Sacramento residents line up, waiting on housing help

Sacramento residents are voicing their frustration with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency due to delays in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formally called “Section 8.” The program is supposed to help low-income families, seniors, the disabled, and veterans afford housing.Daniel James was among the dozens of people waiting in line at the downtown office Monday morning before sunrise. “This is my fifth time and hopefully I’ll get in today. But I don’t know,” said Daniel James. “A lot of people are mad that they can’t get in.” James is trying to find out why his funds with the program are delayed, noting that appointments are booked far in advance.”If you were fortunate to get an appointment, but the appointments were the people from November that got appointments for January, that’s how far out it is,” he said.Evelina Popal, a single mother of a 3-year-old autistic son, described her apartment as falling apart, with broken appliances and infestations of roaches, insects and rats. “I’ve been waiting since June. I don’t know, it’s frustrating,” Popal said. Although she has been approved for another apartment through the program, she needs SHRA to expedite the process and sign off on the paperwork.”It’s just frustrating,” she said. “I went and I feel like today it was useless.”SHRA told KCRA 3 News that it is not experiencing any delay of funds in the program, which serves 14,000 people. The agency stated that residents can access staff and program information through the resident portal, website, contacting the communications center, or by making an appointment booked three weeks in advance. However, residents argue that the system is not working and the consequences are real.”Everybody out here has a legitimate reason for being here. Their rents aren’t being paid by Sacramento housing,” said James. “What are we supposed to do? I mean, we’re at a catch-22.”SHRA also mentioned that it is continuously reviewing its processes to serve clients as promptly and efficiently as possible and make appropriate adjustments in scheduling and staffing with the resources available.For now, the waiting continues for many Sacramento residents.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento residents are voicing their frustration with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency due to delays in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formally called “Section 8.” The program is supposed to help low-income families, seniors, the disabled, and veterans afford housing.

Daniel James was among the dozens of people waiting in line at the downtown office Monday morning before sunrise.

“This is my fifth time and hopefully I’ll get in today. But I don’t know,” said Daniel James. “A lot of people are mad that they can’t get in.”

James is trying to find out why his funds with the program are delayed, noting that appointments are booked far in advance.

“If you were fortunate to get an appointment, but the appointments were the people from November that got appointments for January, that’s how far out it is,” he said.

Evelina Popal, a single mother of a 3-year-old autistic son, described her apartment as falling apart, with broken appliances and infestations of roaches, insects and rats.

“I’ve been waiting since June. I don’t know, it’s frustrating,” Popal said.

Although she has been approved for another apartment through the program, she needs SHRA to expedite the process and sign off on the paperwork.

“It’s just frustrating,” she said. “I went and I feel like today it was useless.”

SHRA told KCRA 3 News that it is not experiencing any delay of funds in the program, which serves 14,000 people. The agency stated that residents can access staff and program information through the resident portal, website, contacting the communications center, or by making an appointment booked three weeks in advance.

However, residents argue that the system is not working and the consequences are real.

“Everybody out here has a legitimate reason for being here. Their rents aren’t being paid by Sacramento housing,” said James. “What are we supposed to do? I mean, we’re at a catch-22.”

SHRA also mentioned that it is continuously reviewing its processes to serve clients as promptly and efficiently as possible and make appropriate adjustments in scheduling and staffing with the resources available.

For now, the waiting continues for many Sacramento residents.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel