Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008

A bill to reform the housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

3/3/2008--Introduced.
Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise requirements for public housing agency (PHA) inspections of each dwelling unit for which a housing assistance payment contract is established. Requires an initial inspection before any assistance payment is made. Allows such payments if failure to meet standards is a result only of non-life threatening conditions.
Permits a PHA, in the case of projects receiving certain federal housing subsidies, to authorize occupancy before completion of an initial inspection.
Requires biennial inspections (currently annual inspections) to determine compliance. Provides, upon a family's request, for interim inspections.
Prescribes requirements for reviews and calculation of family income.
Prescribes eligibility criteria for assistance based upon assets and income.
Revises requirements governing:
(1) assistance to low-income working families;
(2) tenant-based contract renewals;
(3) administrative fees; and
(4) the home ownership downpayment grant program.
Authorizes a PHA to report to certain consumer reporting agencies information regarding the past rent payment history of a family receiving housing choice vouchers.
Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish standards and procedures for assessing PHA performance in carrying out the programs for tenant-based rental assistance and for homeownership assistance, including biennial assessments.
Revises the rent calculation for housing assistance payment contracts.
Directs the Secretary to endeavor to define market areas.
Limits a PHA's elective applicant screening.
Revises requirements for enhanced voucher assistance.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide preservation project-based voucher assistance in lieu of enhanced voucher assistance upon request of the owner of the multifamily housing project.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Social Security Administration and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to permit HUD participation in certain state demonstration programs providing for persons with significant disabilities to be employed and to continue to receive certain federal and state benefits.
Requires the Comptroller General to identify and report to Congress on obstacles to using vouchers in federally subsidized housing projects.
Requires state agencies to furnish to the Secretary certain data on tenants in low-income housing projects receiving tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code.
Authorizes a PHA to use subsidy payments otherwise due the owner to pay for continued utility service to avoid hardship to program participants.
Requires the Secretary to provide access to HUD programs for persons with limited English proficiency.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Christopher Dodd [D, CT]
• and 10 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
  • Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH]
  • Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME]
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
  • Sen. Edward Kennedy [D, MA]
  • Sen. Robert Menendez [D, NJ]
  • Sen. John Reed [D, RI]
  • Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]
  • Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY]
  • Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]
  close

Committees

• Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• 1 more
  • Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.2684

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 03, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Apr 16, 2008: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. Hearings held.
• Mar 03, 2008: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
• Mar 03, 2008: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1469-1470, S1480-1482)
• Introduced on Mar 03, 2008.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.1851

Related Issue Areas:

• Welfare eligibility
• Welfare
• Taxation
• Tax credits
• 27 more
• Rent
• Public housing
• Low-income housing
• Law
• Labor
• Income tax
• Income
• Housing subsidies
• Housing for the disabled
• Home ownership
• Government paperwork
• Government information
• Finance
• Federal aid to housing
• English language
• Employment of the disabled
• Economic policy
• Disabled
• Consumers
• Consumer credit
• Congressional investigations
• Congress
• Communications
• Budgets
• Apartment houses
• Administrative fees
• Housing

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

April 29, 2008 Dodd Introduces Sec. 8 Voucher Reform Bill

8 voucher reform bill (S. 2684), improving the chances for enactment of voucher legislation before the 110th Congress adjourns. The House passed a voucher ...

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Source: Affordable Housing Finance, CA

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Blog Coverage

May 01, 2008 Section Eight Housing

2523, and the Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2008 (SEVRA), S. 2684, recently introduced in the US Senate Section Eight Housing Program I could go on welfare, food stamps and section eight housing. I could get my kids free meals at ...

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Source: Zokutu78

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March 27, 2008 National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act and Section Eight ...

Advocates are urged to ask their Senators to co-sponsor the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007, S. 2523, and the Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2008 (SEVRA), S. 2684, recently introduced in the US Senate. ...

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Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness

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March 12, 2008 The Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

The Senate has introduced legislation (S. 2684) to reform the Section 8 program. Also, address the foreclosure crisis by providing assistance to homeowners at risk, and prevent a future crisis by providing consumer protections and ...

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Source: Pax Christi Metro DC

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