Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Stored: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Public and Indian Housing |
| Top Organization | Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| Creation Legislation | Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383) |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, run by HUD, aids low-income families and elderly with rental vouchers for safe housing, cutting homelessness. |
| Program Start | 1974 |
| Initial Funding | $200 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, established in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act, is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Office of Public and Indian Housing to provide formula grants to public housing agencies (PHAs), allocating over $200 billion since inception to support approximately 2.3 million households annually by 2025.
Initially funded with $200 million, it has grown to distribute $30 billion in FY 2024 across 2,400 PHAs, funding rental assistance for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities in private market housing.[1] Despite its impact, challenges like funding shortfalls, waitlist lengths, and landlord participation issues persist (web ID: 2), but it remains a cornerstone of HUD’s affordable housing efforts.
Goals
- Provide rental assistance to low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities to access safe, decent housing.
- Promote housing stability and reduce homelessness through tenant-based vouchers.
- Increase affordable housing options and community integration via partnerships with private landlords and PHAs.[2]
Organization
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is managed by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing, overseen by Assistant Secretary Adrianne Todman since 2021, with PHAs implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by the Housing and Community Development Act and subsequent funding acts like Public Law 117-328 (2022).[3]
Partners
- National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
- Public Housing Authorities Directors Association
- Enterprise Community Partners
- California Housing Finance Agency
History
Authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383) and launched in 1974 with $200 million, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program expanded with annual appropriations, reaching $30 billion in FY 2024.[4] It grew from assisting 400,000 households annually in 1975 to 2.3 million by 2025, addressing disparities with innovations like Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) (web ID: 0). By 2025, it has awarded over $200 billion, though GAO notes funding shortfall concerns (web ID: 2).
Funding
Initial funding of $200 million in 1974 supported the program’s launch, with over $200 billion appropriated by 2025 via annual HUD budgets—e.g., $30 billion in FY 2024.[5] Ongoing appropriations under the Housing and Community Development Act sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing affordable housing needs.
Implementation
Section 8 distributes formula grants annually, requiring PHAs to manage vouchers for eligible households, tracked via HUD’s Voucher Management System.[6] It progresses through partnerships with PHAs and landlords—e.g., 2.3 million households yearly—and program expansions, adapting to housing needs with no set end, though waitlist lengths remain a challenge (web ID: 2).
Related
External links
- https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8
- https://www.nahro.org
- wikipedia:Section 8 (housing)
Social media
- https://twitter.com/HUDgov
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-department-of-housing-and-urban-development
References
- ↑ "Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8.
- ↑ "Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Overview". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_35630.PDF.
- ↑ "About HUD Leadership". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.hud.gov/about/leadership.
- ↑ "Housing and Community Development Act of 1974". U.S. Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-bill/15361.
- ↑ "Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8.
- ↑ "Voucher Management System". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/vms.