Changes to Section 8 Housing Voucher Renewal Funding, FY2003-FY2006

Publication Date: February 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

Changes enacted by Congress during the appropriations process in each of the past several years have significantly altered the way that public housing authorities (PHAs) receive funding to administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Designed to curb growing federal expenditures, these new formulas have resulted in budgets that have not kept up with cost growth for some local agencies and possibly surplus funds for others. The Administration has proposed to reform the program, including the funding formula, each year since FY2003. No legislation has been enacted, but bills were introduced in the 108th Congress and have been introduced in the 109th Congress (H.R. 1999 and S. 771). This report describes changes in the formula that were included in appropriations bills for FY2003 through FY2006; it will not be updated. For more information on the Section 8 voucher program, see CRS Report RL32284, An Overview of the Section 8 Housing Programs, and CRS Report RL33270, The Section 8 Housing Voucher Program: Reform Proposals, both by Maggie McCarty.