Commerce Announces Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Waitlist Closure, August 15, 2024
HELENA, Mont., – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that it will close Montana’s waitlist for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program on August 15, 2024. HCV is also known as “Section 8.”
Commerce was notified in June 2024 that HUD’s allocation for Montana’s HCV Housing Assistance Payments would be reduced due to shortfalls in other states’ programs. Commerce, having responsibly managed Montana’s HCV program, must now spend down its HUD-held reserves and close its waitlist to ensure the program remains solvent and able to serve current participants.
“Time after time we see this federal government making decisions that reward poorly managed states,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Our dedicated staff at Commerce has responsibly managed this program and served countless Montanans who depend on this support. We will continue to find ways to support the individuals and families who will be negatively impacted by this decision.”
On July 2, 2024, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Director Green sent a letter to HUD’s Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman urging the federal agency to reconsider Montana’s allocation. As of July 31, neither the Department of Commerce nor the Governor's office have received a response to the July 2, 2024 letter.
“Montana has been a fiscally responsible steward of our federal HAP funding, resulting in financially sound HUD-held reserves for our state,” they wrote in the letter. “As you know, availability and affordability in housing is a nationwide problem. The residents of our state should not be forced to bail out other states that have poorly managed their federal HAP funding. To be clear, low-income Montanans patiently waiting for critically needed rental assistance will be at increased risk of homelessness as a direct result of the Biden administration’s decision to bail out fiscally irresponsible states at the expense of properly managed states like Montana.”
Commerce was notified in June 2024 that HUD’s allocation for Montana’s HCV Housing Assistance Payments would be reduced due to shortfalls in other states’ programs. Commerce, having responsibly managed Montana’s HCV program, must now spend down its HUD-held reserves and close its waitlist to ensure the program remains solvent and able to serve current participants.
“Time after time we see this federal government making decisions that reward poorly managed states,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Our dedicated staff at Commerce has responsibly managed this program and served countless Montanans who depend on this support. We will continue to find ways to support the individuals and families who will be negatively impacted by this decision.”
On July 2, 2024, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Director Green sent a letter to HUD’s Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman urging the federal agency to reconsider Montana’s allocation. As of July 31, neither the Department of Commerce nor the Governor's office have received a response to the July 2, 2024 letter.
“Montana has been a fiscally responsible steward of our federal HAP funding, resulting in financially sound HUD-held reserves for our state,” they wrote in the letter. “As you know, availability and affordability in housing is a nationwide problem. The residents of our state should not be forced to bail out other states that have poorly managed their federal HAP funding. To be clear, low-income Montanans patiently waiting for critically needed rental assistance will be at increased risk of homelessness as a direct result of the Biden administration’s decision to bail out fiscally irresponsible states at the expense of properly managed states like Montana.”
Tags: Housing and Press Release
