Question

What kind of policy is Section 8 housing and issues of affordable housing? What are the benefits of section 8 housing? What are some unintended consequences of section 8 vouchers, and other remedies used to ease the affordable hosing crisis? Should the government continue to use Section 8 vouchers, and other remedies, why or why not?

Answer 1

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program helps the low income, disabled and elderly, to have a safe and decent housing apart from the public housing system. Section 8, which was amended a many a times since its inception at the time of Great Depression, allowed low income, poor and needy families to live outside the public housing system and afford privately owned rental housing. With this program, the tenants would receive a voucher, which they can use for any privately owned house or apartment. Before this program, the low income families had to choose to live in a high crime areas or substandard housing, since safe and decent housing was not affordable for them.

Benefits of section 8:

• Helps in reducing homelessness, especially for those with low income and elderly.
• This would in turn help in reducing poverty, as low income families need not spent a lot of money from their income, on safe and standard housing.
• As mentioned above, it reduces the crime rate as these people had to live in high crime rate areas. With this program, this issue has been solved to a great extend.
• The section 8 program also provides for more opportunities in terms of education, health etc, as they are able move to more improved housing, frequently.

Unintended Consequences of section 8:

• Increased corruption is a possibility with this particular program, especially for those who have money and politically connected has a better chance of getting a housing.
• Frequent yearly inspection, rental price limit, more chances of wear and tear to the property, etc are some of the most common issues that landlords face.
• Some tenants face discrimination while housing through section 8.
• There is tax burden on the common man

Remedies include proper management of the whole process, that makes both the landlord and tenant more comfortable. Like, when there is damages found in the property, the tenant should give compensation.

The government, as a welfare program, may definitely continue the scheme as it benefits a lot of homeless, low income families, elderly and disabled people. But the issues within the system need to be resolved.