SEVRA

by Richard W. Brown

SEVRA Reform Needed Now!
We need your help!
Sign On to Section 8 Voucher Reform Letter

What Can I do to Help?

Click here read the SEVRA Letter of Support

Deadline to endorse is June 18, 2009.

To sign on click here [Email address: rbrown #AT# njaneh.org - replace #AT# with @ ] to send an email or submit via a fax at 908-382-6309.

Support Materials

Click here for the PowerPoint version.

Click here for a PDF version.

To read the testimony Will Fischer’s testimony on the bill click here.

For an overview of SEVRA click here.

A side-by-side analysis off SEVRA is available by clicking here.

SEVRA makes a number of important reforms that would strengthen the Section 8 voucher program as a tool for helping low-income families in New Jersey afford housing.

  • First, it establishes a permanent voucher renewal funding formula that is directly tied to local conditions, which is a big improvement over the uneven policies that existed prior to 2007. (It also avoids the uncertainty that occurs when such an important policy is left to be made each year in the appropriations act, as has been the case in recent years.) This will provide housing agencies in our area with the stability and security they need to help more families afford housing with the available federal funds.
  • Second, the bill streamlines the rules relating to rents in the voucher program as well as in public and other assisted housing. Currently, there are too many complicated calculations that must be made, which are administratively cumbersome and lack the proper incentives. The reforms in SEVRA will simplify the process substantially, while encouraging tenants to increase their work effort through a new earnings disregard.
  • Third, the bill streamlines the housing inspection process in the voucher program, which will benefit housing agencies, property owners, and tenants alike, while still ensuring that reasonable quality standards are met.
  • Fourth, the bill expands use of “project-based” vouchers, which can be tied to particular buildings and used for purposes such as developing supportive housing for the formerly homeless and people with mental and physical disabilities.

Together, these and other reforms in the bill will make the voucher program run more efficiently and better serve the families with children, elderly, and people with disabilities in New Jersey and across the nation who struggle to cope with the high cost of housing.

The following organizations have endorsed SEVRA Reform.

Statewide

  1. Corporation for Supportive Housing – NJ Office
  2. Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
  3. Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry
  4. Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
  5. Monarch Housing Associates, Inc.
  6. New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness
  7. New Jersey Catholic Conference
  8. NJ Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NJNAHRO)
  9. Supportive Housing Association of NJ
  10. United Ways of New Jersey

Local

  1. Advance Housing
  2. Back Home Again
  3. Camden County Board of Social Services
  4. Cathedral Kitchen
  5. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark
  6. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson
  7. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
  8. CHANT Food Pantry
  9. Collaborative Support Programs of NJ
  10. Community Enterprises Corporation
  11. Community Planning and Advocacy Council (CPAC)
  12. Consumer Provider Association in NJ
  13. Dooley House, Inc.
  14. Eva’s Village
  15. Family Service
  16. Ft. Lee Housing Authority
  17. Housing Authority of Gloucester County
  18. Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation
  19. Jersey City Housing Authority
  20. Jewish Family Services of Atlantic and Cape May Counties
  21. Life Link Homes, LP
  22. NewBridge Services
  23. New Jersey Association on Corrections
  24. Making it Possible to End Homelessness (MIPH)
  25. Mercer Allaince to End Homelessness 
  26. Middletown Housing Authority
  27. Passaic County Department of Human Services
  28. Project Live
  29. Regional Opportunity Center
  30. Respond, Inc.
  31. Robins’ Nest
  32. St. Dorothea’s Church
  33. Saint Joseph’s Home/York Street Project
  34. The Family Resource Network
  35. United Way of Central New Jersey
  36. United Way of Hudson County
  37. Veterans Haven
  • Susan E. Warner
    As a case worker we can't afford not to increase the section 8 housing. I find more and more that the poor people are pushed aside and our government continues to help the rich or should I say bail out the corporations and wall street who squander their money. Lets get back to basic and stand up for little people and not the big corporations. These are the little people who need help. Thanks for listening.
  • Shermaine Woodall
    I think it the Section 8 program should have a better system and training program for the case workers and applicants. The workers need to be monitor in person on a daily and/or randomly by HUD or what organization it falls under. I am a working single mother of four (1 girl 17 yrs. old & 3 boys 16, 15, & 13). I was on Section 8 (a 4 bedroom voucher) through the Atlantic City Housing Authority & didn't have a problem until I wanted to move to a better & safe neighbor. I wanted to find a place for me and my children to be safe, comfortable, and call home. I searched in the news papers, Section 8 monthly list, and even through a realtor. The units wasn't excepting Section 8, already been rented, rent was too high, they never called back or after they decided not to dea with Section 8. After 2 months I found a unit from a private owner which was willing to except Section 8 dispite of the bad things that was heard about the program as awhole. I handed in the Green Packet and it took me 2 1/2 weeks & several calls to different 8 workers to find out that it was not affordable. In which, when I found out it was over the telephone. And then it took me another week before I recieved a letter in the mail telling me so. I then wrote a letter which I went to the housing authority and gave it to the UNPLEASENT & UNKINDLY Acting Director "Ms. Wendy T.". As she read my letter she says in a nasty tone, " Wait, what do you mean made several calls?! That's not true!" I bascially beg for at least 1 more month until this other place was ready it took another 2 weeks & more calls to found out that they wasn't going to allow it. I in return called the woman above
    "Ms. Wendy T." & spoke to her "Ms. Sabrena B." which she was a little more pleasent. And I couldn't believe she said I should've stayed in the unit that failed inspection for a caving roof & flooring (and no telling what else) and let the landlord evict me & my children! I was shocked! Why would I want to have an eviction under the courts it just didn't make since! It needs to be something done with the program. Because more people are beginning to lose their vouchers & become homeless behind the ignorance of some case workers! AND I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!!!!
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