Detailed Summary

Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise requirements for public housing agency (PHA) inspections of each dwelling unit for which a housing assistance payment contract is established. Requires an initial inspection before any assistance payment is made. Allows such payments if failure to meet standards is a result only of non-life threatening conditions.

Changes mandatory compliance inspections from annual to biennial. Provides for interim inspections upon a family's request.

Authorizes PHAs to establish specified alternative rent structures, except for elderly and disabled families.

Prescribes requirements for reviews and calculation of family income.

Prescribes eligibility criteria for assistance based upon family assets.

Revises requirements governing: (1) assistance to low-income working families; (2) tenant-based contract renewals; (3) administrative fees; and (4) the home ownership downpayment grant program.

Authorizes a PHA to report to certain consumer reporting agencies information regarding the past rent payment history of a family receiving tenant-based housing choice vouchers.

Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish standards and procedures for assessing PHA performance in carrying out the programs for tenant-based rental assistance and for homeownership assistance, including biennial assessments.

Revises requirements relating to: (1) PHA project-based assistance; (2) the monitoring of rent burdens; and (3) enhanced vouchers.

Directs the Secretary to define market areas.

Limits a PHA's elective applicant screening.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to permit HUD participation in certain state demonstration programs providing for persons with significant disabilities to be employed and to continue to receive certain federal and state benefits.

Authorizes a PHA to use subsidy payments otherwise due the owner to pay for continued utility service to avoid hardship to program participants.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide preservation project-based voucher assistance in lieu of enhanced voucher assistance in the case of a multifamily housing project.

Authorizes a PHA, in the case of foreclosure on any federally-related mortgage loan or on any residential real property in which a recipient of public housing assistance resides, to use rental assistance funds: (1) to pay utilities that are the owner's responsibility; or (2) for the family's reasonable moving costs.

Requires the Comptroller General to identify and report to Congress on obstacles to using vouchers in federally subsidized housing projects.

Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to revise the duties of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Establishes the Housing Innovation Program to give PHAs flexibility to design, and HUD responsibility to evaluate, innovative approaches to providing specified housing assistance.<br>

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 9/30/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 157.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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