A Report on State-Funded Rental Assistance Programs: A Patchwork of Small Measures

A Report on State-Funded Rental Assistance Programs: A Patchwork of Small Measures

The intent of this research was to identify, to the extent feasible, any and all state or locally funded rental assistance programs and to describe these programs in terms of who they serve, how and for how long. In this process, a picture emerged of a patchwork of programs across the country that not only serve many different subsets of the low income population in different ways, but have vastly different intents.

This report serves as a valuable tool for states as well as advocates and analysts at the national level. For states, it is a resource for gaining information about programs in other states that may inspire more debate about what can and should be done to ease the housing burdens of low income renters. At the national level, it adds context to the debate surrounding the role of the federal government in housing assistance, and clearly points to the fact that more can and should be done.

Jennifer G. Twombly, Ph.D. Harry Lawson, Jr. MSW Carla Hett Smith, MSW Sheila Crowley, Ph.D., MSW

March 2001 National Low Income Housing Coalition