Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/708576
AUGUST 2016 6 THE JOURNAL No. 4 on Get It Quick Page According to the Manufactured Housing In- stitute (MHI) the U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA), which in- cludes language allowing Section 8 vouchers to be used for the purchase of manufactured homes. MHI was a part of a coalition of more than 40 housing and advocacy groups advocat- ing for Senate passage of the legislation, which was already passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in February. The bill now heads to the President's desk, and he is ex- pected to sign it into law. The provision increasing the flexibility for low-income families to use a Section 8 voucher to purchase a manufactured home was added on the House floor by an amendment offered by Representative Peter Welch (D-VT). Passed by a voice vote, the amendment allows Section 8 vouchers to be used not just for the cost of leasing the land (which is currently permitted) but also for other monthly costs of purchasing a manufactured home, including mortgage pay- ments, property tax and insurance. This change would allow families that receive a ten- ant-based Section 8 voucher to help pay for an alternative to renting an apartment - allowing them to actually purchase a home. The lan- guage does not provide any direct funds or re- quire anyone to use a voucher to live in a manufactured home. However, with this change, the approximately 2.1 million Section 8 voucher holders in America will now have the option to use their Section 8 voucher to buy a manufactured home. The amendment was supported by Financial Services Committee Chairman Hensarling (R- TX) and Ranking Member Waters (D-CA). MHI commends Congressman Welch for his leadership in adding this important policy to the housing assistance reform bill. Overall, H.R. 3700 reforms federal housing programs to improve families' access to high- opportunity areas, improve public housing res- idents' quality of life, cut program costs, encourage work, expand homeownership op- portunities and reduce homelessness. For more than a decade, MHI has worked as a part of a coalition of housing and advocacy groups urging passage of these reforms. MHI played a major role in first getting an identical manufactured housing provision passed in the 2007 Section 8 reform bill (H.R. 1851) and in Section 8 reform bills in subsequent Con- gresses. While Congress has vetted most of the bill's provisions over the years as part of previ- ous proposals that have had broad support in Congress and from stakeholders, the reforms never became law. If you have any questions, please contact MHI's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Chief Lobbyist, Dr. Lesli Gooch, at (703) 558-0660 or lgooch@mfghome.org. Bill to Reform Federal Housing Assistance Programs Passes Senate Includes MHI Priority to Support Purchase of Manufactured Homes