On May 14, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $30 billion in renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV). This funding will help 23 Nebraska-based Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) continue to aid families and individuals who need affordable housing options. Nebraska agencies were awarded $77,621,778.
“These housing choice vouchers will offer more families the necessary relief they need to have continued access to safe, affordable housing options and increase our nation’s housing supply,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “Currently, this country is in a housing deficit as we are 2 million homes short of the amount needed and as HUD’s single largest investment in affordable housing, public housing authorities will have the ability to provide more housing options to their constituents and continue to combat this nation’s housing affordability crisis.
Since last year, the HCV program saw a $2 billion increase in funding to help maintain housing vouchers for families across the country. Since 2022, this budget allocation has grown nearly 20% (over $4 billion), allowing the value of a Housing Choice Voucher to keep pace with rising rental costs, and helping to make sure that voucher holders can continue to access neighborhoods of opportunity. This announcement is a continuation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase the housing supply across the country for those who are most in need.
“The HCV program is the most successful rental program ever conceived,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Richard J. Monocchio. “Not only do housing vouchers free up income for basic needs, but when families are able to live in stable, affordable housing in low-poverty communities, we see higher cognitive test scores and educational outcomes for children and increased chances of attending college and earning more as adults.”
Housing Vouchers assist over 2.3 million families in need of housing, including families with children, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities, making it the most effective intervention to reduce homelessness and housing instability. Housing Vouchers offer families flexibility and a wider range of affordable housing options in communities with better schools, or access to jobs or other opportunities, but landlords must be willing to accept vouchers for them to be effective.
In the Panhandle, the Alliance Housing Authority received a total of $452,265, and the Scotts Bluff County Housing Authority received a total of $1,931,227.