Integration of Public Housing With a Housing Voucher Program: An Overview

摘要

This paper presents major issues related to applying the housing voucher concept to the public housing program, with emphasis on the underlying comparative cost considerations. Two major issues underlie much of the discussion about public housing and housing vouchers: (1) the question of the economic feasibility of the public housing program vis - a - vis other options and (2) the growing need for (and problems with distribution of) public housing operating subsidies. Section 8 Existing Program costs were used as indicators of the cost of a housing voucher, although higher or lower standards could also be defended. The analysis results indicate that if rent rate differences are ignored, the public housing program will cost about 97 percent of what the Section 8 Existing Program would have cost in 1979. Correspondingly detailed data were not available for 1981, but partial data show that per unit outlays to serve the same households as now in public housing would have been almost identical. In 1979, the public housing program cost about 86 percent of what it would have cost to serve the same households at their public housing rents in the Section 8 Existing Program. Per unit costs vary much more from public housing agency (PHA) to PHA and from project to project within PHA's than among Section 8 Existing units. While the normal private market response to inefficient rental units is improvement, abandonment, removal or sale, public housing authorities generally have none of these options. Use of unit - based housing vouchers would, at best, mean an improved performance funding system - type of subsidy approach; at worst, they would be far more costly and / or lead to a deterioration of the public housing inventory. However, selective use of tenant - based housing vouchers to replace excessively costly public housing could decrease program costs and free projects for alternate re - uses. Charts, tables, and notes are included. (Author abstract modified).