HACLA employees stress the need for HUD funding

Members of AFSCME Local 143 are speaking out about the expected reduction in federal funding to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). 

Millions of people across the United States could lose their federal housing assistance due to expected budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s homelessness program. For HACLA, these budget cuts will force them to reduce how much rent they can subsidize for clients. Between its Public Housing and Section 8 programs, HACLA assists over 83,000 households across the Los Angeles area.

Micshalay Wilson, who has worked for HACLA for 19 years, assists individuals and families with finding affordable housing through the Section 8 housing choice voucher (HCV) program. Prior to working for HACLA, Micshalay received housing assistance through the Section 8 program, so she understands first-hand how vital HACLA is to keeping families housed. “If funding is taken away, it will be devastating to low-income families,” said Wilson. “When I was on Section 8, I was a young, single mother and it helped me subsidize my rent. I will never forget it.”

Lisa Morris, who has been with HACLA for 9 years, also works as an advisor with the Section 8 program. She emphasized the negative effects on our communities if federal funding is cut. “If federal funding is cut, I don’t think we would be able to help the amount of people that we help,” said Morris. “And there are so many more people that need help and support.”

As an eligibility interviewer, Shaneka Hill is already seeing the effects of recent federal funding cuts on her department. Shaneka assists people moving from out of state to Los Angeles with finding housing. However, due to cuts, HACLA will not be able to extend housing vouchers for as many applicants as in previous years, leaving thousands of people exposed to homelessness. “I want people to understand that funding cuts will mean that people already receiving assistance are at stake of losing their stable housing,” said Hill. “These cuts will cause more people to be homeless.”

AFSCME District Council 36 and AFSCME Local 143 are advocating for funding at all levels of government to prevent thousands of households from losing their assistance. HACLA employees provide critical services that many Angelenos rely on for secure housing and funding cuts will only exacerbate the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles.