READING HOUSING AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE NEW INCREMENTAL HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS

RHA to host visit from Regional Administrator to launch the most historic voucher program expansion in twenty years

Reading, PA – September 30, 2022
On Wednesday, October 5 at 1pm, Reading Housing Authority (RHA) will receive a visit from Matthew Heckles, Regional Administrator of HUD’s Mid-Atlantic Region to announce the awarding of more than 19,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). Region III received 1,477 Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers with an estimated value of over $16 million dollars. HUD’s allocation formula is designed to direct HCVs to areas where there is demonstrated need among extremely low income and very low income renter households and ensure that there is representation of both rural and urban areas.


The HCV program is the federal government’s major program to assist low-income families, older adults, and persons with disabilities so that they may afford housing
that is decent and safe. Participants in this program use their voucher to pay for a portion of their rent in the private market.


The current RHA Voucher Program assists nearly 900 households in the City of Reading, and includes traditional (incremental) vouchers, Mainstream Vouchers that
serve households who are under age 60 and have a disability, Emergency Housing Vouchers released during the pandemic, Shelter Plus Care Vouchers for persons who are homeless and have a disability, and Portability Vouchers, which are issued in another jurisdiction but brought into Reading, which includes those issued under a program with the Veterans Administration.


The October 5 event will include a roundtable discussion with program participants, landlords and other stakeholders to discuss the ways in which voucher-based housing assistance allows individuals and families to meet their self-sufficiency goals. Stacey Keppen, Executive Director, states “We welcome this addition to our toolbox, as we assist families in achieving their goals. Affordable housing is stable housing, impacting everything from our health and safety to our children’s educational attainment, to the ability for our older family members to live out a self-directed life. We are grateful to the Department for sponsoring such an important investment.”