Sharon Jasper, a Resident of Section 8 Housing in New Orleans-Truth! & Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
The story is about Sharon Jackson, a welfare recipient in New Orleans who complains about her living conditions. The story shows a picture of her nicely furnished apartment–complete with a big screen TV.
The Truth:
There is more than one version of this eRumor circulating about welfare recipient Sharon Jasper in New Orleans.
The city was embroiled in controversy in 2008 over plans to demolish four public housing complexes as part of a redevelopment plan. The government said that other housing would be available for any of those displaced by the demolitions, some which was private housing rather than public housing, and that government assistance would also be available to help welfare recipients live in private housing.
Activists complained that some of the private housing was substandard and they brought Sharon Jasper to appear at protest at city hall in New Orleans and to be an example of what they were talking about. Among other things Jasper said that her subsidized private apartment was a “slum.” She said “I’m tired of the slum landlords, and I’m tired of the slum houses.”
Jasper allowed a photographer from the Times-Picayun newspaper to photograph her apartment. The picture showed the welfare recipient sitting on her sofa in a red bath robe in what appeared to be a nice place with hardwood floors. She was also seated next to her big screen TV.
The text of the eRumor appears to be from a blogger who poked fun at Jasper because of the contrast between the picture and her description of where she lived. The statements attributed to her in the eRumor are unproven.
Updated 2/25/08