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Section 8: The time for fundamental program change?

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  • William Grigsby
  • Steven Bourassa

Abstract

We argue that Section 8 low‐income rental assistance—now called the Housing Choice Voucher Program—needs to be restructured and integrated with the other elements of the federal safety net for low‐income households. Since the program was introduced in 1974, the quality of the nation's housing stock has continued to improve, to the point that only a very small percentage of it is severely inadequate. Yet low‐income households continue to face problems such as affordability, neighborhood decline, limited access to economic opportunity, and involuntary mobility. While the Section 8 program has partially addressed some of these problems, it has a number of shortcomings, primarily the fact that it does not materially improve housing conditions for most recipients. Instead, it is little more than a poorly disguised income supplement. Housing vouchers should be directly integrated into the federal safety net as an entitlement to households that qualify for assistance.

Suggested Citation

  • William Grigsby & Steven Bourassa, 2004. "Section 8: The time for fundamental program change?," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 805-834.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:houspd:v:15:y:2004:i:4:p:805-834
    DOI: 10.1080/10511482.2004.9521522
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    Cited by:

    1. Gabriel, Stuart & Painter, Gary, 2020. "Why affordability matters," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Newman, Sandra J. & Holupka, C. Scott, 2014. "Housing affordability and investments in children," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 89-100.

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