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Off the Charts Blog: In Case You Missed It...
May 24, 2013
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Mortgage Interest Deduction Is Ripe for Reform
April 4, 2013
Costing about $70 billion a year, the mortgage interest deduction is one of the largest federal tax expenditures, but it appears to do little to achieve the goal of expanding homeownership. The main reason is that the bulk of its benefits go to higher-income households who generally could afford a home without assistance: in 2012, … -
Sequestration Could Deny Rental Assistance to 140,000 Low-Income Families
April 2, 2013
The budget cuts known as “sequestration,” initiated on March 1, will likely force state and local housing agencies to cut the number of low-income families using Housing Choice Vouchers to afford housing by roughly 140,000 by early 2014.[1] This represents a sharp break from Congress’ bipartisan commitment — … -
Deficit Reduction Should Not Increase Poverty and Hardship
March 11, 2013
Executive Summary With President Obama and lawmakers of both parties vowing to achieve further deficit reduction, the stakes are high for low- and moderate-income Americans. If policymakers heavily target programs that serve vulnerable Americans, they will run the risk of increasing poverty and hardship and reducing opportunity for … -
Estimated Cuts in Federal Housing Assistance and Community Development Programs Due to Sequestration, 2013
Updated March 5, 2013
Automatic, across-the-board funding cuts in most federal programs (or “sequestration”) had been scheduled to begin on January 2, but the “fiscal cliff” budget deal enacted by President Obama and Congress delayed these cuts until March 1, 2013. The budget deal also reduced the amount to be sequestered in fiscal … -
Testimony of Robert Greenstein, President, Before Senate Budget Committee
February 13, 2013
I appreciate the invitation to testify today on the impact of federal budget decisions on families and communities. This is an important matter. As you know, the nation will have to make tough decisions to put the budget on a more sustainable fiscal course. The issue is not only whether policymakers act to secure adequate … -
Policy Basics: Federal Rental Assistance
January 25, 2013
What Is Federal Rental Assistance? Federal rental assistance enables 5 million low-income households to afford modest homes. Three major programs — Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Public Housing — assist about 90 percent of these households. Other programs serve households with special needs, including the “202” and “811” Supportive Housing Programs for the Elderly and for People with Disabilities; Housing … -
Policy Basics: Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance
January 25, 2013
The Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) programs enable more than 2 million people in 1.2 million low-income households to afford modest apartments by contracting with private owners to rent some or all of the units in their housing developments to low-income families. Seniors or … -
Policy Basics: Introduction to Public Housing
Updated January 25, 2013
What Is Public Housing? Public housing is one of the nation’s three main rental assistance programs, along with “Section 8” vouchers and project-based rental assistance. Public housing developments provide affordable homes to 2.2 million low-income Americans. Where Is … -
Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program
Updated January 25, 2013
Created in the 1970s, the “Section 8” Housing Choice Voucher Program has become the dominant form of federal housing assistance. What Is the Housing Voucher Program? Low-income families use vouchers to help pay for housing that they find in the private market. The program is … -
Methodology: State Fact Sheets on Federal Rental Assistance
Updated December 19, 2012
Data on renter households in each state are CBPP tabulations of the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS). The number of renter households includes households renting for cash rent and no cash rent, excluding households living in group quarters. Total households is the sum of renter households and all households that own their homes, with or without a mortgage or other loan. Monthly household income is the … -
National and State Housing Data Fact Sheets
Updated December 19, 2012
Federal Rental Assistance About 35 percent of all U.S. households – or 41 million households – are renters. Federal rental assistance programs enable more than 4.9 million low-income households in U.S. to rent modest housing at an affordable cost. About 56 percent of these households are headed by people who are elderly or have disabilities; … -
Non-Defense Discretionary Programs Will Face Serious Pressures Under Current Funding Caps
Revised December 6, 2012
President Obama and Congress achieved $1.5 trillion in discretionary program cuts over the next ten years primarily by setting tight caps on annual discretionary funding in the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011.[1] Congress adhered to those caps in 2012 in writing its appropriations bills for that year, but has yet to enact final … -
Deficit Reduction Deal Without Substantial New Revenues Would Almost Certainly Force Deep Cuts in Housing Assistance
November 26, 2012
The figures in Tables 1a and 1b showing the estimated effects of sequestration on housing assistance and community development programs have been updated and posted here: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3892 Any major legislation to reduce federal budget deficits that does not include substantial new revenues would almost certainly require … -
Bill to Simplify Housing Program Administration Contains a Few Promising Proposals, But Numerous Problematic Ones
November 15, 2012
Legislation that Senators Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced in September (S. 3538) seeks to reduce administrative burdens and complexities for small local agencies that operate the federal low-income housing programs. These public housing agencies (PHAs) would realize administrative savings under the bill, but it … -
Testimony of Will Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst, Before the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
August 1, 2012
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Will Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues affecting low- and moderate-income families. The … -
Renters’ Tax Credit Would Promote Equity and Advance Balanced Housing Policy
Revised July 25, 2012
Related files Report without appendices (31pp.) Appendix 1: Comparison of Capped and Uncapped Credits (3pp.) Appendix 2: Method Used to Estimate Cost and Impact of a Renters’ Credit (3pp.) Appendix 3: State Tables (6pp.) One-Page Fact Sheet Over the past several decades, the nation’s housing policy has focused predominantly on increasing homeownership. Most federal housing expenditures now benefit families with relatively little need for … -
Senate Funding Bill Improves on President's Budget Request for Rental Assistance
May 22, 2012
The Senate Committee on Appropriations has approved funding legislation for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that improves upon President Obama's budget request for fiscal year 2013 in several ways, including: Providing $17.5 billion for the renewal of Housing Choice Vouchers, $250 million above the Administration's … -
Blog Post: Low-Income Programs Would Bear the Brunt of Ryan Cuts
March 23, 2012
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President's Proposal to Raise Rents on Some of the Nation's Poorest Households Would Cause Serious Hardship
March 20, 2012
The President’s budget proposes to raise the rents charged to more than 500,000 of the nation’s poorest families. It would do this by raising to $75 a month the “minimum rent” charged to the poorest families in the rental assistance programs that the Department of Housing and Urban Development administers and eliminating state … -
President’s Budget Not Sufficient to Renew Rental Assistance Fully for Low-Income Households
March 14, 2012
The President's fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is at least $1.7 billion below the amount needed to fully renew rental assistance provided this year under HUD's three major rental assistance programs for low-income households: the Housing Choice voucher, public housing, and Section 8 … -
HUD Rental Assistance in Rural and Urban Areas Fact Sheet
February 13, 2012
http://www.cbpp.org/files/RentalAssistance-RuralFactsheetandMethodology.pdf -
Contrary to "Entitlement Society" Rhetoric, Over Nine-Tenths of Entitlement Benefits Go to Elderly, Disabled, or Working Households
February 10, 2012
Some conservative critics of federal social programs, including leading presidential candidates, are sounding an alarm that the United States is rapidly becoming an “entitlement society” in which social programs are undermining the work ethic and creating a large class of Americans who prefer to depend on government benefits rather … -
Romney's Charge That Most Federal Low-Income Spending Goes for "Overhead" and "Bureaucrats" Is False
Updated January 23, 2012
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has endorsed a proposal to eliminate major federal assistance programs for low-income Americans and turn them over to the states, often with deep funding cuts. But the rationale he offered for doing so in this past Sunday’s “Meet the Press” debate — that the federal bureaucracy … -
Proposal to Greatly Expand “Moving To Work” Initiative Risks Deep Cuts in Housing Assistance Over Time
January 10, 2012
A recent proposal from Representative Gary Miller (R-CA) to permit an unlimited expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration, which now exempts 35 housing agencies from nearly all federal housing laws and regulations so they can experiment with alternative ways of administering low-income housing aid, risks deep cuts to housing … -
Large Majority of Housing Voucher Recipients Work, are Elderly, or Have Disabilities
December 2, 2011
In light of renewed interest among policymakers in increasing the "self-sufficiency" of recipients of housing assistance (and other public benefit programs), we used recent administrative data submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by state and local housing agencies to analyze the demographic … -
SNAP’S Homeless Shelter Deduction Can Provide Much-Needed Help for Homeless Individuals and Families
December 2, 2011
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) homeless shelter deduction offers states a flexible tool to provide increased benefits to individuals and families who are without permanent housing but still have shelter expenses. Thanks to improvements made in the 2002 Farm Bill, the deduction is simple to administer and can … -
Proposed Change in HUD’s “Minimum Rent” Policy Could Raise Rents for Several Hundred Thousand Poor Families
Revised November 28, 2011
Leadership of the House Financial Services Committee recently circulated draft legislation that could increase rental costs for several hundred thousand extremely poor families that receive federal housing assistance. Families in every state could face rent increases that could total $300 a year or more (see Appendix 1). The change … -
Methodology and Explanation of Housing Voucher Utilization Data
October 18, 2011
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Testimony: Will Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst, Before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing, and Community Opportunity
October 13, 2011
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Will Fischer, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, non-profit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues affecting low- and moderate-income families. The Center's housing work … -
House and Senate Funding Bills Risk Loss of Rental Assistance For Thousands of Low-Income Families
October 12, 2011
The House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee and the full Senate Appropriations Committee have approved fiscal year 2012 funding bills that would make deep cuts in the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The proposed cuts, which are much deeper than the average reductions that the recently-enacted Budget … -
Expansion of HUD’s “Moving-To-Work” Demonstration Is Not Justified
September 27, 2011
Proposals before Congress would sharply expand HUD's Moving-to-Work (MTW) demonstration, which allows HUD to grant broad waivers of federal statutes and regulations to agencies that administer the public housing and Section 8 voucher programs in order to test experimental policies. An expansion of MTW is not justified: it would reduce the … -
An Update on HUD Program Funding for FY 2012
September 27, 2011
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Letter from 810 Groups Urging Senate Banking Committee to Act on Section 8 Reform Legislation
September 21, 2011
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House Bill’s Deep Cuts in Public Housing Would Raise Future Federal Costs and Harm Vulnerable Low-Income Families
September 16, 2011
A House Appropriations subcommittee last week voted to reduce funding for public housing in 2012 by $1.4 billion, or 20 percent, below the 2011 level. This reduction, which would come on top of significant reductions in public housing capital funding over the past decade, would expose low-income households in public housing to … -
Update on Housing Choice Voucher Funding for 2012
September 12, 2011
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Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs Are Not Growing as Share of HUD Budget
July 20, 2011
Contrary to the concerns that some lawmakers have expressed, there is no evidence that the Section 8 rental assistance programs for low-income families — the Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based Rental Assistance programs — are crowding out spending on other HUD programs. In 2010, the most recent year for which data are available, total outlays … -
Testimony: Barbara Sard, Vice President for Housing Policy, Before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Support
June 23, 2011
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Barbara Sard, Vice President for Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues affecting low- and moderate-income families. … -
Unbalanced Approach to Deficit Reduction Could Cripple Housing and Community Development Programs
June 23, 2011
Housing and community development programs could face crippling cuts over time if Congress and the Obama Administration agree to a deficit reduction plan that relies primarily or entirely on spending reductions rather than on a balanced mix that includes a significant revenue contribution. Congress already made significant funding cuts in … -
Small Housing Agency Reform
June 2, 2011
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State-By-State Fact Sheets: Federal Rental Assistance
Updated May 4, 2011
This page is no longer being updated. For the most recent data on federal rental assistance please see this page. For each state, the linked fact sheet has data on each of the major federal rental assistance programs and the unmet need for housing assistance. The sources of the various data in the fact sheet for each state are explained here. To view the … -
HUD Requests Applications for Small Area FMR Demonstration
April 26, 2011
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Impact of the House Republican FY 2012 Budget on Housing and Community Development Programs
April 26, 2011
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Converting Funding of Some Public Housing Developments to Section 8 Subsidies Would Help Preserve Needed Units
March 25, 2011
The Obama Administration’s 2012 budget proposes a demonstration project to fund a limited number of public housing developments through the “Section 8” rental assistance program rather than the public housing program. These conversions should help preserve the nation’s stock of public housing by giving … -
Off the Charts Blog Post: Keeping Public Housing in Good Repair
March 25, 2011
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House Spending Bill Renews Most Low-Income Rental Assistance but Would Undercut Efforts to Reduce Homelessness and Meet Other Critical Housing Needs
March 7, 2011
Legislation that the House of Representatives recently passed to cut funding for non-security discretionary programs in the current year (fiscal 2011) would provide adequate funding for several major low-income rental assistance programs — for renewal of Housing Choice vouchers and Section 8 project-based rental assistance … -
Local Estimates of Public Housing Capital Fund Cuts Under House GOP Bill
March 7, 2011
The 2011 funding proposal (H.R. 1) that the House of Representatives passed on February 19 would reduce public housing capital funding by nearly $1.1 billion, or 43 percent, compared to the 2010 level. This cut would prevent local housing agencies from carrying out needed repairs to public housing developments, such as replacing boilers or fixing roofs. To … -
Off the Charts Blog Post: What Will Happen to Housing Funding in the Next 2 Years?
March 3, 2011
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Off the Charts Blog Post: “Nightline” Exposé on Public Housing Tells Incomplete Story
January 28, 2011
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Comparison Between Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) and Current Law
December 9, 2010
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House Continuing Resolution Would Prevent Deep Cuts in Families Assisted by Low-Income Housing Programs
December 9, 2010
The full-year continuing resolution that the House of Representatives approved yesterday includes funding increases for the current fiscal year (2011) for three housing programs that play an important role in alleviating hardship and reducing homelessness among low-income families: the Housing Choice (“Section 8”) Voucher Program, … -
Podcast: Housing Assistance at Risk for Struggling Families
December 7, 2010
Senior Policy Analyst Doug Rice discusses proposed funding cuts that could cause tens of thousands of low-income families to lose housing assistance during these tough economic times.
Duration: 3:20
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Proposals to Cut Domestic Programs Threaten Loss of Housing Assistance for Thousands of Low-Income Families
November 29, 2010
The full House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Appropriations have approved bills that would provide adequate funding in 2011 to renew all Housing Choice (“Section 8”) vouchers used by low-income families this year, according to Center analysis. If final appropriations legislation were to fund the … -
Audio Highlights from the "Preserving Public Housing: Issues and Options" Policy Forum
July 28, 2010
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Urban Institute, and Abt Associates, Inc. sponsored "Preserving Public Housing: Issues and Options," a series of policy forums on the Obama Administration’s PETRA proposal. PETRA would institute new rules governing key rights of tenants in developments converted under the plan, including rights … -
Using TANF Emergency Funds to Help Prevent and Address Family Homelessness
July 13, 2010
At least 15 states are using federal stimulus dollars provided through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund to assist the growing number of needy families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the recession. The number of homeless families has increased for each of the last two years and the … -
“SEVRA” Housing Voucher Reform Bill Would Update and Streamline Program
Revised May 13, 2010
The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA), which the House Financial Services Committee approved in July 2009, contains a series of important, carefully crafted measures to strengthen the housing voucher program. Most significantly, it would help and encourage state and local housing agencies to assist more needy families … -
Podcast: Transforming Rental Assistance
April 27, 2010
Will Fischer, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center, discusses the President’s plan to preserve affordable housing. Duration: 4:22
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President’s Budget Would Strengthen Housing Voucher Program
April 6, 2010
Executive Summary In a budget that would freeze overall funding for non-security discretionary (i.e., non-entitlement) programs, the Administration has made the renewal of “Section 8” Housing Choice vouchers a priority. The President’s budget requests $17.1 billion to renew vouchers in 2011, an increase of $875 million above … -
Obama Budget Includes Major Plan to Preserve Needed Affordable Housing
March 16, 2010
The President’s $350 million Transforming Rental Assistance (TRA) initiative, outlined in his fiscal 2011 budget, would enable local housing agencies and private owners to more easily preserve affordable housing, in part by giving them more adequate and sustainable funding to operate it. As a result, TRA would help preserve an estimated … -
Sharp Expansion of HUD’s “Moving-To-Work” Demonstration Raises Serious Concerns
January 22, 2010
A proposal before Congress would sharply expand HUD’s Moving-to-Work (MTW) demonstration. Unless important limitations are added, this expansion would reduce the number of families receiving housing assistance by shifting funds out of the Section 8 housing voucher program. It also would expose more low-income families to … -
Podcast: Homelessness and Rental Assistance in the Recession
December 15, 2009
The recession’s impact on homelessness and how increased federal rental assistance can help struggling families are discussed by the Center’s Senior Policy Analyst for Housing, Doug Rice.
Duration: 4:03
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Options For Jobs Legislation: Providing $1 Billion To Prevent Homelessness
December 15, 2009
As part of the economic recovery act signed into law in February, Congress approved $1.5 billion in temporary housing assistance for families that are homeless or at risk of losing their homes due to job loss or other financial hardship. These resources, which the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributed … -
Proposed Expansions of Homebuyer Tax Credit Would Be Highly Inefficient and Squander Federal Resources
October 27, 2009
Executive Summary Members of Congress are considering extending — and possibly substantially expanding — the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The credit, which is available to first-time homebuyers with incomes up to $150,000 (up to $75,000 for … -
Funding Shortfalls Causing Cuts in Housing Vouchers
September 14, 2009
As a result of a shortfall in funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program for calendar year 2009, an estimated 400 state and local housing agencies across the country will be forced to reduce or eliminate rental assistance for a significant number of the 500,000 low-income families they serve. While landlords may absorb … -
Investing Climate Revenues in Subsidized Housing Energy Efficiency Would Cut Emissions and Lower Federal Costs
July 7, 2009
The federal government spends more than $3 billion per year on utility costs in public housing and privately owned subsidized housing. Investments that increase energy efficiency in subsidized developments can lower those expenditures and generate long-term federal savings that would offset much of the up-front cost. Those … -
Reforming HUD’s “Section 3” Requirements Can Leverage Federal Investments in Housing to Expand Economic Opportunity
June 10, 2009
Executive Summary This is an important time to reform “Section 3,” the federal requirement that low-income individuals receive a portion of the economic benefits created through federal investments in affordable housing. Not only is rising unemployment creating added hardship, but federal recovery funds are … -
Podcast: Will Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst, on the Section Eight Voucher Reform Act
June 8, 2009
The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) would take a series of important, timely steps to strengthen the voucher program, the nation's most widely-used low-income housing program. At a time when poverty and homelessness are rising, this bill would make housing affordable to more needy families, and provide more flexible and effective assistance.
Duration: 3:56
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Testimony: Will Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst, at the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
June 4, 2009
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Will Fischer, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues affecting low- and moderate- income families. … -
Introduction to the Housing Voucher Program
Revised May 15, 2009
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (sometimes referred to as the “Section 8 voucher program” after the section of the U.S. Housing Act that authorizes it) is the largest federal low-income housing assistance program. Families who are awarded vouchers use them to help pay the cost of renting … -
What to Look For in HUD’s 2010 Budget For Low-Income Housing
May 4, 2009
“We at HUD and in the Administration are fully committed to attacking the affordability gap in rental housing and ensuring that housing affordability is a long term priority.” — HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, speaking before the National Low Income Housing Coalition on April 21, 2009. … -
Additional Housing Vouchers Needed to Stem Increase in Homelessness
April 16, 2009
“One of the changes in attitudes that I want to see here in Washington and all across the country is a belief that it is unacceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours.” — President Obama, speaking to reporters on March 24, 2009. “An extensive body of … -
Limiting Itemized Deductions for Upper-Income Taxpayers Would Have Little Effect on Small Business, Charities, Housing
March 12, 2009
Despite persistent claims to the contrary, the President’s proposal to cap the value of itemized deductions at 28 percent would have only small effects on small business, charitable giving, and homeownership. That’s because the proposal, which would save $318 billion over the next ten years to help finance health care reform, would affect only those tax … -
Decade of Neglect Has Weakened Federal Low-Income Housing Programs
February 25, 2009
A large and growing number of low-income renters face unaffordable housing costs. Federal housing programs have proven effective in enabling millions of low-income households to obtain stable, decent housing, but a funding squeeze and various actions taken by Congress and the Bush Administration have weakened these programs considerably, just when the need is rising.… -
Costly Isakson Homebuyer Tax Credit Amendment Would Be Ineffective Stimulus
February 9, 2009
An amendment by Senator Isakson that the Senate added to its economic recovery legislation, providing a new $15,000 tax credit for home purchases in the 12 months after enactment,[1] has low bang for the buck as stimulus and is thus a dubious addition to the package. Unlike the $7,500 first-time homebuyer credit that Congress adopted as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act in July 2008 — which the new tax credit … -
Exchange Plan in House Recovery Bill Offers Best Fix For Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Updated February 9, 2009
The economic downturn has sharply reduced the effectiveness of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the nation’s primary subsidy for development of affordable rental housing. Faced with lower profits and reduced access to capital, fewer corporations are willing to invest in affordable housing in exchange for the credits. As … -
Number of Homeless Families Climbing Due To Recession
January 8, 2009
Executive Summary New data indicate that the number of homeless families with children has climbed in recent months and continues to mount. Although the recovery package that Congress will consider in coming weeks is expected to include measures to restore several million jobs, an unusually large number of people are still likely to fall into severe poverty and to be at … -
Preserving Safe, High Quality Public Housing Should Be a Priority of Federal Housing Policy
Revised October 8, 2008
This report, based on significant new research, examines the state of public housing in the United States today and discusses federal policy changes that have greatly improved public housing over the past decade, as well as the deteriorating funding situation that is undermining this progress. It then outlines several policy … -
Testimony: How to Promote Housing Integration and Choice through the Section 8 Voucher Program
October 6, 2008
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is by far the nation’s largest low-income housing program. More than 2.2 million housing vouchers have been authorized by Congress and allocated to the approximately 2,400 housing agencies that administer the program. It is also the housing program that is the most targeted on the … -
National and State Voucher Utilization Data, 2004 - 2008
July 16, 2008
This page is no longer being updated. For the most recent data on federal rental assistance please see this page. Of the 2,191,371 vouchers authorized for agencies nationwide, only 90 percent were used by families last year. In contrast, 96 percent of authorized vouchers were used in 2004, before policy changes and underfunding led to a decline in … -
Property Tax Limitation in the Senate Housing Bill is Unnecessary, Impractical, and Likely to Cause Harm
June 23, 2008
Legislation that the Senate is considering in response to the ongoing foreclosure crisis (H.R. 3221) includes a provision that would allow non-itemizers to deduct property taxes up to an amount of $500 for an individual and $1,000 for a couple.[1] It would deny the deduction, however, to residents of any locality that raises its … -
House-Passed Housing Tax Package Improves Significantly on Senate Version: But Addressing the Foreclosure Crisis Will Require Other Measures
Revised June 17, 2008
On April 10, the Senate passed a bill comprised largely of housing-related tax cuts. [1] Six weeks later, the House passed its own housing legislation including its own package of housing-related tax measures. Some of the provisions in House-passed housing tax package have merit, and the House-passed tax package represents a … -
Senate Housing Legislation Highly Disappointing: Less Than One-Fourth of Cost of Senate Bill Goes for Provisions That Will Actually Help Address the Foreclosure Crisis
Revised May 12, 2008
On April 10, the Senate passed legislation that its supporters say will help struggling families hold on to their homes and assist the communities hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis. Measures that would help achieve these goals, however, account for less than one-fourth of the bill’s cost. The remainder of the cost comes … -
Statement by Barbara Sard, Director of Housing Policy, on House Action on Foreclosure Legislation
May 7, 2008
Two essential elements of an effective federal response to the foreclosure crisis are stabilizing communities hard hit by foreclosures and helping renters who lose their homes to foreclosure through no fault of their own. The Neighborhood Stabilization Act (H.R. 5818), which the House plans to … -
HUD Budget Contains Major Funding Shortfalls
May 5, 2008
Last year, Congress rejected deep cuts the Administration proposed in affordable housing and community development programs and funded the Department of Housing and Urban Development at $2.1 billion above the Administration’s budget request for 2008. For 2009, Congress will have to provide a substantially larger increase — totaling … -
Testimony: Enhancing Affordable Housing Opportunities: Reforming the Housing Voucher Program"
April 16, 2008
I am Barbara Sard, Director of Housing Policy for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues, with particular emphasis on fiscal policies and policies affecting low and moderate-income families. We receive no government … -
Senate Bill Would Update And Streamline Housing Voucher Program
March 10, 2008
On March 3, 2008, Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd, Senate Housing Subcommittee Chair Charles Schumer, and several other Senators introduced S. 2684, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA). SEVRA would make significant changes to the “Section 8” Housing Choice Voucher program and related changes in other … -
House Bill Makes Significant Improvements In “Hope Vi” Public Housing Revitalization Program
Revised January 30, 2008
On January 17, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007, by a vote of 271 – 130. The bill reauthorizes the program for 7 years, while making a number of important improvements. Historically, HOPE VI — which provides grants to public housing agencies to … -
Preliminary Analysis of the HUD Provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for FY 2008
Revised January 4, 2008
Here is a preliminary assessment of the HUD provisions of H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (or “omnibus”), which includes funding for programs administered by HUD and every other federal agency outside of Defense. The bill was approved by Congress on December 19 and signed into law by the President on … -
HUD Bill Avoids Deep Cuts in 2008
Revised November 16, 2007
Executive Summary Congress is expected to approve soon an appropriations bill (H.R. 3074) to fund programs administered by the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation, and a few smaller agencies. The President has threatened to veto this and other domestic appropriations bills that do not contain the level of … -
Housing Vouchers Could Be at Risk in 2008
September 28, 2007
This fall, Congress will seek to finalize its appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008, including the Transportation-HUD bill, which funds “Section 8” Housing Choice Vouchers and other affordable housing programs. Section 8 vouchers are the nation’s leading source of housing assistance for low-income elderly, people with … -
Bipartisan Legislation Would Build on Housing Voucher Program's Success
Revised July 26, 2007
On July 12, 2007, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 1851, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) by a bipartisan vote of 333-83. SEVRA would make significant changes to the housing voucher program and also institute related changes in laws governing other housing assistance programs. Similar legislation is expected to be … -
Congress Should Increase HUD’s Budget to Prevent Families from Losing Assistance and Address Growing Needs
Revised June 1, 2007
The President’s budget for fiscal year 2008 proposes to cut $2 billion (5 percent) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), compared to the 2007 funding level, adjusted for inflation.[1] The deepest cuts would be made in housing for the elderly and disabled (a 29 percent cut), Community Development Block Grants (a … -
Testimony: Barbara Sard, Director of Housing Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
March 9, 2007
I appreciate the opportunity to testify concerning the proposed Section 8 Voucher Reform Act. I am Barbara Sard, director of housing policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues, with … -
The Effects of the Federal Budget Squeeze on Low-Income Housing Assistance
February 1, 2007
Executive Summary Federal housing assistance programs for low-income families face growing budget challenges. Housing costs have grown faster than most families’ incomes in recent years, and a growing number of low-income families — including many working-poorfamilies — face housing costs that are unaffordably high. Yet … -
Cuts in Federal Housing Assistance Are Undermining Community Plans to End Homelessness
February 1, 2007
Executive Summary Five years ago, the Bush Administration announced a commitment to end chronic homelessness and reduce other types of homelessness within ten years.[2] If successful, this important initiative would alleviate the severe hardships endured by many of the approximately 3 million Americans who experience homelessness every year, including … -
Fixing the Housing Voucher Formula: A No-Cost Way to Strengthen the “Section 8” Program
November 1, 2006
Congress will reconvene in mid-November for a “lame duck” session to finish work on the nine unfinished appropriations bills for fiscal year 2007. Among the bills to be completed is the Transportation-Treasury-HUD bill, which includes funding for most federal housing programs. A key item in the bill is the appropriation for … -
State Fact Sheets: The Impact of Competing Housing Voucher Formulas on Each Public Housing Agency
November 1, 2006
State-specific fact sheets which show the impact of the competing formulas on each public housing agency in the state are provided through the links below. Alabama Kentucky … -
Public Housing Squeezed Between Higher Utility Costs and Stagnant Funding
October 11, 2006
The nation’s public housing units provide affordable homes to about 1.1 million low-income households, approximately half of which are headed by people who are elderly or have disabilities. The local housing agencies that administer these units are required by federal law to rent them to low-income families at rents the families can afford. Those rents are often inadequate to … -
Bipartisan Bill in House Would Make Marked Improvements in Housing Voucher Program
Revised August 16, 2006
Executive Summary On May 22, 2006, a bipartisan group of leaders of the House Financial Services Committee introduced the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA), which would make a series of changes in the housing voucher program and other housing assistance programs. The bill (H.R. 5443), which the Housing and Community … -
Rent Changes In Housing Bill Will Help Many Tenants
Revised August 1, 2006
On June 14, 2006 the House Financial Services Committee passed H.R. 5443, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA). The bill would alter the rules for setting rents for tenants in public housing and project-based Section 8 units, as well as for voucher holders. [1] The full House will likely consider the bill in the …
