Rental Assistance / Section 8
Section 8 tenant-based assistance is now known as the Housing Choice Voucher
Program under Section 8 of the 1937 Act as amended by QHWRA. It is the largest
U.S. housing subsidy program with more than 1.5 million households participating.
The new voucher program was developed through a merger of the former Section
8 certificate and voucher program. Agencies have annual contracts with HUD
to operate the Housing Choice program. These vouchers can be used to assist
residents that must be relocated from public housing because of demolition,
and are also used to support welfare reform program objectives, for welfare
recipients who are working toward economic self-sufficiency. Congress will
consider legislation in the fall of 2000 that would enable elderly persons
to use a voucher toward their rent in an assisted living facility or nursing
home, to supplement federal healthcare services assistance.
Tight rental markets due to the sustained economic expansion, low fair
market rental levels and landlords who are choosing to opt out of the
program are reducing the supply of available housing for program participants.
Recently concerns have been expressed regarding program utilization
and the efficiency of program administration. In response, NAHRO and
our allied interest groups are seeking an increase in local fair market
rent levels from the 40th to 50th percentile of area median prevailing
rents to increase utilization rates.
Please follow the links below for more information.
Link to sub-sections:
|
