storm evacuees

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) has filed legislation aimed at making more affordable housing available for evacuees of Hurricane Maria.
The legislation Nelson filed Thursday would, among other things, provide additional funding for HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The voucher program makes market-rate housing more affordable for low-income evacuees by capping rental rates at no more than 30 percent of an individual’s income.
“We have tens of thousands of evacuees here in Florida who are struggling to find an affordable place to live,” Nelson said. “This bill will help make more affordable housing available in the communities that need it the most.”
To qualify, evacuees must earn less than 50 percent of the area’s median income. Evacuees in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, for example, who earn less than $29,200 per year would be eligible for the program.
Once approved, voucher holders are able to select a unit from the private market. But instead of having to pay that units full market price, which many cannot afford, voucher holders pay only 30 percent of their adjusted income towards rent and utilities, and the federal government pays any remaining balance directly to the property owner.
The bill has already received endorsements from several local officials, including: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.
The measure now heads to the Senate Finance committee for consideration.
A copy of the bill is available here.