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Finding Affordable Housing is a Challenge for Many in Rochester

On average, apartment-dwellers in the City of Rochester are putting 42% of their incomes toward rent-well above the federal affordable housing standard of 30%.

To help out, the federal government supplies vouchers to low-income residents through a program called Section 8. But Rochester Housing Authority Executive Director Alex Castro says the program isn't keeping up with demand.

"Even though the number of vouchers may increase, there also has to be a similar increase in operation dollars, and what we're seeing is because of the economy and the need for cuts, that's not happening," Castro says.

Castro says there more than 13,000 families on the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers.  Click on the video box below to watch the full story and interview that originally aired on WXXI-TV's Need to Know Rochester on April 13, 2012.