For people who can’t afford their own place to live, getting a Section 8 housing voucher can be a relief or even a cause for celebration.
The realities of the housing market, however, mean nearly half of those vouchers expire before they can be used.
A nationwide study found that just 55% of households awarded a Section 8 voucher were able to redeem it, according to new reporting from USA Today .
The problem is getting worse. Between 2018 and 2022, the share of households unable to use their voucher increased from 35% to 45%, according to the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University.
More: Voucher program is supposed to help poor families rent a home. Nearly half the time, it fails.
In Oklahoma, data shows that only about three of every five housing vouchers are successfully redeemed before they expire.
“It’s a dire situation,” said Ingrid Gould Ellen, director of the Furman Center and one of the authors of the study. “That after winning the lottery, essentially, and getting this voucher, many of them may be searching and searching and unsuccessful. That is tragic for that individual family.”