The House of Representatives recently passed the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act of 2018. It aims to help more Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) households move to communities of their choice, such as communities with high-performing schools, safe neighborhoods, and jobs. The demonstration would allow PHAs to provide housing mobility services, including pre- and post-move support, such as financial coaching for voucher holders who want to move to a high-opportunity area, outreach to landlords to recruit more of them to participate, and housing search assistance.

The House Appropriations Committee included $50 million for the demonstration in its 2019 funding bill for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD). These funds, which would go to PHAs on a competitive basis, would create 2,000 vouchers for families with children participating in the demonstration and provide $30 million to PHAs to offer housing mobility services.

The bill moves to the Senate for consideration. Senator Todd Young, an Indiana Republican who serves on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, has introduced a similar Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration bill in the Senate along with co-sponsor Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. However, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s 2019 THUD funding bill doesn’t include funds for the demonstration.