Comments on Rep. Pettigrew Bill Hung Up in Senate. Again.

I've had a Section 8 voucher for six years and am a registered Democrat. But I disagree with forcing landlords to accept vouchers.

What changed my thinking was what I learned when I tried to move to Ventura County, California, last January (2007). They were the only county with an open list and I wanted to move from Colorado to be closer to UCLA's medical center. After being turned down by a few landlords, and after realizing the housing authority case manager seemed "infinitely available" to me (mine is always horrendously busy), I started asking prospective landlords for information. I learned that someone in HUD had embezzled a hugh sum of money from HUD Ventura. Their solution was to freeze rents on existing Section 8 tenants -- at the same time that housing was skyrocketing in the area. This meant that the landlords who had freely agreed to accept these tenants, were not allowed to raise rents as the market was rising.

I had no idea that landlords had this exposure. I assumed the extent of their liability in accepting vouchers was the extra paperwork, inspections, etc. They certainly have to put out extra effort in the case of a Section 8 tenant than they do with other tenants.

This legislation won't fix the problem. What I found in California last year is that most of the apartments had rents set just enough above the Fair Market Rent standard to make it impossible for me to find a place to live.

That's okay, California is a zoo anyway!

The bill 1956 does not force landlords to accept Section 8 tenants. What it does is give Section 8 tenants the opportunity to qualify for housing along with everyone else.

This is not a futile attempt to keep people from being homeless. To support this bill is to be hopeful and move in a positive direction to keep housing affordable.

This bill is not rent control. Like the prior post states, landlords are perfectly free to raise their rents.

Even though I have a good rental history, no criminal record, a steady income, and clean credit, I was not allowed to even apply for an apartment after over 70 phone calls and emails.

I wasn't even given a chance. Here in the USA, not even free to put in an application!

Imagine being homeless and living in your van in the middle of winter then finally getting a Housing Voucher only to almost loose it and end up being homeless until God knows when?

Imagine hearing "We don't accept Section 8" over and over again and not being able to do anything about it.

Thank God I found an apartment and am no longer living in my van. However, the frustration and trauma I endured can be focused for into doing good. And that positive change is in bill 1956.