Thousands in Fort Lauderdale line up for shot at affordable housing

[Mr. Hyde]

The hope that drove thousands to sleep outside overnight in Fort Lauderdale to apply for subsidized housing turned to outrage Saturday morning as throngs were sent home empty-handed, even though some applications were still available.

Authorities were stocked with 3,000 housing applications at the Robert P. Kelley building on West Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest Fifth Street.

But more than 5,000 arrived hours earlier than expected and began pushing against metal guardrails and police when an announcement came that there were not enough documents to go around.

''There are no more applications,'' a Fort Lauderdale police officer called out over a megaphone at 8:15 a.m. ``Your presence here is a waste of your time.''

In fact, 200 applications were still available when officials sent everyone home, according to Tam English, executive director of the Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority.

That infuriated those who showed up at the advertised 7 a.m. opening only to learn they were too late.

''What kind of mess is this?'' said Betty Outlaw, who arrived about 6:45 a.m. with two nieces. Unemployed and living with her sister, Outlaw stood in line anyway.

By 5 a.m., people began to push and shove, leading to scuffles, according to Olivia Fears, a Bradenton woman who drove to Fort Lauderdale Friday night.

''I didn't know the line would be like this,'' she said, tucking an application into her purse as officers warned that someone may try to steal the document. ``I'm relieved, but I'll feel better when I get a letter that I have been accepted.''

After the crowd left, Northwest Fifth Avenue was littered with McDonalds bags, Gatorade bottles, strollers, plastic lawn chairs, coolers and comforters -- enough to fill three dumpsters, English said.

Teddy Jacobs, a 27-year-old, unemployed Miami Gardens man stood across the street without an application and watched in disappointment.

''It was crazy,'' said Jacobs, who along with his wife and their 2-month-old baby, is basically homeless. ``People were pushing. I thought it was unorganized

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/915720.html

edit for link

[williesgirl]

1. This is so sad. Folks are homeless and we're still funding banks/Wall St. Sick. rec'd

[dkf]

2. So much for there being an oversupply of housing.

Which goes back to my argument that the problem is the price of housing, which is simply too expensive even now.