Hawaii opens wait list for Section 8 vouchers after decade
People struggling to find housing in high-cost Hawaii will be able to apply for Section 8 housing assistance for the first time in a decade.
Hawaii, which has the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the nation, had closed its waiting list for the housing assistance vouchers because people were stuck on the list for years.
The state will begin accepting new applications online for three days starting August 16, and they’re expecting up to 12,000 applications, Gov. David Ige told reporters today.
“A major focus of this administration is to increase housing,” Ige said. “Homelessness is connected to our ability to provide housing for our community at all levels because we don’t have enough homes for our community.”
Getting a Section 8 housing voucher is only half the battle. Even with a voucher, it takes time to find a landlord willing to rent to Section 8 tenants. Last year, Rep. Karl Rhoads introduced a bill to prevent landlord discrimination against Section 8 tenants, but the bill died.
“It’s such a crapshoot just to get a Section 8 voucher to start with,” Rhoads said. “It’s really frustrating for the people who get them and no one will take them.”
Landlords opposing the bill said they could make money more quickly by accepting tenants who weren’t in the program.
Ige has held “landlord summits” to encourage more to participate in the program, and he said 40 new landlords signed up after an event on the Big Island.
The fair-market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Honolulu is about $1,800 a month, according to the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Section 8 vouchers provide on average $1,000 a month, according to Barbara Arashiro, executive assistant Hawai’i Public Housing Authority.
11 responses to “Hawaii opens wait list for Section 8 vouchers after decade”
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Surprise, it’s election time.
How about funding the ones that are gainfully employed, trying to make ends meet and barely making it? I know a number of people that are worthy of receiving assistance that are working 3 jobs and barely keeping their head above water financially. This program should not give to the ones that are not even trying to make a go in life. This should be a hand up, not a hand out.
It’s not the law, but I’m pretty sure that is one of the requirements of Section 8 housing providers. The government only reimburses the landlords up to a certain point. The rest they must collect in rent. So obviously, they already give preference to those who are employed. No guarantee these baboozes aren’t just working a job until they get the unit, though.
“these baboozes” … of course.
Let me guess … Trump supporter?
Said the liberal a$$-clown
I welcome your hatred.
Your opinion is worthless.
klasless is lying again. Lock up HiLIARy. She keeps stumbling, mumbling grumbling. Wiki wiki will do her in.
And in walks the genius.
Maybe it’s time for the fed’s to step in and require landlords take section 8 vouchers. They should start with all of the white progressive democrat 1%’rs who own 2nd and 3rd homes. The beneficiaries of 8 years of little Barry’s economic policies that have stagnated wages and increased economic inequality should shoulder some of the load.
Yeah that’s right, let the government run everything.
I thought Section 8 is when Klinger wore a dress.