Barriers to safe and secure housing in the US section 8 voucher programme post-Dobbs

Abstract

The US affordable housing crisis has exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring increased interest in low-income housing subsidies (Section 8). However, potential Section 8 beneficiaries can lose eligibility, or their spot in line, when family size changes, especially if they do not provide the appropriate paperwork to the public housing authority. We identify two external concerns for Section 8: the disparity between programme demand, available vouchers, and housing stock, and the challenges domestic violence victims face in securing housing assistance. These challenges compound for poor families fleeing violence, and more so since the Dobbs decision. In many states, abortion trigger bans severely limit household family planning, creating a triple-bind for poor families seeking housing and women fleeing violence. We identify several policy recommendations to address these concerns in both the short- and long-run.