As per the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress in November, the program, commonly referred to as Section 8, has been designated $13.4 million in voucher renewals. Assisted housing advocates greeted that news with dismay, noting that the amount was insufficient to cover all families requiring such aid; the revelation that there will be an additional cut has been even less well received, to say the least.
"The January 21 memo is the latest in a series of actions taken by HUD to undermine the housing voucher program and the housing stability of thousand of families," says National Low Income Housing Coalition president Sheila Crowley. "With ever-declining revenues, agencies that administer the program will have to require low-income families to pay more for their housing or help fewer people or both."
Section 8 Vouchers currently assist just over two million low-income households; a perpetual shortage of funds, however, forces many families onto lengthy waiting lists for assistance. With no possibility of an appeal in this matter, advocates are putting forth a concerted effort to make members of Congress keenly aware of the consequences of the cut; a move they hope will positively influence budget decisions for FY 2006.
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