Government Shutdown Could Affect Texarkana Renters

As the calendar days continue to pass, the government remains shut down and more and more services across the country are being affected including low-income housing.

What does that mean for Texarkana? In TK, about 600 families use housing vouchers. According to KTBS, nearly 100 of them live in Pecan Ridge, The Oaks and Rosehill Ridge apartment complexes, and the rest are tenant-based housing.

Housing Authority of Texarkana, Texas Executive Director Antonio Williams told local sources:

We don't have all the answers right now, but I think as we continue to scramble, we are hoping and praying that the government will open up before things come to fruition, and it will be all over with.

Fortunately, Williams reports that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds available through the end of February. However, if the shut down continues through March,they may have to dip in to the HUD reserve funds as a last ditch effort to prevent evictions.

Low income housing advocates say that the partial shutdown could result in the eviction of thousands of tenants.