L.A.’s Poor Get New Chance to Apply for City Rent Subsidies

The Los Angeles Housing Authority on Monday reopened enrollment in the popular Section 8 rental subsidy program for the poor, and officials said response from people hoping to qualify was light but was expected to grow as word spread.

Low-income people who want to be considered for a Section 8 subsidy can call a hot line at the Housing Authority or get an application at any Housing Authority office, city-run senior center, city library, City Council field office or county welfare office. Some state Assembly district offices are also participating.

The Housing Authority created a furor last month when it reopened the enrollment program for the first time in three years--but for only four days. The short time frame caused a near-panic as more than 300,000 callers jammed phone lines to the agency, most of them never getting through.

Housing officials decided to offer a second chance this month to tens of thousands of prospective applicants who were unable to apply the first time.

Section 8 is a federal subsidy program that helps poor families, the elderly and the disabled. Applicants who qualify are required to pay only 30% of their income in rent, with the rest paid by subsidy. That represents a huge savings for most of the poor, who in Los Angeles generally pay more than 50% of their income to rent.

Steve Renahan, Section 8 director, said, “We are aiming for maximum access.” For the next two weeks, phone calls will be accepted from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday “to give working people a chance,” he said.

Applicants also can clip the application out of local newspapers and mail it to the Housing Authority, he said. All mailed applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 16, Renahan said.

People who apply will be placed on a waiting list for consideration. The order of people on the list will be chosen by random lottery, housing officials said.

Hot line numbers to call are: (213) 484-1051 and (818) 787-5136. The special TTY teletypewriter number for the deaf is (213) 252-0103.