The Making Affordable Housing Work Act of 2018 is a proposal from The Trump Administration to both increase rents and place work requirements on those living in subsidized housing. Sec. Carson released the anticipated bill today, after a draft bill leaked in February and a HUD official confirmed the forthcoming proposal last week in a Congressional hearing. The proposed legislation would amend the Public Housing program as well as Section 8 Rental Assistance programs (Tenant-Based Rental Assistance/Housing Choice Vouchers (including project-based vouchers) and Project-Based Rental Assistance.
Rent Increases: While income-based rents are currently set at the higher of 30% of adjusted income, the new requirement would increase rents to 35% of gross income. Furthermore, the minimum monthly rent of $50 has been increased to approximately $150 (35% of earnings from 15 hours weekly work at the federal minimum wage rate). This increase triples the amount the nations poorest families would be required to pay towards housing costs.
Work Requirements: The bill would allow PHAs and owners to impose work requirements on tenants, although not much detail is given on how this would look, noting that disabled people and those 65 and older would be exempt and that other criteria would be established through regulation.
