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Mediation

Homeless and Frustrated: Colorado Springs Residents Question Housing Authority's Efficiency

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As early sunsets of COVID-era emergency housing vouchers due to the $5 billion pot running out of money result in additional grievances from low-income families, residents like Kaniya Johnson claim the government system provides federally subsidized housing vouchers instead is causing them to become homeless. Johnson, a 34-year-old mother of three, said she's frustrated with the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's delay in transitioning her federal housing voucher from Texas to Colorado Springs, which she claimed caused her and her family to become homeless for a month.

Key Takeaways:

  • Residents like Kaniya Johnson and Pamela Langford claim the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's inefficient process is causing them to become homeless.
  • Johnson said she had to wait over 30 days for her housing voucher to be transferred from Texas to Colorado Springs, which caused her family to become homeless.
  • Langford, who has multiple sclerosis, was evicted from her handicapped-accessible unit at Southview Plaza Apartments despite objections from about 25 supporters and a restraining order.
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced in March that it would no longer provide funding for the 2021 Emergency Housing Voucher program.
  • HUD officials said options to convert emergency vouchers to traditional "housing choice" vouchers will be available to "minimize disruptions" and "families do not experience a loss or gap in housing assistance."
  • Residents are worried their housing could be in jeopardy as the remaining emergency HUD funding will carry the existing 69 vouchers allocated by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority through the first quarter of 2026.
  • Colorado Springs Housing Authority Executive Director Chad Wright said he couldn't discuss data related to individuals, but acknowledged that wait times for assistance can be long.

Statistics:

  • 34-year-old mother Kaniya Johnson claims her husband and her family were homeless for a month due to the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's delay in transitioning her federal housing voucher from Texas to Colorado Springs.
  • 51-year-old Pamela Langford was evicted from her handicapped-accessible unit at Southview Plaza Apartments despite objections from about 25 supporters and a restraining order.
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced in March that it would no longer provide funding for the 2021 Emergency Housing Voucher program.
  • Remaining emergency HUD funding will carry the existing 69 vouchers allocated by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority through the first quarter of 2026.
  • Over 1,700 people receive vouchers from the Colorado Springs Housing Authority, while over 2,000 people are on the waitlist for vouchers.

Sources:

  • Kaniya Johnson, Colorado Springs resident
  • Pamela Langford, Colorado Springs resident
  • Chad Wright, Colorado Springs Housing Authority Executive Director
  • Paul T. Spencer, Colorado Springs Housing Authority Deputy Director
  • Kristy Milligan, CEO of Westside CARES
  • HUD spokesperson
  • Shannon Gray, Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Division of Housing spokesperson
  • The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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