Congresswoman Waters Responds to the Housing Crisis in East Point, Georgia

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, responded to the crisis in East Point, Georgia, where 62 individuals were injured as 30,000 people gathered to apply for subsidized housing last week.

According to news reports, crowds began gathering in East Point, a city on the outskirts of Atlanta, as early as Monday for the applications.  Initially, only a third of the individuals that ultimately waited in line to apply for the Section 8 voucher program were expected.  Remarkably, the 30,000 individuals in line represented nearly three-fourths of the population of East Point.  Desperate for housing assistance, individuals began panicking and pushing the overcrowded application line.

"As I understand it, individuals – including children and the elderly – waited outside in the Georgia heat for two days, in some cases, in order to secure crucial assistance to help keep their families from becoming homeless," Congresswoman Waters said.  "I think this incident goes to show just how harmful this economic crisis has been on families in need of affordable housing," the Congresswoman added.

There is tremendous unmet need for affordable housing, particularly during this recession.  Most waiting lists for public housing and Section 8 voucher assistance include the names of thousands of individuals and are closed to new applicants.  At the time that East Point opened its list, it had been closed since 2002. 

"The City of Atlanta, which borders East Point, recently demolished all of its public housing under the Hope VI program and Section 18. When they started to rebuild under Hope VI, they significantly reduced the number of hard units for low-income people. This extremely destructive public policy has led to a shortage of affordable housing in the area and highlights the need for one-for-one replacement, something I've long championed," said Congresswoman Waters.

Moreover, the housing crisis for families nationwide appears to be worsening, with a report released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in June showing that family homelessness had increased by 7 percent over the last year, on top of a 9 percent increase from the previous year.

Congresswoman Waters has dedicated her career to addressing the need for affordable housing.  Recently, the Financial Services Committee passed the Congresswoman's bill, the Public Housing Reinvestment and Tenant Protection Act (H.R. 5814), to provide for the revitalization of distressed public housing and respond to the loss of nearly 200,000 public housing units since 1995.  Among other provisions, H.R. 5814 provides that any demolished or disposed public housing units would need to be replaced on a one-for-one basis, while also providing that qualified residents are allowed to return to rebuilt units.  The bill also provides housing authorities with the financial tools they need to rehabilitate and rebuild public housing.

Additionally, last year, the Committee passed the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (H.R. 3045), authored by Congresswoman Waters, which would stabilize and simplify the Section 8 voucher program and authorize 150,000 new vouchers for low-income individuals and families.

"Finding affordable housing shouldn't be like winning the lottery.  We need enough vouchers and public housing units, through effective public policy, to help all of our nation's most vulnerable households," said Congresswoman Waters. 

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