Wilmington Housing Authority running into problems

The Wilmington Housing Authority is asking for a few volunteers to prevent some financial troubles down the line. They are asking people to move, but some of the options are not very appealing to some people.

Section 8 helps offset the cost of rent for 1,600 people in our area. But higher than expected demand for the support has the housing authority asking some recipients to move to public housing instead.

The Wilmington Housing Authority receives funding from housing and urban development based on the number of people that used their services in previous years. While the voucher program, also known as Section 8, usually operates under that capacity, WHA’s Michael Krause said that’s no longer the case.

A letter sent to current Section 8 residents says the WHA is spending its housing assistance payment money at a rate much greater than it’s been funded. To be sure some people continue to get the help they need, Krause said some families have already volunteered to give up their Section 8 vouchers. “We’ve had at least 10 folks, 10 families who were interested in considering moving into Wilmington Housing Authorities public housing developments.”

Subreia Hunt has received vouchers for about a year, and while she is willing to move to public housing, there are places she won’t move. “I would not move to Creekwood. No I would not go there.”

And of the 86 vacancies the housing authority has available, many are in Creekwood. Still, those homes are far from ready for people to move in.

With 4,000 people on a closed waiting list, and others volunteering to move into public housing, landlords are worried about what’ll happen to them.

Krause says he doesn’t want people to panic. The housing authority intended to use volunteers as a back up plan if it does not receive an expected increase in funding to meet the increased demand. The next funding period begins in January.