The Cupertino Courier
News
Long lines, big dreams
By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL
Sunnyvale resident Gina Hubner would like to find a home of her own for herself and her two children. Right now, the three live with Hubner's parents. With help from the government, Hubner may be able to realize her dream.
Large lines and backups weren't found only on Silicon Valley highways the morning of April 24. All across the county, people such as Hubner were lined up outside a dozen locations, determined to add their names to the waiting list for Section 8 subsidized housing.
In Sunnyvale, more than 25 residents, Hubner included, lined up before 8 a.m. outside the NOVA CONNECT! office on Pastoria Avenue to get application forms.
Even after the office doors opened, the line kept growing. People ood waited in the parking lot for almost an hour.
That scene was repeated all over Santa Clara County, as the first of an estimated 50,000 people tried to get on the waiting list. The list has been closed for almost seven years.
"It's been a long time coming," said housing specialist Carl Johnson of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara. "I consider it a privilege to help these people. I wish them the best of luck."
Applicants must be income-eligible to get on the waiting list. A single person cannot make more than $37,150 annually, and a family of four must make less than $53,050.
The list is open only from April 24 to April 28. Once the list closes, the names will be placed in a random order by computer and the Housing Authority will begin working its way through the list.
Section 8 recipients pay one-third of their monthly income for rent, with vouchers issued by the county paying the balance using federal money.
If accepted, Hubner will have to wait in the lottery like every other applicant. It took seven years to accommodate more than 20,000 applicants the last time the list was opened, so the wait could be even longer with more than twice as many potential applicants.
"This is a good thing, so I can wait," Hubner said. "It's worth it."
