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EQUITY Special Section
SEVRA 2007- H.R. 1851
The Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2007 (SEVRA), proposes sweeping changes to HUD's housing subsidy program. Here are a few changes which may effect people with disabilities.
On July 12, 2007, the House approved H.R. 851- SEVRA by an overwhelming vote of 333-83. SEVRA proposes to make significant changes to the housing voucher program1.
Perhaps SEVRA’s most important recommendation is in establishing a new formula for distributing voucher renewal funds to both state and local housing agencies. Since 2004, funds have been provided under a series of flawed formulas that have given some agencies less funding than they need while other agencies have been over funded. Naturally, this has resulted in some agencies cutting assistance to needy families, while other agencies accumulated a surplus. This flawed system reduced the number of low-income families using vouchers by approximately 150,000 over the last two years.
The new SEVRA formula would be based on 12 months of agency trailing costs, more closely matching funding to an agency’s actual needs and voucher utilization. SEVRA contains additional changes to encourage efficient voucher utilization, and rewards housing agencies for putting more vouchers into use. These changes should allow agencies to restore the vouchers lost during 2004 to 2006, and stabilize the program.
Changes affecting people with disabilities who receive section 8 Vouchers:
For additional information about SEVRA legislation and how it may specifically impact persons with disabilities see:
“Bipartisan Legislation Would Build on Housing Voucher Program’s Success (But Worthwhile Reform Bill Holds Risks from Expanded Deregulation Authority),” by Barbara Sard and Will Fischer
http://www.cbpp.org/5-4-07hous.htm
“The Statement of Andrew Sperling, Director of Legislative Advocacy, National Alliance on Mental Illness on Behalf of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force on the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act”
http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/housing/CCD_SEVRA_30907-3.htm
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Section 8 voucher program is the nation’s largest low-income housing program. Vouchers are generally used to rent modest housing of a family’s choice in the private market. Studies have shown that vouchers reduce homelessness and help families move to less impoverished neighborhoods. The program “has been recognized as a cost-effective means for delivering decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low-income families.” Despite proven success, the voucher program has suffered from substantial instability over the last several years, and the last authorizing legislation occurred in 1998.
The Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2007 (SEVRA), proposes sweeping changes to HUD's housing subsidy program. Here are a few changes which may effect people with disabilities.
On July 12, 2007, the House approved H.R. 851- SEVRA by an overwhelming vote of 333-83. SEVRA proposes to make significant changes to the housing voucher program1.
Perhaps SEVRA’s most important recommendation is in establishing a new formula for distributing voucher renewal funds to both state and local housing agencies. Since 2004, funds have been provided under a series of flawed formulas that have given some agencies less funding than they need while other agencies have been over funded. Naturally, this has resulted in some agencies cutting assistance to needy families, while other agencies accumulated a surplus. This flawed system reduced the number of low-income families using vouchers by approximately 150,000 over the last two years.
The new SEVRA formula would be based on 12 months of agency trailing costs, more closely matching funding to an agency’s actual needs and voucher utilization. SEVRA contains additional changes to encourage efficient voucher utilization, and rewards housing agencies for putting more vouchers into use. These changes should allow agencies to restore the vouchers lost during 2004 to 2006, and stabilize the program.
Changes affecting people with disabilities who receive section 8 Vouchers:
- Housing agencies review incomes of tenants with disabilities living on fixed incomes (SSDI or SSI) every three years, rather than every year. During the two intervening years, SEVRA assumes tenants’ incomes rise at the rate of inflation (the same calculation used for annual cost-of-living adjustments to many fixed-income benefits).
- Change earned income [disregard] and standard deductions for people with disabilities and seniors to provide incentives to help people with disabilities achieve employment.
- Base rents of working people with disabilities on previous year earnings, rather than on unknowable anticipated future earnings.
- SEVRA provides a stable, dedicated source of funding for Family Support Services, so that housing agencies can provide these services to a greater number of families in need.
- Changes in rent determinations, subsidy levels, portability, and housing inspections represent additional measured, targeted improvements to a program that has proven effective in providing housing for people with disabilities.
For additional information about SEVRA legislation and how it may specifically impact persons with disabilities see:
“Bipartisan Legislation Would Build on Housing Voucher Program’s Success (But Worthwhile Reform Bill Holds Risks from Expanded Deregulation Authority),” by Barbara Sard and Will Fischer
http://www.cbpp.org/5-4-07hous.htm
“The Statement of Andrew Sperling, Director of Legislative Advocacy, National Alliance on Mental Illness on Behalf of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force on the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act”
http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/housing/CCD_SEVRA_30907-3.htm
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Section 8 voucher program is the nation’s largest low-income housing program. Vouchers are generally used to rent modest housing of a family’s choice in the private market. Studies have shown that vouchers reduce homelessness and help families move to less impoverished neighborhoods. The program “has been recognized as a cost-effective means for delivering decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low-income families.” Despite proven success, the voucher program has suffered from substantial instability over the last several years, and the last authorizing legislation occurred in 1998.