Article Reflection No. 42 (2/17/2023)

Article: A Homeless Student Received Aid for an Apartment. Then Came the Hard Part.

Reflection:

In the article “A Homeless Student Received Aid for an Apartment. Then Came the Hard Part.” by Corina Knoll, the journalist describes the difficulties of obtaining a stable home in an environment of inflation and vouchers. According to Knoll, these vouchers, funded by the federal government, have been issued in Los Angeles with the hope of allowing people to be able to select the home that both matches their needs and is affordable. However, as Knoll follows the story of Jacqueline Benitez, a young woman who struggled to find a home for four months, she details the counteracting aspects of the vouchers. To elaborate on those aspects, the writer refers to the words from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Manuel Villagomez, who stated that “landlords tend to see applicants with vouchers as unreliable tenants or associated with crime and other problems” (Knoll 26).

Given how it is so difficult to find appropriate, safe, and stable housing even after receiving aid, it seems incredible how people make ends meet.

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