Views on S. 2171
B-206888: Published: Apr 13, 1982. Publicly Released: Apr 13, 1982.
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Legislation has been proposed which would stimulate the development and rehabilitation of affordable multifamily rental housing. The purpose of the bill is to: (1) increase the Nation's stock of rental and cooperative housing; and (2) reduce housing costs by encouraging the construction and rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing projects and cooperative housing projects for families and individuals without other reasonable and affordable housing alternatives in the private market. The proposed program is intended to serve as a replacement for the rehabilitation and new construction components of the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program. GAO believes that the greatest potential for preserving an adequate multifamily rental housing stock is in the areas of moderate rehabilitation and carefully controlled new construction. Due to funding constraints, the proposed program would be capable of providing assistance to only a limited number of low- and moderate-income households. GAO believes that the bill, as currently drafted, has the potential to essentially exclude occupancy in assisted units by very low-income households unless some other source of rental subsidy is provided or unless targeting to such households is explicit. The bill does not specifically provide for an evaluation of the program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GAO views program evaluation as a fundamental part of effective program administration, for which responsibility should rest initially upon the agencies. Overall, the bill would make significant progress in overcoming the major criticisms of past and present production and rehabilitation programs. However, GAO believes that the proposed program could be made much more effective in achieving its stated goals by: (1) strengthening certain targeting provisions to insure that projects provide the maximum possible assistance to low- and moderate-income households while minimizing displacement of these households in favor of the more affluent; (2) enhancing cost-control provisions aimed at maximizing the number of units assisted while minimizing program costs; and (3) strengthening accountability and oversight by requiring adequate recordkeeping, program evaluation, and GAO access to records.
Jan 25, 2021
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Military Housing:
Actions Needed to Improve the Process for Setting Allowances for Servicemembers and Calculating Payments for Privatized Housing ProjectsGAO-21-137: Published: Jan 25, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 25, 2021.
Dec 16, 2020
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Lead Paint in Housing:
HUD Has Not Identified High-Risk Project-Based Rental Assistance PropertiesGAO-21-55: Published: Dec 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2020.
Dec 15, 2020
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Disaster Housing:
Improved Cost Data and Guidance Would Aid FEMA Activation DecisionsGAO-21-116: Published: Dec 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 15, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
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Troubled Asset Relief Program:
Treasury Continues Winding Down Housing ProgramsGAO-21-39: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Aug 13, 2020
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Homelessness:
Better HUD Oversight of Data Collection Could Improve Estimates of Homeless PopulationGAO-20-433: Published: Jul 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 13, 2020.
Jul 29, 2020
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Crumbling Foundations:
Extent of Homes with Defective Concrete Is Not Fully Known and Federal Options to Aid Homeowners Are LimitedGAO-20-649: Published: Jul 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2020.
Jul 27, 2020
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Housing:
Preliminary Analysis of Homeownership Trends for Nine CitiesGAO-20-544R: Published: Jun 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 27, 2020.
Jun 26, 2020
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Rental Housing:
As More Households Rent, the Poorest Face Affordability and Housing Quality ChallengesGAO-20-427: Published: May 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 26, 2020.
Apr 30, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentGAO-20-500PR: Published: Apr 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2020.
Mar 17, 2020
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Working Capital Fund:
HUD Could Improve Management to Better Achieve Efficiencies and Help Ensure Customer SatisfactionGAO-20-263: Published: Mar 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 17, 2020.
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