[StBernard] St. Bernard residents line up over night for housing lottery

[Westley Annis]

A housing lottery in St. Bernard Parish has people lining up hours before
the St. Bernard Parish Department of Housing Development is set to determine
who will qualify.




There are reports of more than 100 people in line as of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday
evening, according to witnesses, and also reports of shoving. So far,
though, there have been no reports of any arrests.




St. Bernard police spokesman Steve Cannizaro said that no one will be
allowed on the property until 6 a.m., but added that the head of housing
will be there as early as 5:30 a.m. 

Only 400 tickets will be issued at the door, according to the department's
website. And of those 400 tickets issued, "200 will be drawn and given an
appointment at a later date. They will be processed in the order that they
were drawn. After 140 vouchers are filled, any remaining qualified
applicants will be placed on a waiting list," reads the department's
website.




The lottery is being held the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center's Grand
Ballroom on Judge Perez Drive and is set to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.    



A woman on nola.com (who works in real estate) sez this is for add'l SECTION
8 housing?


Does anyone know if that is true?  Craig?

JY