LOUISIANA: Large crowd tries to apply for
vouchers in Baton Rouge
Holden: Housing Authority changes needed
The Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate
By BRETT TROXLER
Originally published April 20, 2005
One day after thousands of Baton Rouge residents were turned away when they showed up to apply for Section 8 housing, Mayor-President Kip Holden said change needs to be a priority at the parish housing department.
Holden said a different method for taking applications is needed.
"Maybe they need to look at some type of lottery system where you just draw, and the people that you select are actually the ones who'll get into those homes," Holden said. "That may be unfair to some, but we cannot afford to have the type of situation that happened yesterday."
More than 4,000 people showed up at the Catholic Life Center looking to apply, but officials with the Housing Authority said they were only expecting 1,000 and sent people home because the crowd was unmanageable.