Instead of voting on a proposal to aid low-income housing in Madison, City Council members decided Tuesday to postpone the controversial issue until early October.
At Tuesday’s special City Council meeting, members of both the Madison Common Council and the community came out to talk about Section 8, a low-income housing plan that gives those in need a voucher to pay 30 to 40 percent of their rent.
The largest problem city officials found in Section 8 is that many Madison landlords will not accept the voucher as viable income, which makes it hard for participants to find housing.
At the meeting, members were to vote on an ordinance to make it impossible for landlords to refuse renting to individuals on vouchers for that reason alone.
A compromise has been worked on between members of the council, tenants, and members of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin.
The compromise states that tenants cannot be evicted for receiving vouchers.
This issue has been in question for the past decade but has failed to pass in council. Last night was to be some sort of resolution for the long-debated issue.
Instead, the council deferred voting on a resolution until Oct. 8, based on language deemed unclear by members of the council and the city attorney.
City attorney James L. Martin said he would not advise the ordinance to pass as-is because he wanted the language to be tight and in good form.
Other members of the council did not agree with the postponement and were frustrated that this issue is being pushed back again.
“The city can’t seem to get their act together,” said Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2. “The council is in agreement, but it couldn’t pass. It is extremely frustrating that the council could have made an agreement but there was not enough staff support. Especially from the city attorney.”
There are 1556 vouchers in the Madison area, with another 1800 people on a waitlist for vouchers. Until the compromise is voted on, it will be difficult for people to find housing.
Last week, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, expressed confidence that the ordinance would pass at tonight’s meeting. When it did not, he expressed discontent.
“I am disappointed that the council couldn’t take meaningful action tonight to end the discrimination that poor people face when looking for housing,” Verveer said.
At the meeting, many concerned with the issue spoke. Most people were disappointed to have the vote postponed yet again.
Activist Burt Zimmer spoke at the meeting and said the ordinance is a chance to have people treated fairly, not specially. He believes people on Section 8 would be given not special treatment, but a chance to be treated equally, with a fair opportunity for housing. He then urged the council not to postpone the vote again.
The compromise will be talked over and drafts will be rewritten until Oct. 8, when Section 8 will go before the council once more.
