U.S. Army Veteran Prevents Homelessness, Improves Section 8 Accountability in Oxnard
Willa is a U.S. Army veteran who has lived in Oxnard for over 50 years. She juggles work while helping raise her teenage grandson, a talented athlete with a busy sports schedule. Thanks to a Housing Choice Voucher (commonly known as Section 8) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Willa has been able to stay in her community despite the skyrocketing cost of living.
But when she renewed her voucher last year, a calculation error by the local housing authority led to a rent increase she couldn’t afford. She worried about losing the stable home she’d created for herself and her grandson.
Section 8 Housing Affordability Challenged
Willa put in the time to prepare a written statement challenging the rent increase. After her caseworker said there was no error, Willa followed the procedure to request an informal hearing. Still, the housing authority insisted the rent increase was correct.
Willa was desperately worried about losing the stable home she’d created for herself and her grandson. But she refused to give up on her home.
Two Wins: CRLA Restores Housing Affordability and Housing Authority Improves Renewal Process
Willa called our Oxnard office, where our team provided the legal expertise she needed to ensure the housing authority took all her work and documentation seriously.
She told us, “You really don’t know all the rules [the Housing Authorities] have. But now I’ve learned them, because CRLA helped me.”
Willa successfully got her rent back to an affordable level with CRLA’s support. She also did more: her input resulted in changes to the housing authority’s web portal that improve transparency and efficiency of the renewal process for all voucher recipients in the area.
Willa's Experience Developed into Community Support
Now, Willa is a resource for her family, friends, and the other veterans who live in her housing complex. She shares what she’s learned and encourages others to advocate for themselves and reach out to CRLA as a trusted ally.
Willa’s story underscores the importance of federal resources to achieve equity, especially in rural areas. Equally important, though, is that those resources are used in ways that center the perspectives and goals of the people who need them. Without their perspectives, we end up with unjust systems that deny people’s agency, prevent mutually supportive relationships, and drive or keep people in poverty.
Thousands of tenants and homeowners priced out of private legal representation work with us every year to defend their housing rights, preserve housing and homeownership, and prevent foreclosure.
