Section 8 housing vouchers-holders struggle to stay in community post-fire

The Northern California wildfires continuing to create disaster in Sonoma County. Housing was an issue even prior to the wildfires, but now homes are nearly impossible to find for low-income residents. This is especially true for area residents with Section 8 housing vouchers. They are finding it more difficult than ever to find a suitable house that will accept the vouchers.

Deborah Thrope, LAAC Board member and attorney with National Housing Law Project, says “the displacement can be widespread. There’s really nowhere for people to go.”

The majority of those Section 8 recipients are seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families with children. Despite this, many of them feel that they are discriminated against because landlords have negative perceptions about Section 8 voucher recipients.

With the added burden of the October wildfires, low-income Sonoma County residents have almost run out of options.