On July 23, the House Financial Services Committee approved, 41-24, H.R. 3045, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act. The committee began consideration of the bill on July 8 (see The Source, 7/10/09).
The bill would modify the formula used to calculate voucher eligibility, establish tenant protections in the event of landlord foreclosures, and add 150,000 vouchers to the available pool in FY2010. The measure would authorize funding for family self-sufficiency activities for low-income families in connection with rental or homeownership assistance provided under the Housing Innovation Program (HIP), formerly known as Moving to Work.
During debate on the measure, the committee adopted, by voice vote, a manager’s amendment, sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Chair Barney Frank (D-MA), to modify HIP. The program provides incentives to move Section 8 recipients into jobs and eventually off voucher assistance. Among other provisions, the manager’s amendment would: