Categories: New York City, Federal
09.10.2013
The freeze on Section 8 vouchers upends his life plans
Robert Carrion was ready to move on. A military veteran living in the Bronx, Robert had plans to relocate to Orlando with his girlfriend. He secured a Section 8 voucher and visited Florida to find an affordable apartment. He found an ideal spot and began preparations for his big move.
It was then he got the call. Robert’s Section 8 voucher had been frozen. He held the phone, dumbfounded.
“I just thought, ‘What happened?’” Robert says. “That’s when I found out about sequestration.”
All across the country, sequestration has quietly affected the lives of low-income individuals like Robert. A result of the 2011 Budget Control Act, sequestration has forced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to freeze the issuance of Section 8 vouchers.
For Robert, sequestration has cost him an apartment, his new life in Florida and, sadly, even his relationship. Taxpayers, meanwhile, will lose out as well. Robert must now remain at Fordham Village, a supportive housing residence for veterans run by the nonprofit Jericho Project. The final blow: Another homeless veteran, one who could have moved into Robert’s apartment at Fordham Village and stabilized his life enough to move on, will remain homeless as a result of sequestration.
In the months ahead, stories like Robert’s are only going to become more common. Many news outlets have already noted sequestration’s spoils on the lives of low-income people. From housing aid to Head Start, vital programs are at risk as a result of these drastic cuts. Sequestration may achieve some spending cuts, but it does so unfairly on the backs of low-income people like Robert.
We hope you’ll help us in our efforts to both highlight the damages of sequestration and fight for a stronger budget through our federal advocacy. As a first measure, we hope you’ll share Robert’s story with those you know.