Communication is key

MILTON — According to the Milton Housing Authority, the organization is is doing its best to place families in affordable housing based on federal assessments. The problem? There is a lack of landlords accepting Section 8 housing.

The MHA spoke at the Aug. 14 city council meeting giving a report an update on their current activities following a request made by the council.

MHA Chairman Frederick Smith apologized to the council for the delay in the organization’s appearance to the council after the city made numerous attempts to set up a meeting. He said it was a matter of misunderstanding and not an intentional attempt to not appear. Smith thanked the city for its help and support in working with the organization.

MHA director Phyllis Sellers gave an update on the current status of the organization.

“First off, let me say I’m not a public speaker,” Sellers said to break the ice.

Sellers gave details about MHA's clients that live in the Blackwater Housing Corporation properties whose new owners no longer accept Section 8 housing. She said they currently had 15 tenants the change affected and that almost, if not all, of them would find other living arrangements.

Sellers said the MHA has scored well in all categories in federal assessments of the organization. In public housing they scored 95 percent and in HUD they scored 135, which Sellers said is the highest they can achieve.

Sellers said one of the biggest things Milton needs right now is more landlords accepting Section 8 and HUD Housing.

“We just don’t have enough,” Sellers said. "That's the problem every year."

Councilman Casey Powell said he would like to see the council help in anyway it could to get more landlords to accept these programs. 

Mayor Wesley Meiss agreed. He said the MHA is an asset to the city and the council should be actively involved in helping that asset.

“It shows we have a heart,” Meiss said.      

MHA operates under a seven-member board the city mayor selects. MHA's mission is to asses and fulfill the need for decent, safe, and affordable housing in Santa Rosa County that provides an environment which empowers low income families to improve their lives, according to its website.

For more information, visit their website at miltonhousing.org.

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Communication is key