PROPOSED CUTS TO SECTION 8 HOUSING

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is proposing to reduce funding to the Section 8 program which assists low income individuals and families, the disabled and elderly with their housing costs.

At the end of May, a series of protests were held throughout the U.S. demonstrating against the proposed cut of $1 Billion.

HUD maintains that it is simply cutting red tape, curbing spiraling costs, and reducing voucher wait lists by promoting self-sufficiency and home ownership. The bureau, which spends three-fourths of its $23 billion budget on Section 8, would give block grants to regions instead of setting voucher quotas. This is supposed to create flexibility for the nation's 2,500 local housing agencies.

HUD issued a statement in response to the protest, which says in part:

"We are confident that public housing authorities will work with HUD through this challenge to ensure that all families currently being assisted under the Section 8 program will continue to be assisted," the statement said. "It is HUD's intention to see that families continue to receive rental assistance."