How Section 8 Voucher Holders Are Left Vulnerable in Nationwide Housing Crisis
“I can find someone else who would pay twice this much in rent.”
These were the words my landlord threw at me before refusing to renew the lease on my rent-stabilized apartment. Instantly, my rent skyrocketed by $1,000—from $1,350 to $2,350. What was I supposed to do? There’s no landlord police to stop these sudden, crushing rent increases. My only options were to either fight a costly legal battle or scramble to find another place I could afford—neither of which was in my budget.
Like so many others, I was already spending more than half my income on rent. I was being pushed to the brink and had no idea how to move forward. This is the harsh reality for countless people facing today’s housing crisis.
Displacement in California’s Central Valley: The Affordable Housing Crisis
In California’s Central Valley, activists highlight a critical issue: local rent control measures don’t provide the same protections as those in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Rev. Nelson Rabell, a pastor in Stockton and a Board member of Affordable Housing for Faith in the Valley, shared a troubling trend. As people from the Bay Area flood into the region seeking more affordable housing, long-time residents are being displaced. Landlords are evicting current tenants to make room for wealthier renters, further fueling the housing crisis.
In San Diego County, renters also struggle with illegal rent increases. Kendra Sherman, who rents an apartment in El Cajon, told KPBS that her apartment was recently taken over by a new owner, who raised her rent to more than $300/month. Other tenants in the building shared a similar experience. Their rent had also gone up, many with hikes that exceeded the cap set by state law.
Like many renters, including myself, the best recourse for tenants who feel they’ve been wronged is to hire an attorney and go to court. Even then, that doesn’t necessarily mean the tenant will see any justice. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to rent from a landlord like that. But that means I’d have to save up enough money to move, which would become even more impossible if you’re suddenly paying $300, or in my case, $1000 more monthly.
The Gaps in Rent Control: Section 8 and Tenant Vulnerability
While renters in California, such as Kendra, are protected by the Tenant’s Protection Act, it isn’t perfect. As mentioned above, in smaller cities, rent increases are not well moderated by local rent control rules. Furthermore, there are no protections in place to prevent landlords from charging “junk fees,” which are often associated with trash, water, and “facilities.”
What’s most alarming is learning that Section 8 voucher holders are also not as well protected as they should be. Considering the purpose of the Tenant’s Protection Act is to protect low-income renters, it was disappointing to learn. For example, public housing agencies in San Diego, responsible for managing millions of dollars in federal money, don’t check to see if rent increases exceed the cap set by state law. But this wasn’t necessarily just a clerical mistake. Some agencies, including in San Diego, don’t believe the state’s cap applies to the Section 8 federal program.
After a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court, which says that the Housing Commission has been “approving and subsidizing illegal rent increases,” many housing agencies have changed their policies to comply statewide. However, others, including those in San Diego, have not.
This was also not the first lawsuit of this kind. A very similar lawsuit in Los Angeles occurred 15 years ago. And still, it continues, as many agencies in central and southern California have continued approving illegal rent increases.
The Bigger Picture: Why We Need Stronger Rent Control for Section 8
What does this all mean? Why are rent control laws so essential for apartments with Section 8 voucher holders? While these laws are designed to protect low-income renters, the issue goes much deeper. Achieving true housing justice requires firm rent limits across the board.
Section 8 is a federal program supported by our tax dollars. These funds are intended to ensure everyone has access to affordable housing—not to line the pockets of landlords charging exorbitant rents. When landlords raise rents, it’s taxpayers who end up subsidizing their growing profits, while renters are left struggling, often spending over 50% of their income just to stay housed. Does that sound fair? Far from moving toward housing justice or income equality, we’re headed in the opposite direction.
But here’s the bigger question: Why would any public housing agency approve these rent hikes for Section 8 voucher holders? Is it really just about exploiting loopholes in the law? Or is something deeper at play?
And what happens if the agency doesn’t approve the rent increase? Does that mean the tenant loses their apartment? If so, where are they supposed to go? Finding another landlord willing to accept a Section 8 voucher is already challenging, let alone one with affordable rent. So, is this a case of funneling tax dollars into landlords’ pockets, or are we pushing more people into homelessness?
There seems to be no good answer to these questions. But one thing is clear: we didn’t arrive at this crisis overnight.
I know this for certain: just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. And when the law favors those with the most money, justice cannot be found.
