Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes Congress to increase funding for Section 8 housing vouchers and revise program requirements to enhance award of vouchers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution memorializing Congress to increase funding for Section 8 housing vouchers and to revise program criteria to allow for greater utilization of the program.
Whereas, Helping the homeless, the disabled, the working poor and former welfare recipients find housing is a priority of the State and the federal governments; and
Whereas, The provision of affordable housing is a critical element in the effort to help people out of poverty; and
Whereas, The Section 8 housing voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market; and
Whereas, The need for Section 8 vouchers is greater than the supply, leaving thousands of New Jersey residents holding a limited number of places on waiting lists for years and thousands more unable even to obtain a place on a waiting list; and
Whereas, A significant percentage of New Jersey residents who become eligible for vouchers are unable to utilize them prior to their expiration due to restrictive program limitations; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact and the President to sign legislation:
a. increasing the funding of the Section 8 housing voucher program;
b. providing housing authorities with discretion to exceed fair market rents in the basic range by at least 20% rather than the 10% that is allowed under current regulations;
c. providing housing authorities with greater discretion to exceed current requirements concerning the percentage of family income that may be allocated towards the payment of rent; and
d. authorizing housing authorities to utilize federal funding for the preliminary costs necessary to enroll new voucher recipients.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution would memorialize Congress to enact and the President to sign legislation to:
· increase the funding for the Section 8 housing voucher program;
· provide housing authorities with discretion to exceed fair market rents in the basic range by at least 20% rather than the 10% that is allowed under current regulations;
· provide housing authorities with greater discretion to exceed current requirements concerning the percentage of family income that may be allocated towards the payment of rent; and
· authorize housing authorities to utilize federal funding for the preliminary costs necessary to enroll new voucher recipients.