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Task force aims to get more landlords to accept housing vouchers

More than 2 million Americans receive rental housing assistance from the federal government through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8. But new research sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development finds low-income families don’t have much “choice” in where they are able to use their vouchers. In many places, landlords […]

Homeless New Yorkers rally outside Federal Plaza to demand more Section 8 housing Oct. 4, 2004 in New York City. 
Homeless New Yorkers rally outside Federal Plaza to demand more Section 8 housing Oct. 4, 2004 in New York City. 
Bonile Bam/Getty Images

More than 2 million Americans receive rental housing assistance from the federal government through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8. But new research sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development finds low-income families don’t have much “choice” in where they are able to use their vouchers. In many places, landlords are reluctant to rent to people in the program. In Fort Worth, Texas, 78 percent of landlords surveyed denied vouchers. In Los Angeles, it was 76 percent. Now HUD is setting up a task force to get more landlords on board. 

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