TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO EXPAND THE SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM

BODY
WHEREAS, affordable housing has reached a crisis in our community and communities around the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Section 8 housing voucher program is the leading source of federal housing assistance for extremely low-income families; and
WHEREAS, two-thirds of Section 8 housing vouchers issued in any year go to families with children, with the remainder predominantly going to people with disabilities and the elderly; and
WHEREAS, nearly one million families with children are currently served by the voucher program, almost twice the number of families with children in the public housing program; and
WHEREAS, Section 8 housing vouchers provide one way to help low and moderate income individuals and families obtain adequate housing; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County and other major housing agencies have thousands of families on their waiting lists for Section 8 housing vouchers,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the United States Congress to expand the Section 8 housing voucher program to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis that Miami-Dade County and other communities around the nation currently are facing.
Section 2. Urges the United States Congress to fund HUD's operating subsidies of Housing Agencies at 100% of the need based on the formula.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation.
Section 4. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2007 Federal Legislative Package.