Lakeland Housing Authority to administer county's Section 8 program

Diminished funds to Avon Park's Housing Authority's Section 8 program has led them to transfer it to Lakeland's Housing Authority beginning Jan. 1.

Avon Park Housing Authority Executive Director Larry Shoeman said a combination of limited funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a tough economy and an increased unemployment rate has led to the change.

Avon Park's agency has 27 vouchers, which pay the rental and utility subsidies to low-income families of up to 70 percent of their household income. Shoeman estimates that a housing authority agency needs to give out a minimum of 60 to 75 housing vouchers to cover administration fees and funding and break even.

The problem is when a family loses a source of income, the amount for the voucher subsidy goes up, making fewer vouchers available for new families on the waiting list.

Since Avon Park is a smaller city with a smaller waiting list, they receive less funding compared to bigger municipalities.

Shoeman said HUD is having a difficult time sustaining what they have.

This year, the agency was down to 19 vouchers but had to tap into reserves to cover 27.

"Once we use up all the reserves, then we end up telling the most recent voucher holder they have to be cut, and we don't want to get to that point," Shoeman said.

Current Section 8 families will not be affected by the change, and the families on Avon Park's waiting list will be transferred to Lakeland's list.

Those families that want to apply for Section 8 can contact Lakeland Housing Authority, Lake Wales, Winter Haven or Osceola County for assistance.

For more information, contact Lakeland Housing Authority at 863-687-2911.