Coalition of Organizations Urges Congress to Safeguard More than 35,000 Affordable Housing Units at Risk

Return to the main Public Policy page

More than 35,000 so called “Rent Supp” and “RAP” affordable apartments will be converted to market rate unless Congress allows the owners of these properties to convert to project-based Section 8. The National Housing Trust, along with more than a dozen national, state and local housing organizations, is urging Congress to address this problem and save this housing.

The Rental Assistance Payment (RAP) and Rent Supplement rental assistance programs predated the Section 8 program. Unlike under the project-based Section 8 program, current law does not allow the renewal of older rental assistance contracts at expiration and residents are not eligible to receive enhanced tenant protection vouchers. Congress should permit owners to convert Rent Supp and RAP subsidies to project-based Section 8 assistance. This would protect to low-income tenants in danger of losing their homes and save valuable rental housing.

Safeguarding this housing should be a priority for the 110th Congress. More than 21,000 units will be lost in the next 10 years as contracts expire. In total, approximately 35,000 affordable homes in 35 states are assisted under Rent Supp and RAP contracts. These units are concentrated in certain states:

Click here to see a list of all states with these contracts.