Housing Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act Passes U.S. House

Last week the United States House of Representatives passed the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act of 2019 by a wide bipartisan margin 387-22. This bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support last year too but the Senate did not take the bill up before the end of the session. One of the challenges with starting this demonstration program is funding but The Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill, signed into law a month ago, included $28 million in funding to support the program.

The demonstration program would help housing authorities plan and implement the program and fund services, which include working with families to address barriers, financial coaching, outreach to property owners for participation, housing search assistance, and post-move services like regular check-ins and landlord/tenant mediation.

HUD would select housing authorities to participate through a competitive process. Priority would be given to housing authorities that collaborate regionally or have a high-performing Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. If selected, housing authorities and other service partners would work together to identify low-poverty areas and analyze access barriers, determine what resources and services families need, recruit families to participate, and modify agency policies like payment standards and search time to facilitate moves.

If the Senate passes the bill and it is signed by the president, HUD will issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), likely up to six months later.