Affordable Housing & Landlord Accountability

The recent financial crisis has spurred calls for reform and greater accountability in housing. Although the present focus may be on sub-prime loans and foreclosures, our country also faces another type of housing crisis: a profound lack of affordable housing. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program ("Section 8") addresses this dilemma by distributing government rent subsidies to qualifying families. Although the federal program is voluntary, several states and cities have passed laws prohibiting landlord discrimination against Section 8 recipients.