Section 8 put on hold, left 'in limbo'

CRESTVIEW — A waiting list for the federal government’s Section 8 housing program in Crestview is indefinitely on hold.

The Crestview Housing Authority originally announced the waiting list would re-open March 20-24 but said Wednesday that action has been suspended.

“We’re pretty much in a limbo right now,” Lynda Carmical, CHA’s Section 8 administrator, said.

Why is that?

“Uncertainty with a new administration and how much funding will be distributed” is the reason for the freeze, Carmical said.

The program relies on funding from the state, which is provided by money from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Crestview office received a call from the state field office informing staff to put the waiting list on hold, according to Carmical.

President Donald Trump nominated neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate Ben Carson for HUD secretary. Carson awaits Senate confirmation before taking the post.

Caution and freezing of programs are common when a new administration takes office, according to Carmical. This allows the department and its local branches to adjust to changes often made under new leadership.

There are still several names on Crestview’s waiting list, and those individuals should not be affected, according to Carmical. Typically between 100 and 250 people are on the waiting list, which opens as often as needed, Carmical added.

“Section 8 allows people to go into a community and find their own unit to rent based on factors such as their household and income,” Carmical said. The program then provides these individuals with a subsidy voucher for a portion of the rental cost.

This varies from public housing because it can be used in any community that accepts Section 8.

Public housing is a community that is often income-controlled, offering low-cost living through government subsidies, according to the HUD website.

Public housing applications in Crestview are still open despite the suspension of Section 8 registration.

Visit www.chafl.com to apply for public housing and learn about the requirements for each program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Section 8 put on hold, left 'in limbo'