Digging Deeper: Online applications for Section 8 housing draws concerns

Thursday, April 2, 2015

13 WREX By Rebecca Klopf For the first time in almost a decade, Rockford Housing Authority will open up the wait list for Section 8 housing. Those are vouchers people can use to help pay rent. 13 News digs deeper into concerns that the process is an online only sign up. The countdown is on for Rockford Housing Authority, not only for workers, but for residents. Aisha Little hopes to sign up for Section 8 housing. “I’ve taken care of my home for 5 years and I’m just hoping and praying. I know I’m not guaranteed a voucher or a unit but I’m hoping,” says Little, who lives in Blackhawk Court Housing. The last time the Section 8 housing wait list has opened was in 2006. Then, it was paper applications only and the list was first come, first serve. “We had long lines, people waited hours and this gives them the ability to apply any time, anywhere,” says Michelle Cassaro, chief financial officer of RHA. That is as long as they have access to a computer and Internet. Something Little says she knows is an issue for people who live in public housing. “A lot of people have never used a computer before,” Little says. That’s why she is volunteering in the computer lab to help residents. “Now we don’t want to type the information for them, just guide them along,” Little says. RHA is expecting nearly 30,000 applications. Only 2,500 will make the list. But that still doesn’t guarantee getting a voucher. Sign up starts at 8 a.m. Monday and closes at 5 p.m. Friday. RHA says the public housing computer labs, the Rockford Public Libraries, YWCA and Goodwill are all available as sign up sites To apply, visit rockfordha.org. Read the full article here.]]>