June 13, 2006

Pryce’s Section 8 Housing
Fix Clears the House

Measure Will Protect the Housing Eligibility of Disabled Students at Creative Living in Columbus  

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 5117, legislation authored by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington), to preserve the Section 8 housing eligibility of severely disabled students at Creative Living near The Ohio State University, and at similar housing facilities nationally. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Amid reports that wealthy students were exploiting a loophole in Section 8 regulations by living in housing designated for the poor, last year language was added to an appropriations bill by the Senate requiring that family income and government assistance be used as part of the eligibility equation for Section 8 applicants.  The new law unintentionally affected disabled students residing at Creative Living, a housing complex near OSU, and a number of Creative Living residents could lose their Section 8 housing eligibility. 

“Today’s vote gives us the opportunity to right a wrong,” said Pryce during consideration of the bill. “We can give these students the peace of mind that they can continue their education without fear that they will lose the housing on which they depend.

“This is a great victory today – we are ensuring that these students don’t have to put away their textbooks or hang up their lab coats, and can continue to pursue their higher education dreams. There are enough challenges put in front of individuals with severe physical disabilities – worrying about a place to call home while they attend college should not be one of them.”

Congresswoman Pryce’s legislation will exempt disabled students who were receiving Section 8 as of November 30, 2005, and ensure that Creative Living’s disabled students – many of whom depend upon the Section 8 program to pursue their education -- will not be unfairly shut out of the rental assistance program. Pryce will now press for a more comprehensive legislative solution to allow Creative Living to accept additional disabled student residents in the future.

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