On October 16, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, the program now serves more than 2.7 million households–a number that has increased as some of the nation’s public housing stock has deteriorated.

The voucher program is one of HUD’s most deeply income-targeted programs, with 77% of households having incomes below 30% of their area median income and an average annual household income of $17,835. Of all voucher households, 33% have a head of household or spouse 62+. LeadingAge supports the overall voucher program and is specifically urging Congress to fund new Older Adult Special Purpose Vouchers, in part to quickly meet the needs of the rapidly expanding population of older adults experiencing homelessness.

The program provides Section 8 project-based tenants with vouchers if their owners convert to market rate.  Congress has also increased the number of Housing Choice Vouchers incrementally, if insufficiently, through regular voucher funding and through special purpose vouchers like Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, vouchers for the Family Unification Program, and for non-elderly disabled (NED) vouchers.

Housing authorities administer vouchers and can project-base up to 20% of their vouchers through long-term contracts in buildings, including in assisted living communities to help pay shelter costs of income-eligible households.

“Since it was created in 1974, the HCV Program has served as our country’s largest rental assistance program, providing millions of families with access to affordable housing in communities of their choice. Thanks to the thousands of Public Housing Agency partners who administer this program and the private market landlords who participate in it, individuals and families are receiving housing and resources, resulting in better health, employment, and educational outcomes,” President Biden said in an October 16 proclamation.