Section 8: LeadingAge Asks Appropriators to Fund Project Based Assistance

LeadingAge, as a member of the Preservation Working Group (PWG), recently sent a letter urging congressional appropriators to fully fund Project Based Section 8 with a total of $11.4 billion for the full 12 months so as to avoid short funding and multiple funding cycles.

This request is $1.2 billion more than the Obama administration's request of $10.2 billion.

The letter points out that the Project Based Section 8 program provides critical rental assistance to over one million households across the country, 60 percent of which are low income seniors or persons with disabilities.

It further points out that without adequate funding, short funding of contracts and multiple renewals will be inevitable although short funding is not a viable long-term strategy to preserve housing units for the future.

As the letter states, "short funding does not save the federal government money, but instead shifts required budget authority to future years."

In addition, PWG requests funding for tenant protection vouchers, vouchers for residents in projects with maturing mortgages, an extension of the Rental Assistance Demonstration for Rent Supplement and RAP projects, and extension of rental assistance for foreclosed properties.

As a national coalition of nonprofits, including a number of LeadingAge members, tenant advocates and state and local housing agencies, PWG is dedicated to the preservation and development of federally assisted multifamily affordable housing.

Contact: Ken Harris, kharris@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383, ext. 139