Section 8
The Section 8 Housing Choice voucher program was established in 1974 and has since become the largest form of federal housing assistance. Low-income families use Section 8 to help pay for housing from the private market; the vouchers, distributed by local Public Housing Authorities, are meant to ensure that households only pay 30% of their income to rent. The program is a critical component in the continuum of housing for low income people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.
NAHC supports an appropriation that fully funds the renewal of existing Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in use, approximately 2.1 million, as well as allowing for expansion to serve some of the millions of low-income Americans in need of housing assistance. This appropriation must be made without sacrificing other critical programs for low-income and/or disabled people.
SEVRA – Section 8 Voucher Reform Act
Congress has been working on Section 8 Voucher Reform Act legislation for a number of years. A House bill, H.R. 3045, sponsored by Representative Maxine Waters (D‐CA), came out of committee in 2009 and could be voted on by the House as early as this month. A Senate bill is expected to be introduced. The legislation would bring many efficiencies and improvements to HUD’s voucher program.