Up to 600,000 expected to apply when L.A. reopens Section 8 housing list this month after 13 years

Lately, home for Tamara Meeks has been the screened-in back porch of a tiny house behind an apartment building near 66th Street and Compton Avenue. “It makes a big difference in people’s lives to have a decent place that is affordable,” said Douglas Guthrie, chief executive and president of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Household size Very low income Extremely low income Household size 1 person Very low income $31,550 Extremely low income $18,950 Household size 2 people Very low income 36,050 Extremely low income 21,650 Household size 3 people Very low income 40,550 Extremely low income 24,350 Household size 4 people Very low income 45,050 Extremely low income 27,050 Household size 5 people Very low income 48,700 Extremely low income 29,250 Household size 6 people Very low income 52,300 Extremely low income 32,960 Household size 7 people Very low income 55,900 Extremely low income 37,140 Household size 8 people Very low income 59,500 Extremely low income 41,320 Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development To be eligible, applicants must meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of “very low income.” For Los Angeles, that’s $31,550 for an individual and $45,050 for a family of four. U.S. housing law requires the authority to distribute 75% of the vouchers to those of extremely low income — a maximum of $18,950 for an individual and $27,050 for a family of four. “It’s not difficult for us to meet that requirement,” Guthrie said.”The vast majority of those that are in our programs are extremely low income.” The shortage of federal housing vouchers is a national phenomenon.