Learning from a Crisis: Strategies to Increase Flexibility in Housing Choice Voucher Implementation

• Published in: Cityscape (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2024-01, Vol.26 (2), p.257-274
• Main Authors: Gallagher, Sarah, Siebach-Glover, Sophie, Calabro, Alayna, Bourret, Victoria, Aurand, Andrew
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Guest Editors’ Introduction; Households; Vouchers
• ISSN: 1936-007X; 1939-1935

The U.S. Department of Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program was a national effort of unprecedented scale to help renters in crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. ERA allowed program flexibilities not typically found in federal housing assistance programs, including direct-to-tenant assistance, self-attestation for certain eligibility criteria, categorical eligibility, fact-specific proxy, and housing stability services. Treasury provided regular guidance on these flexibilities to help grantees ensure that funds reached households with the greatest needs in time to prevent evictions. Preliminary data suggest that grantees with direct-to-tenant payments, categorical eligibility, and fact-specific proxy served a slightly greater share of low-income renter households in their jurisdiction compared with grantees that did not. Housing stability services were positively associated with households successfully moving through the application process and receiving funds. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program currently assists over two million households. However, renters face challenges in both accessing and using HCVs due to scarcity of resources, burdensome requirements, uninterested landlords, and racial discrimination. Learning from and incorporating flexibilities from pandemic-era initiatives, such as ERA, the Emergency Housing Voucher program, and waivers authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, into the HCV program could allow public housing agencies to address these challenges, improving access to and utilization of the program.