News 12 at 6 o'clock / Friday, September 3, 2010

AUGUSTA, GA. -- Augusta city leaders, community members and the housing authority were talking about the problems associated with Section 8 housing and how to fix them, Friday morning.

Section 8 is about 15 percent of the housing in Augusta and more than 800 people are on the waiting list to move into government subsidized homes, according to housing authority officials.

Of the properties they do have, neighbors say there are problems.

To solve those city leaders and the Augusta Housing Authority are teaming up to create a task force.

There are already three levels of accountability when it comes to Section 8, the housing authority, landlords and tenants and now there could be one more level.

Section 8 housing has had a history of problems throughout the City of Augusta, according to people in a housing meeting Friday morning.

"It's just like you do in society...you have a few bad apples that spoil the bunch," Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Mason said. "So we just have to control those areas that we do have."

The housing authority has tried to control it, Augusta Housing Authority Executive Director Jacob Oglesby said, kicking 294 people out of the program this year, but problems remain.

"How can we better enforce," Augusta Housing Authority Chairman Rodger Murchison asked. "How can we better protect and better show concern for our community related to Section 8 issues?"

To answer those questions, the housing authority and the city have voted to put together a task force hoping to create guidelines for Section 8 voucher holders.

"Landlords that are doing their job right are going to be glad," Murchison said. "But landlords who are being irresponsible may become nervous about this."

The group said this could mean more license enforcement, keeping landlords and tenants accountable.

"Licensing is the key," Mason said. "They're the ones who will make sure the enforcement of this takes place."

But this is just the start of talks, they hope stops some of Section 8 housing woes throughout the City of Augusta.

"Lets control it to the best of our abilities and ensure that areas are being kept up and that people are being accountable and responsible to the contracts that they're signing with the government," Mason added.

Talks of a licensing fee for landlords receiving vouchers was mentioned and there was also talk of limiting the number of people in Section 8 houses.

Members of the meeting said the city and the housing authority will meet next week.