H.R. 5490 would reform the program for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
Detailed Summary
Section 8 Reform, Responsibility, and Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit section 8 rental assistance (including tenant- and project-based assistance) from being provided to any family that includes a convicted felon or illegal alien.
Places a five-year limitation on section 8 rental assistance, disregarding any month during which such individual was a member of a disabled or elderly family so assisted.
Prohibits such assistance on behalf of any family, unless each member of the family who is 18 years of age or older performs at least 20 hours of work activities per week.
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to exempt from such prohibition any individual family member who meets certain requirements.
Requires a public housing agency (PHA), in providing such housing assistance, to give preference to families that include a member who is a veteran that will reside in the dwelling unit.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the HUD Moving to Work demonstration program under the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 should be expanded to include significantly more PHAs.
Authorizes the use of unspent section 8 housing assistance payments for section 8 compliance measures.
Requires approved PHA plans, including modifications and amendments, to be made public at the PHA's office and in electronic form on the World Wide Web.<br>
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Jesus A.
After reviewing this bill, I found that it has left out a key component for low-income families using utilizing section 8 housing vouchers. Should this bill stand as is, students who are over the age of 18 would not be exempt from work requirements for families receiving assistance. Individuals who seek to improve their quality of life through continued higher education should not be excluded from section 8 housing assistance. This bill should include students who are over 18 as exempt in order for their families to qualify for section 8 housing assistance.