make sure they have everything they need.
Let’s see, they get free food, free rent, free health care, seems like we should dig deeper and make sure they have everything they need.
In CA they get cash too. So, they have spending money too...who would want to work?????I can’t wait til they (CA)runs out of other peoples’ money really soon, so these loafers start getting cuts in benes. and services. NO BAIL OUTS.
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.