Question

A family has just been informed that their landlord is raising the rent on their apartment in two months. The head of the household is already working two minimum wage jobs and the family spends half its income on rent. What evidence BEST supports the prediction that a Section 8 rental assistance voucher is unlikely to prevent the family from becoming homeless?

A. People who apply must quality to receive the vouchers.
B. The average wait for a voucher is almost three years.
C. The vouchers are reserved for the elderly and veterans.
D. People with a medical emergency receive vouchers first.

Answer 1

The best evidence to support the prediction that a Section 8 voucher will not prevent the family from becoming homeless is the average wait time of almost three years for such assistance. Given their urgent need and financial strain, such a delay is a significant barrier.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evidence that best supports the prediction that a Section 8 rental assistance voucher is unlikely to prevent the family from becoming homeless is B. The average wait for a voucher is almost three years. Given the immediate need of the family due to the rent increase and their already strained financial situation, a multi-year wait will not address their urgent need to secure affordable housing. Options A, C, and D mention qualifying criteria and prioritization for specific groups, but they do not inherently mean a family will not receive a voucher, only that there are additional considerations in the allocation process. However, a wait time of several years is a direct and significant barrier to receiving needed assistance promptly.

Matthew Desmond in his book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City underlines that extreme rent burdens leave families vulnerable to homelessness and advocates for a universal housing voucher program as a possible remedy. However, he acknowledges that even with vouchers, affordable housing remains a critical issue. Hence, the combination of a lengthy waiting period and shortage of affordable housing indicates that vouchers alone may not suffice to keep the family in their home.