By Sara Strong
Subsidized housing isn't new to Rock County, but giving tenants a choice on their location could be.
Current income-based housing is site specific, such as the Blue Mound Towers and Rock Manor apartments, in which qualifying tenants pay 30 percent of their income toward rent and the rest is subsidized.
Members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Worthington asked the Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday to grant it the authority to administer a Section 8 housing program in Rock County.
Section 8 allows qualifying renters to use vouchers and choose their location, provided the rental home or complex is a qualifying Section 8 participant.
To qualify, certain inspections and building codes must be met.
The Luverne Housing and Redevelopment Authority will also consider this request.
Section 8 has been looked on favorably by some landlords and apartment managers because they can be guaranteed at least a majority of the rent due to the subsidy, whereas negligent tenants or vacancies are less consistent.
In the past, Luverne's current income-based rental units opposed Rock County opening Section 8 because they feared losing tenants to other apartment complexes if tenants were given a choice.
The Rock County Board tabled action until its next meeting because one commissioner, Bob Jarchow, wasn't at the meeting.