Hundreds seeking housing money overwhelm Boca Authority

[Changenow]

Source: palmbeachpost.com

BOCA RATON — A crowd of more than 500 people waiting for hours this morning for housing voucher applications were dispersed by police in riot gear at the Boca Raton Housing Authority when the applications ran out sooner than expected.

The action prompted complaints that officers used excessive tactics and housing authority officials were incompetent in their planning.

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By 10 a.m. the crowd had swelled to more than 500 people, with most unaware that the bulk of applications had already been passed out.

The parking lot was a mass of women nursing crying babies, pushing strollers and waiting anxiously for officials to give them information

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"We're all working people and we're all bitter right now," said Deborah Davis, 37. "To be turned away like this hurts."

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Read more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/south/epaper/2008/03/12/0312vouchers.html

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Please view this slide show, it defies comprehension. Riot police and babies.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/slideshows/031208brhousing/

[Warpy]

1. "The vouchers had already been given out"

Yeah, what do you want to bet they went to the "right" sort of people not represented by this crowd?

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Even those who got vouchers may not end up using them.

In large housing authorities good lease up rates are in the area of 80%; in smaller ones like Boca it could be lower.

Of course, the real problem is the lack of affordable housing and underfunding voucher programs doesn't address that.

[pepperbear]

3. these are applications. they couldn't xerox a couple of hundred more?

what am I missing here?

[NYC]

4. Police in riot gear against unarmed women who want

affordable housing. It sounds so third world.

[Changenow]

6. Don't forget the babies

Maybe they were worried about ankle bites?

[ohio2007]

5. where's this free money vouchers coming from they hand out ? State or Fed ?

Article said the handout of vouchers has happened in the past


So whenever word gets out that voucher applications are being handed out, which she said doesn't happen very often, people get full of hope.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Ever notice how the police show up

when ever a group of poor folk start collecting.
scares the hell out of the cops.
According to the story, the office opened at 9 am and the cops were there at 9:30...
in riot gear,,
for a crowd of disabled, old, and toddlers...


Sheesh...

[saigon68]

8. And they had their tasers out for officer's safety

[Zhade]

14. THAT'S what you choose to focus on?

Hello, riot gear? Wake up!

[pfitz59]

9. 7 pages of foreclosure auctions......

in todays newspaper. I think this is just the beginning!

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. Ya allowed warmongers to run your country - ya gotta do more than just whine about it

.
.
.

or just live with it.

and STFU

[salin]

11. What does that have to do with this story

???

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. Just the fact that you have to ask the question

.
.
.

sorta ANSWERS the question of why the USA is in such decline.

Hope y'all don't take us down with you.

[Zhade]

13. RIOT GEAR? WTF?

Insane. And it's only going to get worse.

Serious thought must be put into how best to defend ourselves in the future crisis.