House Financial Services Subcommittee
Today, February 7, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Development marked up the Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act of 2012, which is the latest iteration of the Section 8 Voucher reform bills. Among other things, the newest bill would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to set minimum monthly rental fees which would be higher than the maximum fees currently required, regardless of income, for those in public, voucher, and project-based housing.

In addition to the Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act, the Subcommittee marked up HR 32, the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2011. HR 32 would expand HUD's definition of homelessness to include people who are considered homeless under other federal statutes, including the Department of Education's homeless programs. This would dramatically increase the number of people eligible for HUD's homeless services. These provisions will now go to the full committee of the House.