Oakland, California – On Thursday, October 8, Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney and Councilmember Desley Brooks jointly submitted a request to the City Council to formally oppose a proposal from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD), which would alter the formula that determines how much local Housing Authorities can pay for rents in their respective regions. Experts say that the proposed HUD formula relies on data that is two years old. Real estate analysts’ reports from DTZ, Zillow, and SocketSite claim that Bay Area rents have increased by 7-21% in 2015 alone.
“In a time when the cost of rent is soaring throughout every Oakland neighborhood, HUD cannot reduce the value of vouchers for Section 8 tenants,” said President Gibson McElhaney. “Our City faces a housing crisis where the low-income folks bear the greatest burden. This reduction from HUD will intensify the pressure on affordable housing.”
According to the Oakland Housing Authority, many residents with Section 8 vouchers have been struggling to locate units where they can utilize their vouchers. In 2015, 609 residents have been awarded Section 8 vouchers, however, only 115 (or 18.9%) have secured housing.
“Voucher holders already have a difficult time finding housing in Oakland,” said Councilmember Desley Brooks. “This new funding formula will only exacerbate the problem and result in further displacement.”
Council President Gibson McElhaney and Councilmember Desley Brooks held a press conference at 10am on the front steps of Oakland City Hall which included Housing Authority Directors from the City of Berkeley and City of Alameda as well as representatives from Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office.
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