More than 3,000 Corpus Christi residents may not be able to make rent if the government shutdown continues past February.
The Corpus Christi Housing Authority, which receives part of its funding from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides low income, Section 8 housing to residents on limited budgets.
The housing authority says that in the shutdown continues past February, those tenants may not be able to pay rent.
Although tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment caused by the shutdown, if their lease happens to be up for renewal, they could be at risk of losing their housing.
Landlords may also be affected, as more than $1.2 million in rent may not be paid to local landlords, and it’s not yet clear if that rent will be repaid.
Gary Allsup, CEO of the housing authority says it’s a tough time for everyone involved.
“The landlords are going to have to make some really tough decisions here in the near future,” Allsup said. “We certainly hope that landlords are going to be in a position that it doesn’t become a crisis for the tenants.”
The housing authority says it hopes to have more information for landlords and tenants in the coming weeks.
