SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 8

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER SERRIN

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DUFF)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AFP 8: RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

UNDER EXISTING FEDERAL LAW, HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS ALLOW VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO OBTAIN SAFE, DECENT, AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW A SHARED HOUSING OPTION FOR THE DISABLED AND SENIORS, AS PROVIDED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 8: RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE

WHEREAS, HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUST HAVE SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. IN 2001, 5.07 MILLION RENTER HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UNITED STATES HAD WORST-CASE HOUSING NEEDS, ACCORDING TO A REPORT RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD); AND

WHEREAS, UNDER PRESENT HUD VOUCHER AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS, HOUSING AUTHORITIES ARE NOT REQUIRED BY HUD REGULATIONS TO ALLOW SHARED HOUSING EXCEPT TO ACCOMMODATE A DISABLED PERSON; AND

WHEREAS, DECLINING AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND HUD SECTION 8 VOUCHER AVAILABILITY IN CITIES, SUCH AS SAN DIEGO AND OTHER URBAN CITIES, IS SEVERELY AFFECTING THE NEEDS OF OUR INCREASING SENIOR POPULATION. THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AND MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED ARE EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND THE HANDICAPPED WITH LIMITED REPLACEMENT OPTIONS AND INADEQUATE TRANSITION HOUSING PROVISIONS. RECENT HUD STATISTICS REFLECT 41 PERCENT OF SECTION 8 VOUCHER HOLDERS ARE EITHER ELDERLY OR DISABLED OR BOTH; AND

WHEREAS, THE METHODOLOGY OF IMPLEMENTING A SHARED HOUSING ARRANGEMENT IS ALREADY IN PLACE THROUGH LOCAL PROGRAMS AND GRANTS BUT THE EXTREME TIME AND COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION, MATCHING, QUALIFICATION, AND INVESTIGATION HAVE PROVIDED LIMITED SUCCESS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2006 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT HUD REGULATIONS BE EXPANDED TO ALLOW HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO OFFER, OR HAVE THE OPTION TO OFFER, THIS SHARED HOUSING OPTION TO ALL HUD VOUCHER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ACCESS TO EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SENIORS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE PRESENT HUD SECTION 8 HOUSING AUTHORIZATION, WHICH COVERS THE DISABLED AND SENIORS, BE EXPANDED BY ADDING A TWO BEDROOM SHARED RENTAL OPTION; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE 30 PERCENT SHARE OF MONTHLY INCOME REQUIRED PAYMENT BY SECTION 8 VOUCHER RECIPIENTS BE REDUCED TO 20 PERCENT FOR RECIPIENTS WILLING TO SHARE A TWO BEDROOM UNIT WITH EITHER A DISABLED PERSON OR AN EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN. PLACING TWO SECTION 8 VOUCHER HOLDERS UNDER ONE ROOF WILL RESULT IN COST SAVINGS TO HUD AND WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VOUCHER AVAILABILITY; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN20061899909

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