Memorializes Congress to increase funding for Section 8 housing vouchers and revise program requirements to enhance award of vouchers.

SR65

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 65

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

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INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Memorializes Congress to increase funding for Section
8 housing vouchers and revise program requirements to enhance award of
vouchers.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Senate
Resolution
memorializing Congress to increase funding for Section 8
housing vouchers and to revise program criteria to allow for greater
utilization of the program.

Whereas,
Helping the homeless, the
disabled, the working poor and former welfare recipients find housing is a
priority of the State and the federal governments; and

Whereas
,
The provision of affordable
housing is a critical element in the effort to help people out of poverty; and

Whereas,
The Section 8 housing
voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very
low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to rent decent, safe, and
sanitary housing in the private market; and

Whereas,
The need for Section 8
vouchers is greater than the supply, leaving thousands of New Jersey residents
holding a limited number of places on waiting lists for years and thousands
more unable even to obtain a place on a waiting list; and

Whereas,
A significant percentage of
New Jersey residents who become eligible for vouchers are unable to utilize
them prior to their expiration due to restrictive program limitations; now,
therefore,

����
Be It Resolved

by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey:

���� 1.��� The Senate respectfully
memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact and the President to
sign legislation:

���� a.���� increasing the funding
of the Section 8 housing voucher program;

���� b.��� providing housing
authorities with discretion to exceed fair market rents in the basic range by
at least 20 percent rather than the 10 percent that is allowed under current
regulations;

���� c.���� providing housing
authorities with greater discretion to exceed current requirements concerning
the percentage of family income that may be allocated towards the payment of
rent; and

���� d.��� authorizing housing
authorities to utilize federal funding for the preliminary costs necessary to
enroll new voucher recipients.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Secretary of State to the Governor of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution would
memorialize Congress to enact and the President to sign legislation to:

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increase the funding for the Section 8 housing voucher program;

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provide housing authorities with discretion to exceed fair market
rents in the basic range by at least 20 percent rather than the 10 percent that
is allowed under current regulations;

�

provide housing authorities with greater discretion to exceed
current requirements concerning the percentage of family income that may be
allocated towards the payment of rent; and

�

authorize housing authorities to utilize federal funding for the
preliminary costs necessary to enroll new voucher recipients.