SANFORD, Fla. — WFTV uncovered more problems Thursday with the Sanford Housing Authority. The authority is supposed to deliver checks to renters and landlords in the government's Section 8 program.
However, renters told WFTV the money is not getting to the landlords, and the tenants are worried about eviction.
Cynthia Willingham worries her family may not have a place to sleep come June 1. Even though she lives in a private home, she blames the Sanford Housing Authority.
"If you can't do your job, you need to step down and let somebody else," Willingham said.
Willingham is among the hundreds of Seminole residents whose federal Section 8 rental assistance is doled out locally by the authority.
In this case, the rent breakdown should be pretty basic. Willingham pays $751 a month out of her own pocket in rent. The remaining $349 is supposed to be covered by Section 8.
The trouble is, the authority hasn't sent out Willingham's Section 8 portion of May's rent to her landlord.
"I've turned in every piece of information they asked for, and I just keep getting the runaround," Willingham said.
There may be many others like her.
The Department Of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) recent review of the authority found the most senior Section 8 staffer had resigned.
"Although some temporary employees have attempted to fill the position, there have been numerous complaints...regarding the lack of action on the part of SHA."
HUD says it's already given the authority directions to improve its Section 8 program.
Willingham says it's not working, and she's worried about her landlord.
"I'm afraid she might say, okay, you got to pay the whole thing or leave." she said.
The authority's executive director told WFTV a check for Willingham's landlord was put in the mail Thursday afternoon.
A new Section 8 administrator was hired and has been on the job for nine days.
WFTV
