Federal Government Shutdown Won't Affect Low-Income Housing in Pasadena During January

Low-income housing in Pasadena won’t be affected by the federal government shutdown for this month, but February could be less certain, according to Pasadena Housing Director William Huang.
Huang said the partial shutdown could affect the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, which Huang’s department administers on behalf of Pasadena’s approximately 1,400 very low-income households.
The program provides these households rental assistance amounting to a total of nearly $1 million a month.
“Industry experts have indicated HUD has sufficient funds to make the February Section 8 payments to landlords,” Huang said. “However, beginning in March it is unclear how HUD will continue to make the payments. Housing agencies and authorities across the country are anxiously awaiting word from HUD on a solution to this critical matter.”
Huang said his department has been in touch with U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, as well as Pasadena-area U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, to discuss with them the need for HUD to continue to make Section 8 payments, even if the shutdown continues beyond February.
Continuing the rental assistance payments would prevent households from losing their housing, and stop landlords from discontinuing their participation in the program, Huang said.