Section 8 Program

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   From the City Mangers Report. 

As many are aware, we have made sweeping changes to our Section 8 program this year
including the implementation of our new Administrative Plan in October. The changes made
were to gain better operational control of our program and also to assist Section 8 tenants in
moving to better quality housing in areas with less poverty and crime. We have discussed many
times the effect of Section 8 in causing crime compared to the City as a whole. What has not
received as much attention is the fact that Section 8 tenants are also more likely to be the
victims of crime.

In a review of October 2010 calls for Police service involving Section 8 tenants, the tenant was
responsible for creating or causing the need for Police assistance in 74 calls for service. The
Tenant was the victim of crime in 107 calls for service, including: 23 reported thefts, 12
burglaries, 12 calls for threats, 7 calls for vandalism, six incidents of domestic violence, 8
reported assaults, 6 missing juveniles, 4 cases where the tenant was the victim of fraud, and
two reports of rape and attempted suicide. 

The purpose of Section 8 housing is to provide, decent, safe, affordable housing to those in need. As we implement the operational changes to our program, we intend to address the safety of our Section 8 housing and will work to provide safe housing to our Section 8 tenants outside of Middletown’s high crime neighborhoods.

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randy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Official Joined: Jan 13 2009 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote randy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Section 8 Program Posted: Dec 01 2010 at 4:44pm
	From the City Mangers Report. As many are aware, we have made sweeping changes to our Section 8 program this year including the implementation of our new Administrative Plan in October. The changes made were to gain better operational control of our program and also to assist Section 8 tenants in moving to better quality housing in areas with less poverty and crime. We have discussed many times the effect of Section 8 in causing crime compared to the City as a whole. What has not received as much attention is the fact that Section 8 tenants are also more likely to be the victims of crime. In a review of October 2010 calls for Police service involving Section 8 tenants, the tenant was responsible for creating or causing the need for Police assistance in 74 calls for service. The Tenant was the victim of crime in 107 calls for service, including: 23 reported thefts, 12 burglaries, 12 calls for threats, 7 calls for vandalism, six incidents of domestic violence, 8 reported assaults, 6 missing juveniles, 4 cases where the tenant was the victim of fraud, and two reports of rape and attempted suicide. The purpose of Section 8 housing is to provide, decent, safe, affordable housing to those in need. As we implement the operational changes to our program, we intend to address the safety of our Section 8 housing and will work to provide safe housing to our Section 8 tenants outside of Middletown’s high crime neighborhoods.
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VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 01 2010 at 5:48pm
	Sooo...help the Section 8 people attain decent housing in more desirable neighborhoods while beating the non-Section 8 people over the head with citations for paint peeling and other property infractions? Doesn't the practice of taking a home in a decent neighborhood and making it a Section 8 residence, with the constant shuffle of transient people and with some not keeping up the property while living there, lower the value of that once decent neighborhood? How does Gilleland think the long time residents feel about this intrusion on their street? Probably doesn't care, right? Seems to be some illogical thinking on the part of the city doesn't there? Why do city officials help those who come from a group that is known for draining resources with assistance calls and who adds little to the growth or revenue through wages to the city, and hassle the people who live without the government handout? I thought the city wanted to make the program as undesirable as possible to stop the flow of outsiders to come here for a handout. It would appear that this new thinking is making life a little more cushy for them instead. This appears to be another load of horsecrap dumped on the citizens. JMO

Hermes Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: May 19 2009 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1637	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hermes Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 01 2010 at 6:20pm
	And what part of stupid do these idiots at city hall not understand ?!! Someone correct me if I'm wrong,if you transfer the problem from one part of town to another doesn't the crime follow ?? Maybe I'm the stupid one here but that makes absolutely no sense on any level. That is stupidity at it's best.
	No more democrats no more republicans,vote Constitution Party !!

Bill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Nov 04 2009 Status: Offline Points: 710	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 01 2010 at 7:03pm
	I'm hoping by "desirable neighborhoods" she means "...outside of Middletown". If not, I suggest a neighbor over on Antrim Court try to go S8 and see how Judy likes it.

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 01 2010 at 9:59pm
	Ahhh yes all that FREE GOVERMENT money to build new multi-complex housing for Section 8 is looking reeeeeally good to the City of Middletown….However it will be sold to the public as a planned community. Keep an eye on this deal.

Nelson...Himself Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Sep 08 2010 Status: Offline Points: 69	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nelson...Himself Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 12 2010 at 12:45pm
	Miss Vivian -- Once again you've 'hit the nail on the head' by exposing the city's newest potential megabuck vision for a partially Section 8 assisted multi-complex housing development to be built dowtown (former downtown per SpiderJohn). I agree that the 'inner-circle' almost certainly considers the prime location to be between Trinity Place Apartments and the 1300 block of Central Avenue on city-owned land. Also, your conjecture about the role of Jim Verdin in this newest HUD-assisted venture is interesting. Good luck at the Historic Pioneer Cemetery hearing in Columbus this coming week. What a great opportunity to expose the vindictive behavior and absence of concern of certain senior city staff about Middletown's founders, departed average citizens, plus military veterans! I suppose that historic preservation doesn't matter to them in this instance??

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 12 2010 at 4:14pm
	The city is going to create more housing for Section 8? Thought we were on the path to getting more Section 8 out of town and sending the vouchers to other towns???? Didn't Adkins allude to those plans a while ago? Which is it?

plum8up Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Outsider Joined: Jan 20 2010 Location: mid 01dletown Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote plum8up Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Dec 29 2010 at 9:45pm
	it is killing our city!no money for rent means no money to support local companys just a drain on city services just a way for a small group of people to make money at the expense of the rest of the cummunity

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 02 2011 at 8:59am
	More reasons for not having Section 8 in this city. From today's Journal" "Section 8 tenants more likely to be victims of crime than the cause, study shows" By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 11:11 PM Saturday, January 1, 2011 MIDDLETOWN — While it’s no secret there is a higher amount of crime in neighborhoods with more Section 8 housing, city statistics show tenants are more likely to be victims of crime than the cause. According to data compiled by the Community Revitalization Department in October, tenants were the cause of 74 police calls, compared with 107 calls when the Section 8 voucher holders were the victims of a crime. Doug Adkins, Community Revitalization director, said he thinks Section 8 tenants are often the victims because of where they live. “They are often our most vulnerable citizens, and we predominantly have them living at this time in our oldest, least-maintained housing stock in our highest-crime neighborhoods,” Adkins said. “While these housing units meet the (housing quality standards) of having working appliances, etc., many are far from ideal.” Middletown police Sgt. Jim Cunningham said the crime problems in Section 8 neighborhoods are nothing new for Middletown — or any other city. But with new software, police are better equipped to track crimes committed in Section 8 housing and respond appropriately. In cases where Section 8 tenants are causing the crime, they are often removed from the program, Adkins said. City Council voted in a new administrative plan for the Section 8 program in October. The changes include more incentives for higher-quality housing and increasing the payment standard for housing outside the city. Adkins said these changes aren’t just meant to reduce the number of voucher holders in the city, but also to help Section 8 tenants receive better housing in safer neighborhoods. “In the end, we should reduce the number of vouchers within the city, and, at the same time, provide better, safer housing for our Section 8 program,” Adkins said. So Gilleland and crew are willing to put up with this unnecessary headache to receive fed dollars and to ruin the city? Haven't you people driven this city in the gutter enough? Adkins, WE DON'T WANT SECTION 8 TO BE PLACED IN DECENT NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT CURRENT PROBLEMS. Better to keep this crap concentrated for better policing. People don't want this on their block. Lowers the neighborhood standards and value. City has no right to intrude like this. Gilleland and all supporters.... how about putting one of these on your block. Kohler, Mulligan...how about a Section 8 home in the "historic" section on your block since you support this crap. Any councilmember or city big-wig want this next door to them? Why not....you support it.

wiseone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Outsider Joined: Jan 02 2011 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote wiseone Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 02 2011 at 11:42am
	The us government is trillions of dollars in debt and will probably cut off foodstamps and housing assistance in the near future...if by some miracle they dont get cut off , the people receiving assistance need to be on a list of tasks to be done and a neighborhood crime watch association that actually works...like with the people on the list staying up at night and actually watching for crime in the housing area where they live...alert the police of crime....like stealing all of the copper and aluminum out of the boarded up houses....how come no one ever sees them doing this? These communities need a real good property manager for the housing properties....someone that will make them work or lose their housing benefits for good....there are generations of people that have been on government housing and it is a way of life for them...they need to help with the old houses that are condemned and maybe tend a garden in place of the old house that was torn down.....picking up trash, washing the school buses, in other words to take a real interest in the town and make it better for all...doing things to save the city money in these hard times...we will have to all be concerned soon anyway because the government is going down in a ball of flames and we will run out of funding....we either set it up now or get ready to fight another civil war with the haves and the have nots....lets help each other...Happy New Year...