Housing vouchers draw crowd

The Clarion-Ledger, 10/23/8

Thousands of people stood in long lines for hours Tuesday and Wednesday in Jackson – all hoping the wait would lead to help in paying their rent.

The Jackson Housing Authority opened its waiting list this week for Section 8 housing vouchers, the first time the list has been open since 2004.

Officials say 2,014 people put their names on the list for the federal housing program, though the housing authority only administers 412 vouchers.

The vouchers subsidize people’s rent at any home or apartment that accepts them. People can keep the vouchers as long as they continue to qualify for the program.