I'm Sorry, Your Life Is in a Recession

At least, that's what I feel like I'm telling my clients when they call me to check on their Section 8 voucher status. I used to tell people curious enough to ask that the recession wasn't affecting the work i do, but that's not true anymore.

I take my clients on a journey from homelessness to (hopefully) peacefully settled in their own apartment; but most of that journey consists of working with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) to get my clients their Section 8 voucher. Why I am helping in this way? Because the wait time for Section 8 is about 10 years, so a special program was instituted to allow homeless persons to move more quickly. I help the client understand how the process works.

Except that right now, the system isn't working. Normally, clients receive their voucher in about 3 months if they get all their paperwork done in good time, but all of my clients have been waiting since at least February. Understandably, they're anxious to know if I've lost track of them or if everything is okay.

Everything is not okay! Until HACLA starts issuing more vouchers, there's nothing we can do at work which is infuriating and almost painful when my clients call. HACLA is saying they need to get their budget approved which is probably being influenced by the recession. It seems like this recession is effecting everything, although I know we live in (probably) the richest country in the world.