Bill Nelson: “I rise today to clarify an issue of concern to communities in my home state of Florida, particularly to those who have…”

“I rise today to clarify an issue of concern to communities in my home state of Florida, particularly to those who have been affected by natural disasters in recent years. The continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 20, contains a revision to the formula for funding the critical section 8 tenant-based rental assistance voucher program. Inefficiencies in the voucher funding formula in place since 2004 have resulted in the loss of vouchers for an estimated 150,000 families nationwide. My understanding is that the revised formula will provide sufficient funding for the number of families assisted last year, and provides a $100 million pool to assist agencies who experience unusual circumstances during the transition. However, due to the devastating hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, several of our Florida communities helped unusually low numbers of families last year. This is because the hurricanes devastated their housing stock they simply did not have the apartments and houses to rent. In some areas, the amount of need did not decline; there was simply a shortage of affordable housing options. I rise to confirm my understanding that the section 8 funds for housing assistance payments already allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, to a local housing authority will remain accessible.”