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Reforming HUD’s “Section 3” Requirements Can Leverage Federal Investments in Housing to Expand Economic Opportunity
June 10, 2009
Executive Summary This is an important time to reform “Section 3,” the federal requirement that low-income individuals receive a portion of the economic benefits created through federal investments in affordable housing. Not only is rising unemployment creating added hardship, but federal recovery funds are … -
Limiting Itemized Deductions for Upper-Income Taxpayers Would Have Little Effect on Small Business, Charities, Housing
March 12, 2009
Despite persistent claims to the contrary, the President’s proposal to cap the value of itemized deductions at 28 percent would have only small effects on small business, charitable giving, and homeownership. That’s because the proposal, which would save $318 billion over the next ten years to help finance health care reform, would affect only those tax … -
Exchange Plan in House Recovery Bill Offers Best Fix For Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Updated February 9, 2009
The economic downturn has sharply reduced the effectiveness of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the nation’s primary subsidy for development of affordable rental housing. Faced with lower profits and reduced access to capital, fewer corporations are willing to invest in affordable housing in exchange for the credits. As … -
Cuts in Federal Housing Assistance Are Undermining Community Plans to End Homelessness
February 1, 2007
Executive Summary Five years ago, the Bush Administration announced a commitment to end chronic homelessness and reduce other types of homelessness within ten years.[2] If successful, this important initiative would alleviate the severe hardships endured by many of the approximately 3 million Americans who experience homelessness every year, including … -
Housing Needs of Many Low-Income Hurricane Evacuees Are Not Being Adequately Addressed
Revised February 27, 2006
Federal responses to last year’s hurricanes have fallen well short to date of meeting the needs of many of the low-income families and individuals who were displaced by the storms. While the weaknesses in the federal effort have created problems for rich and poor alike, these weaknesses present particular difficulties for low-income … -
Press Release: Housing Needs of Many Low-Income Hurricane Victims Remain Unmet
February 23, 2006
The federal government has not done enough to meet the housing needs of poor residents affected by the 2005 hurricanes, according to a new Center analysis, which also details several policy recommendations for Congress in this area. “The rebuilding from the hurricanes has only begun” said Will Fischer, the report’s primary author. … -
Effects of the Tax Reform Panel’s Proposals on Low- and Moderate-Income Households
February 3, 2006
Executive Summary On November 1, 2005, the President’s Advisory Panel on Tax Reform presented its recommendations to Treasury Secretary John Snow. The panel’s report offers two alternative comprehensive reform plans, a “simplified income tax plan” and a “growth and investment tax plan.” Both plans, the panel argues, would improve on the current … -
FEMA Misses Congressional Deadline to Issue Guidance on Continued Housing Assistance for Hurricane Victims
January 31, 2006
FEMA has provided initial rental assistance payments to hundreds of thousands of families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to help them secure temporary housing. Most of these families will exhaust these funds beginning in January and February, however, and FEMA has not issued clear guidance … -
FEMA Action Raises More Doubts about Federal Commitment to Aid Katrina Victims New Policy Puts Vulnerable Families at Risk
November 18, 2005
On November 14, David Garrett, the Acting Director of Recovery at FEMA, issued a memorandum to FEMA staff announcing changes in FEMA’s transitional housing strategy for assisting victims of Katrina and Rita. According to the memorandum, FEMA intends to: Terminate FEMA payments for temporary hotel or motel stays for … -
Bringing Katrina’s Poorest Victims Home: Targeted Federal Assistance Will Be Needed To Give Neediest Evacuees Option To Return To Their Hometowns
November 2, 2005
Federal policy makers are currently considering plans to assist with the recovery and reconstruction of the areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The decisions they make will have serious implications for the tens of thousands of low-income families displaced by the storm. There is a high risk that housing costs … -
Changes Needed In Katrina Transitional Housing Plan
October 13, 2005
Executive Summary Hurricane Katrina displaced unprecedented numbers of people and caused physical and economic devastation of such a magnitude that it will be many months before the region can be rebuilt and many of the people who have been displaced can return home. In the hardest-hit areas of southern Louisiana and … -
Meeting the Basic Needs of Hurricane Katrina Victims
September 9, 2005
The following are preliminary recommendations for legislation to help meet the basic human needs of the families that have been displaced or otherwise harshly affected by Hurricane Katrina. The proposals discussed here relate to mechanisms for providing assistance to individuals and families so they can meet their basic needs, such as … -
State Policies to Assist Working-Poor Families
December 10, 2004
Introduction For a large and growing number of Americans, having a job is not enough to lift them out of poverty. This report presents a menu of practical policy options that states can adopt to help working-poor families meet their basic needs and improve their lives. The number of people in working-poor families has grown significantly in the last two decades. In 2003, 13.1 … -
Large Families Face Higher Rent Burdens and Fewer Housing Opportunities Under New HUD Rent Rules
Revised October 14, 2004
On October 1, 2004, HUD put into effect new rent standards — known as Fair Market Rents or FMRs — that will be used to set maximum rent levels for the “Section 8” housing voucher program and other low-income housing assistance programs during fiscal year 2005. In many local areas, the Fair Market Rents … -
State Fact Sheets: Local Data on Final 2005 Fair Market Rents
October 12, 2004
Alabama Illinois Mississippi Oregon Arizona Indiana Missouri Pennsylvania … -
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Revised March 28, 2001
What is the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program? FSS is a program designed to promote employment and increase savings among families receiving Section 8 vouchers or certificates or living in public housing. There are two main features to FSS: an escrow account and case management. …
