Bill > HR1981

This bill aims to increase landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which helps low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals afford housing in the private market. The bill introduces several key provisions to incentivize landlords to join and remain in the program, including one-time incentive payments for landlords who rent units in low-poverty areas, security deposit assistance to reduce financial risks for landlords, and bonus payments to public housing agencies that employ dedicated landlord liaison staff. The bill also establishes the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund with $100 million annually from 2025-2029 to support these initiatives. Additionally, the legislation simplifies housing quality inspections by allowing units that have passed inspections in other housing programs to be deemed compliant, and requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand the use of small area fair market rents to help voucher holders access housing in better neighborhoods. The bill mandates annual reporting on the effectiveness of these measures, tracking metrics like the number of participating landlords and units in high-opportunity areas. The overall goal is to address the declining landlord participation in the HCV program and expand housing choices for low-income families.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1981/all-info