Up to 10,000 seek rent assistance in Atlanta

[sixmile]

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/crowd-waiting-for-housing-589653.html



'Thousands of people were lined up at the Tri-Cities Plaza shopping center, hoping to apply for a voucher from the East Point Housing Authority that will give them a discount on their rent.

People began lining up at the shopping center two days ago, and by Wednesday morning the crowd had grown to over several thousand people. East Point police, some wearing riot helmets, were patrolling the area. Firefighters and EMTs were attending to people who were overheating in the sun. Police from College Park, Hapeville, Fulton County and MARTA assisted in crowd control.

Felecia McGhee told the AJC she arrived around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. She said the major problem began when people started breaking into the line and officials started moving the areas where they were handing out applications. She said she saw at least two small children trampled when the crowd rushed the building where the applications were to be handed out.

"It's a real mess out here," she said.

East Point Police Sgt. Cliff Chandler said most of those treated were suffering from heat-related illnesses. He did not have a total number of people treated but knew of at least a half-dozen cases. He said a toddler was treated earlier in the morning for "some type of seizure." He estimated the crowd at 8,000 to 10,000.'


more at link

[Donnachaidh]

1. the local news is downplaying it, saying the crowd was reacting like fans

looking for concert tickets. :eyes:

Yeah, that takes away the desperation factor that up to 10K people in Atlanta qualify for Section 8 housing.

[Erose999]

2. The local Fox affiliate disabled the user comments section of the story

because Freepers were ranting about how they should have used Napalm for crowd control.

Freepers... what a bunch of worthless dickbags they are.