Bill > HR4606

This bill, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2023, aims to increase the number of landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program, which is the Federal Government's largest program helping low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Providing one-time incentive payments to landlords who own eligible units (located in low-poverty areas and not previously subject to a housing assistance payment contract) to enter into housing assistance payment contracts. 2. Allowing public housing agencies to use funds to pay for security deposits or a substantial portion thereof on behalf of tenants, with specific requirements for administering this assistance. 3. Establishing a "Landlord Liaison Bonus Payments" program to incentivize public housing agencies to employ or contract with dedicated landlord liaisons to conduct outreach, recruitment, and retention efforts. 4. Creating the "Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund" to provide funding for the various incentive programs. 5. Allowing dwelling units that have passed inspection requirements for other housing programs (e.g., Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Rural Housing Service) to be deemed as meeting the Housing Choice Voucher program's housing quality standards. 6. Requiring the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to expand the use of "Small Area Fair Market Rent" in more metropolitan areas to better align voucher payment standards with local market conditions. 7. Directing the Secretary to explore ways to reform the Section 8 Management Assessment Program to promote positive landlord interactions and increase the diversity of areas where voucher holders can access low-poverty, integrated neighborhoods.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4606/all-info