Local assistance on Section 8 housing canned by state

Users of Section 8 low-income housing in the area have been receiving letters telling them that they will no longer be able to work with the District 4 Human Resources Development Council on matters relating to the program, which many in the area have done for years.

Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division Administrator Cheryl Cohen said the department has had a contract with the HRDC to assist with the local administration of the Section 8 housing in Blaine, Hill and Liberty counties, a contract that ended June 30 of this year and is not being renewed.

Cohen said this includes that HRDC is not receiving administrative funds from the state that would cover staffing costs to assist local participants and landlords with the process.

She said the letters sent to local Section 8 participants outline how they can contact the Montana Department of Commerce, which has adjusted staffing assignments and added some additional temporary staff to support direct administration of the program in the region.

She said the housing division can serve people directly and anyone can contact them to be put on the program’s waitlist by phone, mail or online at https://housing.mt.gov/Rental-Housing/Housing-Choice-Voucher-Program .

Despite being repeatedly asked, no one at the department has yet answered the question of why this contract has not been renewed, beyond saying, “The Department is working with HRDC IV on a few matters before considering whether to renew the administrative services contract.”

No answer has been given regarding what these matters being discussed are.

The department has also not answered the question of whether other HRDCs or housing authorities in the state are having their contracts renewed.

District 4 HRDC Executive Director Carilla French said she is hopeful the contract is renewed, giving local contacts and assistance to particants.

Despite the lack of clarification given by the commerce department on why the contract has not been renewed, Cohen said the ability of local organizations to assist residents with the program is important.

“Working with community-based organizations throughout the state to assist area residents is an important component of the (Section 8) program,” she said. “We greatly value the rapport that community-based organization staff develop with participants and landlords.”