Alright, Ken. I'd like to know what you'd say about this? this is a hard
issue for me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Justice For All Moderator <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 11:05 PM
Subject: Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.
>Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.
>[[log in to unmask]] writes:
>Administration Housing Voucher Plan Removes Disabled Preference.
>
>Administration's plan would target vouchers to families with
>higher incomes and eliminate the preference for homeless and
>disabled, among other negative impacts.
>
>National Alliance to End Homelessness
>Online Newsletter
>May 2, 2003
>
>Administration Introduces Housing Voucher Plan
>
>The Administration has released its plan to restructure the Housing
>Choice Voucher program (typically referred to as the tenant-based
>Section 8 program). The proposal, which is called Housing Assistance
>for Needy Families or HANF, would do the following:
>
>* change the structure of funding to no longer fund a specified number of
>vouchers
>
>* encourage States to target vouchers to families with higher incomes;
>
>* allow States to implement time limits for vouchers;
>
>* eliminate several preference options including ones for homeless families
>and persons with disabilities;
>
>* establish several performance measures;
>
>* give funding to States instead of housing authorities.
>
>Instead of funding a specific number of vouchers, as has been the case
>since the beginning of the tenant-based voucher programs, funding would be
>provided as a block grant to States. According to an analysis by the Center
>on Budget and Policy Priorities, the change in funding structure could lead
>to a decline in the value of housing subsidies over time relative to
>housing costs. Since 1998, the average fair market rent, an indicator of
>actual housing costs, has increased at twice the general rate of inflation
>and significantly more than the inflation factor HUD uses to set rents in
>the project-based section 8 program.
>
>Other proposed changes would allow States to serve higher income families
>than are now served under the voucher program. The proposal would require
>States to serve the same number of families as are now served by housing
>vouchers. However, if there is less funding available, or if funding does
>not keep up with the rising cost of housing, States would have to target
>vouchers to families that have higher incomes. Currently, 75% percent of
>new vouchers must go to households that have incomes below 30% of area
>median income (usually about $15,000 - $20,000 per year). The new proposal
>would allow States to request waivers to allow only 55% of vouchers to
>serve this population. Homeless households have an average income that is
>about 15% of area median income. Thus states would have a strong incentive
>not to serve homeless families under the new proposal.
>
>The bill (H.R. 1841) was introduced in the House by Representative Bob Ney
>(R-OH). In a press release, Ney stated, â the issue of reforming Section
>8 is a contentious one, while I am introducing this legislation at the
>request of the Administration, I am also entering this debate as a neutral
>partyâ A Senate version of the bill (S. 947) was introduced by Senator
>Wayne Allard (R-CO).
>
>The National Alliance to End Homelessness has prepared a summary of the
>proposal, which is available at homelessness.org/pol/papers/hanf.htm"
>http://www.endhomelessness.org/pol/papers/hanf.htm
>
>A series of analyses of the Housing Voucher Program is available from the
>Center on Budget and Policy Priorities at:
HREF="http://www.cbpp.org/housingvoucher.htm"
>http://www.cbpp.org/housingvoucher.htm
>Justice-For-All Moderator
>[log in to unmask]
>
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