Is Section 8 Housing Destroying Your Community? (unemployed, county, suburban, assistance) - Great Debates - City-Data Forum

dlumpen · 10-15-2009, 03:27 PM

I was on a recent visit to California and was shocked to see the destruction that Section 8 housing had brought on the Antelope Valley. It appears that suburbs/exburbs are drawing a disproportionate number of HCV, or Housing Choice Voucher, recipients. In light of the housing decline, owners of unrentable business properties are converting to residential specifically for Section 8. Numerous unsold residences openly advertise for Section 8 renters. Even the best neighborhoods are being destroyed because the rental payments are based on LA county- wide average rental rates, which are much lower in the Antelope Valley. The local prison population ever more remains in town, and gangs have moved in. You can feel the fear and distrust just to be out and about.

Does anyone else have stories about Section 8 vouchers destroying their neighborhoods or towns, especially in light of the housing market? I feel like something very big is going on here that isn't being reported (much). Please e-mail me personally if you'd like REMOVED BY MODERATOR - please do not post personal email addresses here. I was in urban planning, now unemployed, and am interested in learning more about this.

Infamous92 · 10-15-2009, 03:38 PM

My community is already destroyed and has been destroyed since the 70's/80's.

There's nothing wrong with Section 8 here because so many people have it and plus people just don't care as most want to move anyways (including me).

I have never felt a sense of community in this neighborhood, it has nothing going for itself either

censusdata · 10-15-2009, 04:03 PM

In my neighborhood it's NOT because it is highly scattered and small in number in a upper middle class neighborhood.

dlumpen · 10-17-2009, 10:00 AM

Thanks for your responses. Guess I won't get an answer. Moderator cut: see comment I know it's an issue in other cities but guess City Data is more limited in use that I thought. (Moderator cut: see comment I'm just disappointed.)

ckhthankgod · 10-17-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by censusdata

In my neighborhood it's NOT because it is highly scattered and small in number in a upper middle class neighborhood.

Sounds similar to some suburban apartment complexes in my area that accept Section 8. It's usually confined to a handful of locations and you don't really get too much trouble from these places too.

I only know of one complex that had issues back in the late 80's-early 90's, but it has calmed down a lot. It also has quite a few immigrants from Eastern Europe in it now.

Sunnydee · 10-17-2009, 06:35 PM

You might want to check out this article:

American Murder Mystery - The Atlantic (July/August 2008)

ckhthankgod · 10-17-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunnydee

You might want to check out this article:

American Murder Mystery - The Atlantic (July/August 2008)

Interesting article.......

dlumpen · 10-19-2009, 03:29 AM

Great article.

Katie1 · 10-19-2009, 03:52 AM

I hope that you never need housing help!
IF your area is going down hill its Not because people are on Section 8....ITs because the landlords are not taking care of the place.

creeksitter · 10-20-2009, 06:40 AM

There used to be a clause deep in the HUD regulations that was supposed to limit the amount of scetion 8 in an area. Don't think it was ever enforced. Maybe you have time to research this. I believe it works best when section 8 is scattered about the community so people on assistance can learn from non-assisted neighbors about job opportunities & such.