All I need is affordable housing.  

The Housing Opportunities Commission in Montgomery County, MD has all the power and they are denying me the one chance I have at this.

My name is Lizette and I live in Montgomery County, MD.  I have a Housing Choice Voucher that expires 11/16/22 issued by the Housing Opportunities Commission.  I am a single parent with two children that have autism.

I was on the waiting list for many years.  I have been struggling to find a place that will rent to me because of credit issues and increases in rents.  I have received information from the office that sometimes is not clear for me, and that has also been a problem for me.

Today, I requested an extension for extra time to find a place to live. A housing authority can give 180 days for a family to find a place to live. I have done four rental applications and I have not been able to secure a place to live yet.  My worker, Tess Battle, told me I had to send over a list of 10 properties for me to get approved for an extension. It wasn’t very clear to me so I asked a community advocate to assist me. She asked for a document that detailed the extension process, and they did not give it to her.  I sent over what I had, and the next email I got was a denial of the extension request.  She said the reason I was denied is that I did not send over 10 properties that I had viewed. I asked her if I could get the 10 properties to her by the date of my voucher expiration could I get the extension and she will not answer me.

I am desperate. I am living in a house with rats with two special needs children. I really need this help and I cannot go back on the waiting list. I just need them to answer me so I can know what to do over the next two days so I don’t lose my voucher.

Please sign my petition and ask that they give me an extension.  I just need a chance for a better life for me and my children.