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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Krimer Yancy Friday, June 25, 2004 301-962-5505 RENTAL HOUSING VOUCHER SUBSIDY WAITING LIST WILL NOT OPEN THIS YEAR Federal Cutbacks Underlie Commission Decision The Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) at its meeting on June 2 voted not to open the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher (formerly known as Section 8) program. Last August, when HOC opened the list for five days, nearly 10,000 residents applied for a place on the list to receive housing subsidies. In his presentation to the Commission, HOC Director of Rental Assistance William Murphy cited uncertainty of funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program as the primary reason for not opening the waiting list. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently has taken action to reduce the amount of federal money spent on rent subsidies and the administration of the voucher program. HOC expects that funding will cover the 5,600 families that currently receive rent subsidies in Montgomery County. Each year HOC normally serves between 200 and 500 new families from the waiting list. Mr. Murphy said that the changes in funding will severely limit the number of new families HOC can serve this year. He recommended that HOC not accept new applications this year. The Commission reluctantly agreed. ###