Santa Paula Housing Authority annual report shows long wait for housing

There are 661 applications waiting for housing that might not become available for 2 1/2 years, the typical waiting time for Section 8 housing.Of the applicants, 151 are white, 490 are Hispanic, 13 are black, 4 are American Indian and 3 are Asian/Alaskan.Small families with four or less members dominate the waiting list with 573 of the applications, as do female head of household with 514. Elderly applicants number 79, there are 140 disabled/handicapped potential tenants, and veterans number 23 among the applications.By far most Section 8 housing vouchers and applications request two-bedroom housing. Among the applicants 158 desire a one-bedroom unit, 187 have requested a three-bedroom unit, 50 are seeking a four-bedroom home and 9 are in need of five-bedrooms.Ramsey told the council that the past year was “eventful and productive,” with more a record number of families being assisted through the Section 8 program.The Santa Paula Housing Authority also owns the El Dorado Apartments on the corner of 8th Street and Harvard Boulevard, which offers housing to low-income tenants without utilizing the Section 8-voucher program. The authority also acquired an additional four units of housing in the reporting year.