Today, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Members of New York’s Congressional Delegation called on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to halt the wrongful termination of thousands of Section 8 vouchers in light of computer and clerical errors on the part of NYCHA.  The Members sent a letter to NYCHA Chairman John Rhea requesting an immediate moratorium on voucher terminations and a thorough review of Section 8 administration.

“Section 8 voucher recipients are some of our most vulnerable citizens,” wrote the Members.  “Families using vouchers typically have incomes well below the poverty line.  If their housing vouchers are terminated, their housing costs will double or triple, placing many at risk of losing their homes.  It is unacceptable that New Yorkers most in need of assistance have been able to fall through the cracks.  We urge NYCHA to cease the termination of Section 8 voucher subsidies until the Authority can ensure that these administrative challenges have been resolved.”

The letter follows:

October 27, 2011

John B. Rhea, Chair
New York City Housing Authority
250 Broadway, 12th floor
New York NY 10007

Dear Chairman Rhea:

We are writing regarding recent changes to the administration of the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA or the Authority) Section 8 voucher program, which has reportedly led to the wrongful termination of thousands of Section 8 program participants.  We urge NYCHA to place a moratorium on the termination of Section 8 Voucher subsidies until the Authority can ensure that families are not being terminated in error. 

In the last year, NYCHA implemented a new system to computerize its Section 8 files and automate the annual and interim recertification process.  While we understand NYCHA intended to improve efficiency and service for participants, reports from constituents and advocates showcase wide-spread problems with this system.  There are numerous complaints about the Authority’s failure to send or process the annual recertification paperwork needed to renew subsidies, notify participants of hearings to challenge program terminations, or adjust tenant contributions after changes in family income.  Section 8 termination notices are automatically generated, even where tenants were never issued recertification documents or documents submitted by tenants have not yet been scanned into the computer.  As a result, families have been cut from the program and are now at risk of eviction through no fault of their own. 

The use of a single customer service line in replacement of individual housing assistants has only exacerbated these problems.  Voucher holders no longer have a locally-based caseworker with direct knowledge of and responsibility for the processing of their case that they can contact with questions or concerns.  Instead, participants must call the NYCHA Customer Contact Center and speak with a representative with no familiarity of their case and who is often unable to resolve their problem. 

Section 8 voucher recipients are some of our most vulnerable citizens.  Families using vouchers typically have incomes well below the poverty line; if their housing vouchers are terminated, their housing costs will double or triple, placing many at risk of losing their homes.  It is unacceptable that New Yorkers most in need of assistance have been able to fall through the cracks.  We urge NYCHA to cease the termination of Section 8 voucher subsidies until the Authority can ensure that these administrative challenges have been resolved.  We also ask that NYCHA restore subsidies for families it has terminated until it can determine whether their subsidies were cut off in error.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this issue and your commitment to providing safe, decent affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.  We hope NYCHA will be able to reach a swift resolution to these problems and stand ready to assist in this effort.

Sincerely,

Congressman Jerrold Nadler
Congressman Charles Rangel
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Congressman Gary Ackerman
Congressman Eliot Engel
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
Congressman Edolphus Towns
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Congressman Gregory Meeks
Congressman Jose Serrano

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