Oakland Increases Low Income Housing

OAKLAND, CA — More than 650 households have found affordable housing in Oakland this year using a city program to increase the amount of housing stock available to tenants through the Section 8 program.

So far 75 landlords have agreed to accept Section 8 vouchers, rather than putting their properties on the open market for market value renters.

Those who agree to participate in the program are eligible for a $500 signing bonus, up to two months rent for maintenance and up to $2,500 in interest-free loans for repairs. According to city officials, more than 500
units have been inspected to help bring them up to code.

According to Eric Johnson, executive director at the Oakland Housing Authority, there was only one unit of Section 8 housing available in town when this program began.

"Oakland's most vulnerable residents rely on Section 8 vouchers, and I'm proud to live in a city where property owners opened their doors during this crisis," Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement.

"Now, we want to be a model for the region and share our innovation with more cities to help resolve our shared affordable housing crisis," she added.

City officials are asking property owners who want to help alleviate the housing crisis and keep Oakland an economically diverse city to live in by participating in the Section 8 program to call the Housing Authority's Leased Housing Department Owner Services Division at (510) 587-2118 or (510) 587-7161.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock