Federal agency grants San Diego vouchers for low-income housing

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 10/11/2007 11:39:30 AM PDT

SAN DIEGO—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will issue San Diego enough vouchers to help pay the rents of more than 1,350 households living in city-owned public housing.

The change gives the San Diego Housing Commission more control over municipal housing.

Tenants will be offered a choice between remaining in city-owned units or using vouchers to rent private apartments or houses. Private landlords, however, are not required to accept the vouchers, which carry regulations on how much the city will pay toward rent.

The Housing Commission received word last month from HUD that the public housing would no longer be under federal oversight. The agency this week guaranteed the city federal subsidy vouchers to help tenants move into private accommodations.

San Diego has struggled to operate its public housing program as federal funds for the program have sharply declined.

Housing Commission chief Elizabeth Morris said she expects most of the 4,000 people living in the city complexes to stay where they are while they weigh the pros and cons of moving. Residents who choose to stay would continue to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent.

Public housing residents who choose to move into privately owned housing must remain within the city of San Diego during the first year they have a voucher. After that, they can apply to move elsewhere in the county.

San Diego's housing agency becomes one of only a few in the country that have made the break from federal control.