Supporting Affordable Housing and Section 8 Vouchers Paper Example

Introduction

Texas ranks among the most populated states in the United States of America. The southern states host many immigrants due to the shared border with Mexico and often has controversial issues relating to immigration enforcement and the rights of immigrants. One major concern in the state of Texas is the implementation of the Housing Act of 1937 (Section 8) (Ramsey-Musolf 119). Many Texans are unable to access the $17 Billion annual subsidies offered by the Federal government towards low-cost housing projects that help many Americans move from minimum comfort homes to better establishments within what is referred to as 'projects.' A major reason why the subsidies in Texas are not as efficient as several other large states like California and Washington is the fact that registration for Section 8 programs often exposes many citizens to their immigration status (Schwartz, McClure and Lydia 223). This essay reviews the affordable housing challenges faced by Texans seeking Section 8 vouchers.

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Major Issues Facing Texas and the Federal Government

The Federal government rolls out Section 8 funding through the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). While HUD often gathers data concerning the tenants in need of Section 8 vouchers, there is often a thorough review of the tenants on an annual basis, in view to monitor whether the subsidy is necessary or not. The standard of housing that beneficiaries are expected to live in is the underlying metric for qualification (Orfield et al. 289). The government however constantly tracks down on Americans who use HUD subsidies to improve their living standards and not just the quality of housing. The need to help Texans manage and own homes are affected by issues such as land rates and cost of a mortgage in the area. While Section 8 vouchers are available in Texas, they often do not meet minimum mortgage requirements, and many Americans in the state cannot own these project facilities (Acolin and Susan 137).

The State of Texas consistently petitions the HUD for more subsidies in its Section 8 funding to cover the overpopulated cities such as San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. The state government, through the Public Housing Authority (PHA), verifies the qualification of Texans to be eligible for the Section 8 voucher program. This qualification is based on household income, medical expenses, childhood expenses and a number of people sharing the house (Ramsey-Musolf 117). Eligibility also calls upon the person to have a driver's license, government identification card, medical insurance identification and employer's identification card. The stringent measures called upon by the state do not even guarantee the individual HUD assistance. Similarly, the person has to join a long waiting list based on the city or county they are in. The extensive requirements by the PHA make it difficult for many Texans to gain access to Section 8 vouchers (Tighe, Megan and Joseph 7).

Reasons for Policy Change

Initially, the HUD was directly responsible for Section 8 programs in Texas. The PHA took over a few decades ago thanks to the growing population needs of the state. The Section 8 program often undergoes different amendments in parliament (Schwartz, McClure and Lydia 214). Regardless, the fact that the funding for the housing projects is still considered the minimum, many Americans in the state continue to miss out on this important subsidy. The United States limits the number of beneficiaries in the entire country to about 7 million Americans. Texas has a population of over 30 million. A good number of residents live in desperate housing conditions but are still ineligible for the HUD subsidy program due to the many restrictions and requirements placed by the PHA. The limited amount of money contributed to the state also makes it difficult to assist many Americans on an annual basis (Wang and Rebecca 461). Policy change towards state determination of section 8 voucher recipients makes the state more vigilant on the housing problem which helps to manage it better.

Options to be discussed

There are several options that can lead to more Texans getting assistance with rental payments by the Housing and Urban Development department. The first of these is to minimize the requirements necessary for program participants (Orfield et al. 284). The different documents they ask of poor Americans is indeed a discouraging factor in the determination of recipients. The development of private sector low-income affordable housing facilities in Texan cities has not been highly appreciated (Ramsey-Musolf 126). Many housing developers often turn away from partnering with Housing and Urban Development due to constant policy change. Developers are also often cautious of the markets since a fall in real estate markets can lead to colossal losses for the developers. The government needs to encourage the development of housing units to support section 8 demand in the state. Having the developers paid in full means that more Americans in the state of Texas can benefit from the subsidy program by having a house to rent or buy over time.

Pros and Cons of Potential Reforms

Potential reforms in the HUD section 8 program can lead more Texan developers to set up low-cost housing units based on the acceptable quality standards stipulated by the government. A good roll out of HUD services targeting developers can get more Americans houses to live in and also have them gain from the vouchers to pay mortgage costs for owning these homes. Rental income collected by the HUD projects in the United States goes towards improving the quality of government services offered through the Section 8 projects. More Americans are able to access the section 8 subsidies, especially where the project is within a locality that significantly contains many such projects. The review of PHA guidelines and requirements may, however, make many Americans who live in dehumanizing conditions to further miss out on sufficient subsidies as more Americans join the program.

Best Option Moving Forward

While it is important to ensure that the Section 8 program in Texas comprises significant verifications, it is necessary to ensure that these verifications do not discourage immigrants from accessing HUD services and subsidies such as the Section 8 programs (Schwartz, McClure and Lydia 214). There should be a significant consideration for different cases of American homes that need the money yet may not have the right paperwork to qualify for the subsidies. It should not be about the presentation of papers or even being able to drive or have a job that enables the employer to join trade unions. It is more critical to ensure that no American that deserves subsidies from the Section 8 voucher program is denied the assistance they need (Wang and Rebecca 473). The state and federal government need to work together to get the right number of beneficiaries and guarantee that these beneficiaries are not just native Texans but documented immigrants as well.

Summary

The Housing and Urban Development allocation of Section 8 subsidies to the State of Texas is insignificant, compared to the housing needs in the highly populated state. It is important for Americans to consider the needs of immigrants in the State who make up a considerable number of Texans as well (Tighe, Megan and Joseph 13). While it is necessary to ensure the right persons are offered the vouchers, it is important not to limit the applicants using stringent background checks and other measures. Housing developers would be more enticed to join in the projects if they include more tenants and a greater allocation of funds by the Federal government. In as much as the State Department referred to as the Public Housing Authority is very keen on selecting the most qualified Texans to get the vouchers, the focus should be on lobbying for more funds to go towards affordable housing in Texas (Acolin and Susan 149).

Conclusion

The Section 8 program has existed in the United States for about fifty years now. It was a response to depression that has continued to help many Americans own homes. In as much as America, like other democracies cannot simply hand out subsidies to any person seeking better living standards, there should be a better way to assess the housing needs in populated states such as Texas. The urban population growth in the state makes it difficult for many people to access affordable housing facilities, including being able to afford the houses. Challenges such as unemployment and high mortgage costs make it difficult for Texans to own homes. The government should put more effort into expanding the Section 8 projects in the state (Tighe, Megan and Joseph 15).

Works Cited

Acolin, Arthur, and Susan Wachter. "Opportunity and housing access." Cityscape 19.1 (2017): 135-150. Accessed from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26328303.pdf?casa_token=C0nnrj3PNPMAAAAA:MfjQVlYSnIGGVtwjyiVYQhpSnWxiDU26ttJHrXU5A7udl-TnWIT8o2_iwjTI9bYc-LgJXQDMLiolj6Pr2V3eC1bIFYo6RDL0e7ndOursbE9PHeSRldpD

Orfield, Myron, et al. "Taking a holistic view of housing policy." Housing Policy Debate 26.2 (2016): 284-295. Accessed from https://www.law.umn.edu/sites/law.umn.edu/files/metro-files/taking-a-holistic-view-of-housing-policy_1.pdf

Ramsey-Musolf, Darrel. "State mandates, housing elements, and low-income housing production." Journal of Planning Literature 32.2 (2017): 117-140. Accessed from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=larp_faculty_pubs

Schwartz, Alex, Kirk McClure, and Lydia B. Taghavi. "Vouchers and neighborhood distress: The unrealized potential for families with housing choice vouchers to reside in neighborhoods with low levels of distress." Cityscape 18.3 (2016): 207-228. Accessed from https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26328284.pdf?casa_token=wuVw1wbvRf8AAAAA:fg6UJMQyDHPdwSq_wZI122eIOZ8rbBw_IjlP-peeaQzjtgZ_33AFfv2gkuHH8KqZY_V0LnLFn7Eiv-RcyNIgQ-ZU413_vAN7XwoVBGRj7jqarDZOOXi6

Tighe, J. Rosie, Megan E. Hatch, and Joseph Mead. "Source of Income Discrimination and Fair Housing Policy." Journal of Planning Literature 32.1 (2017): 3-15. Accessed from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0885412216670603

Wang, Ruoniu, and Rebecca J. Walter. "Tracking Mobility in the Housing Choice Voucher Program: A Household Level Examination in Florida, USA." Housing Studies 33.3 (2018): 455-475. Accessed from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruoniu_Wang/publication/318404047_Tracking_mobility_in_the_housing_choice_voucher_program_a_household_level_examination_in_Florida_USA/links/5991cb36a6fdcc53b79b5902/Tracking-mobility-in-the-housing-choice-voucher-program-a-household-level-examination-in-Florida-USA.pdf