On March 6, 2025, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), along with Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), reintroduced the Choice in Affordable Housing Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to implement essential reforms to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
This crucial legislation, previously introduced in both chambers last Congress, aims to enhance the HCV Program by:
- *Enable Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to provide incentives for housing providers operating in areas of opportunity and for new participants.
- *Assist renters utilizing Section 8 with security deposit support and help maintain safe rental communities.
- *Provide more flexibility in unit inspections while ensuring that housing quality standards are upheld.
- *Allow public housing authorities to employ dedicated “landlord liaisons” to attract and assist private housing providers.
- *Utilizing Small Area Fair Market Rent data to establish equitable rents in specific metropolitan areas.
This legislation is endorsed by both the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC), as stated in this press release.
