**GAO-04-19**                      Published: Oct 30, 2003. Publicly Released: Dec 01, 2003.                  

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## Highlights

In response to long-standing concerns, HUD initiated efforts to improve the administration of its programs in 1997, and Congress passed the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act (QHWRA) in 1998. The act contains over 80 reforms that affect two key rental housing assistance programs: the low-rent housing program (also referred to as public housing) and the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly Section 8). According to many housing agencies, implementing these reforms challenged their ability to address their core mission of providing safe, decent, and sanitary rental units for low-income residents. In particular, some small agencies that manage properties with relatively few rental units have contended that some reforms have little relevance to their operations and pose a significant burden because of the agencies' limited staff and financial resources. In response to a Congressional request, GAO compared housing agencies by size in terms of (1) the impact of recent housing reforms on their ability to administer HUD programs, (2) the agencies' performance as measured by HUD, and (3) the differences in the technical assistance that the agencies require. To carry out its work, GAO surveyed a statistical sample of small and larger public housing agencies nationwide on the impact of QHWRA reforms. The response rate to the survey was about 69 percent.

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## Topics

Housing

Comparative analysisRisk assessmentFederal aid for housingFederal fundsHousing programsIntergovernmental relationsLocally administered programsLow income housingPerformance measuresProgram managementRental housingSurveys