Major Changes Are Needed in the New Leased-Housing Program
CED-77-19: Published: Jan 28, 1977. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 1977.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) section 8 leasing program, the principal Federal program for housing lower income persons, has had limited success in providing occupancy for lower income persons and stimulating new housing starts.
Major changes are needed to improve administration and increase activity under four section 8 programs: existing, newly constructed, substantially rehabilitated, and State agency housing. Weaknesses in HUD methods to establish program rents resulted in rents which appear too low to encourage sufficient participation by private housing owners. Owner's unwillingness to assume the management risks associated with housing lower income families with children will result in disproportionate assistance to lower income elderly persons to the detriment of large and very-low-income families. Some owners are reluctant to participate in the program because they believe that the HUD-established fair market rents will not compensate them for complying with the section 8 requirements and for accepting the heavier management burden which they believe comes with renting to lower income persons. Some smaller communities and public housing agencies have refused or were unable to participate. Program activity has been limited by program regulations which assign lower income participants numerous complex responsibilities and by public housing agency-imposed residency requirements which restrict participant mobility. Private developers have limited their activity because of lack of financing, owner's numerous program responsibilities compared with the low financial rewards, and low HUD-established fair market rents. State agencies have been unable to sell bonds to finance section 8 projects because the bonds lack the security and higher return available in the corporate bond market.
Aug 13, 2020
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.
Mar 3, 2020
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Military Housing:
Preliminary Recommendations to Strengthen DOD's Oversight and Monitoring of Privatized HousingGAO-20-471T: Published: Mar 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 3, 2020.
Nov 20, 2019
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Rental Housing Assistance:
HUD Should Strengthen Physical Inspection of Properties and Oversight of Lead Paint HazardsGAO-20-277T: Published: Nov 20, 2019. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2019.
Sep 25, 2019
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Reverse Mortgages:
FHA Needs to Improve Monitoring and Oversight of Loan Outcomes and ServicingGAO-19-702: Published: Sep 25, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2019. -
Reverse Mortgages:
FHA's Oversight of Loan Outcomes and Servicing Needs StrengtheningGAO-19-721T: Published: Sep 25, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2019.
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