Congresswoman Crockett Introduces Rural Housing Voucher Enhancement Act to Strengthen Affordable Housing Support in Rural Communities

This week, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) introduced the Rural Housing Voucher Enhancement Act, a bill that would make critical improvements to the current Rural Housing Voucher Program administered by the Rural Housing Service. This legislation would address several administrative issues within the current program, enhances the readability of government notices, and bolsters outreach to participating landlords to make affordable housing more accessible for rural residents, especially seniors and individuals with disabilities in affordable housing. Additionally, it directs the Rural Housing Service to develop a strategic plan for identifying at-risk tenants, ensuring expedited processes and protections for their housing stability that adopts a proactive response to the housing challenges rural Americans, including many rural Texans, face. 

"In 2023, Texas was ranked the 6th worst state in the nation for affordable housing, with a state-wide shortage of 864,338 affordable and available rental homes for very low-income renter households. This problem is even worse for rural Texans, who are often forced to move 50 miles or more to find affordable and available housing,” said Rep. Crockett. “Even in urban districts like mine, most everyone has family or friends living in rural communities who have been separated from their support networks in order to remain housed. Introducing this bill is a crucial step towards addressing the housing crisis in Texas, helping rural Texans access and maintain their rural housing vouchers and boosting awareness of this program to landlords who may wish to participate.    
 
“The National Housing Law Project is grateful to Representative Crockett for her commitment to rural tenants. Her bill, the Rural Housing Voucher Enforcement Act, makes important improvements to Rural Housing Vouchers issued by USDA,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of the National Housing Law Project. “The bill would increase landlord participation in the voucher program and improve outreach to renters who are eligible, ensuring that tenants have affordable housing options even after USDA financing for their properties expires. Rural housing is scarce, and ongoing support for USDA’s housing programs is essential to the country’s affordable housing infrastructure.” 
  
Designed to assist tenants in RHS-supported affordable housing facing affordability challenges due to mortgage pay-offs or contract non-renewal, the Rural Housing Voucher Enhancement Act is particularly important for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Without these vouchers, tenants in rural areas would grapple with escalating rents and limited alternatives close to home. This bill seeks to streamline the process, addressing key administrative issues and ensuring the comprehensive utilization of vouchers to secure housing stability for vulnerable rural residents. 

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