Interjurisdictional Mobility and Fair Housing in the Section 8 Existing Housing Program and in a Housing Voucher Program

摘要

This paper, written in response to reports of positions adopted by or actively being considered by the President's Commission on Housing, raises issues and makes recommendations regarding implications of Commission positions on two important aspects of program performance: interjurisdictional mobility and fair housing. Based on data available from several programs, the paper notes that the Section 8 Existing Housing program and the Experimental Housing Allowance Program provide the best indications of how a voucher program might work and discusses problems with these programs and offers recommendations. Both were (or are) largely successful programs. Interjurisdictional mobility is a valid and important concern that should be addressed directly in a voucher program or in future modifications to the Section 8 Existing Housing program. It affects freedom of choice, program efficiency, outcome equity, potential improvement in housing quality for participants, and racial economic deconcentration. It is one cause of the Section 8 Existing housing program's high failure rate. Mobility and free choice in the marketplace are hindered by a delivery mechanism made up mostly of local public housing authorities (PHA's). At present there are many more participants in Section 8 Existing Housing who want to move across jurisdictional lines than are able to make such moves. Even with a delivery system using largely local PHA's interjurisdictional mobility can be enhanced by providing for regional coordination of certificate transfers and regional provision of information and services to participants. Discrimination, fear of discrimination, and other factors make it harder for minorities, female - headed households, and others to use the Section 8 Existing program. Much the same can be expected in a voucher program. Thus, active efforts to assure fair housing opportunities are essential to marketplace integrity. Maps, notes, and six references are given. (Author abstract modified).