Harkin Praises Congressional Action to Close Loophole in Section 8 Housing

Press Release

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today praised a House-Senate conference committee for including his proposal to tighten Section 8 guidelines so that low-income Americans receive access to the housing assistance they need. The amendment was included in the final Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations. The House and Senate are expected to pass the final bill. The bill must be sent to the President before it becomes law. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Section 8 is meant to be a stepping stone for low-income Americans to achieve self sufficiency, and we need to get serious about assuring that this goal is realized," said Harkin. "It is an abuse of this important program if people who do not really need help are displacing the many that truly do need it. Unfortunately, a big loophole has continued to plague this program and it is past due that we get rid of them."

Harkin's amendment will take into account parental income to determine Section 8 housing eligibility for students unless they are over 24, married, veterans, or have dependents. This is the same criteria students must meet to be declared "independent" for federal financial aid purposes. Additionally, any financial aid received over tuition will be counted as income. In a recent letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the University of Iowa called for the same changes in HUD's Section 8 guidelines.

Harkin first introduced this legislation last year, after the Des Moines Register reported that a Section 8 loophole allows students, regardless of financial need, to live free of charge or at a greatly reduced price in government housing. Since learning about this loophole, Harkin has repeatedly called on the Bush Administration to take action against abuses in the public housing system which has allowed student-athletes receiving scholarships and housing stipends to displace needy Iowans in an Iowa City public housing facility.

Although HUD issued revised Section guidelines in August 2005, the changes did little to close the loophole. Subsequently, abuses in the system have continued even though the average waiting period is two years for Iowans who truly need Section 8 housing.

"Thousands of low-income, elderly, and disabled Iowans depend on Section 8 housing to meet their basic needs," said Harkin. "I regularly hear from truly needy Iowans desperate for housing and struggling to make ends meet while they wait two years for Section 8. This is just plain wrong, and I am pleased Congress is making changes that will actually work to help those most in need."

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