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While many are buoyed by increased housing sales in the month of July, the housing situation of millions of low-income Americans is more fragile than ever. Those residing in Section 8 housing may face increased rent, or lose their homes altogether as federal funds dry up. Section 8 housing is defined by federal rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD. To make up for the increased demand in assistance, HUD is dipping into emergency funds and the Federal stimulas package passed this February but even that is expected to not last to the end of the year. Across the country, thousands of families are on waiting lists. In Chicago this week more than 800 people camped out in the rain waiting to apply for Section 8 vouchers, many of them working poor. In New Hampshire, the Housing authority cut the amount of aid forcing families to pay more for rent – there are now 10,000 families on the waiting list for housing vouchers in that state. Here in Los Angeles, the demand is so great that for nearly five years now there has been a freeze on new housing vouchers.

GUEST: Susie Shannon Housing and Homelessness Advocate at the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness