Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) recently called for regulatory and administrative relief for public housing authorities in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Collins and King said PHAs play an indispensable role in helping the most vulnerable citizens find safe, affordable housing.
The senators called for HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to identify measures taken to cut the time it takes to inform housing authorities of capital fund allocations, provide an update on a meeting with public housing industry groups and affirm any review of data collection requirements for PHAs.
“Currently, the wait list for section 8 housing choice vouchers in Maine is larger than the number of issued vouchers,” Collins and King said. “Housing authorities in Maine play a critically important role in the federal government’s effort to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for lower-income individuals and families who otherwise would be unable to afford market-rate housing….”
HUD said it has worked with PHAs, tenants, local governments, the general public and its own staff to find ways to streamline the public housing and housing choice voucher programs.
“The department recognizes that the need for rental assistance has grown as a result of the recession,” HUD officials said. “PHAs in Maine and across the country have worked with HUD to respond with tremendous effort and compassion to the housing crisis. HUD has pushed the regulatory and administrative boundaries of programs operated by PHAs to maximize the number of families housed with the funds provided….”
HUD has drafted a proposed rule that would provide further regulatory relief to PHAs. Included in the proposed rule are provisions that would simplify the earned income disregard, establish a threshold for processing changes in family income and modify utility reimbursements.
“Given the rising number of people in need of housing assistance, we are thrilled that HUD was so receptive to our requests,” Collins and King said. “In particular, we are pleased that HUD is in the process of drafting a proposed rule to further provide administrative relief to public housing authorities and we look forward to reviewing that rule when it is proposed.”