|
Bill Would Streamline Section 8 Voucher Unit Inspections
Draft legislation that would streamline several aspects of the existing Section 8 housing voucher program received a favorable response last week from the nation’s home builders.
In written testimony to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, NAHB voiced support for the Section 8 Housing Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA), legislation that would streamline inspection and income verification requirements for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
“NAHB greatly appreciates that SEVRA addresses the problem of duplicative unit inspections, while ensuring that housing quality standards are maintained,” the NAHB statement said.
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental subsidies to approximately 2 million very-low income households who obtain housing in the private rental market. The basis of the program, which is to broaden the range of housing choices for families seeking affordable housing, has proven to be effective in helping low-income families find decent, safe and affordable housing.
While the current SEVRA draft includes provisions intended to streamline the current housing inspection process, NAHB urged lawmakers to incorporate elements included in H.R. 5433, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2006, which was introduced in the 109th Congress.
This would “best accomplish the goals of streamlining the unit inspection process by eliminating duplicative inspections and unit turnover delays, while ensuring that units continue to meet housing quality standards,” NAHB said.
For example, NAHB supports a provision in H.R. 5433 that would significantly streamline the process for inspecting units for compliance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS). Units being vacated by a voucher family would not have to be re-inspected before the next eligible family could move in if the unit had been found to meet the HQS standards during an inspection within the previous 12 months. The same would apply for previous inspections within 12 months under another federal, state or local housing assistance program.
NAHB also supports the provision in the current SEVRA draft bill that would allow public housing authorities to inspect properties every two years instead of annually. However, NAHB also suggests that properties with 15 units or less be inspected at least annually.
For more information, e-mail Scott Meyer at NAHB or call him at 800-368-5242 x8144.
|
