Biden falls short on promise to provide Section 8 vouchers to ‘every’ eligible family

President Joe Biden campaigned on a promise to "provide Section 8 housing vouchers to every eligible family."

But by the end of his term, millions of eligible households were still not receiving the assistance.

Section 8 is the federal government's main program to make rent affordable for low-income families. Under the program, the family pays its portion of the rent for a private apartment or house — amounting to 30% of its household income — and the government covers the rest with a voucher. The government sets the rent and works with property owners who agree to participate.

Housing vouchers help about 5 million people in about 2.3 million households cover rent and utility costs. Research has shown they are highly effective at reducing homelessness, overcrowding and housing instability.

In 2022, Biden asked Congress for an additional $1.5 billion for housing vouchers, enough to help an additional 200,000 households. Congress approved $200 million for 25,000 new vouchers. 

In 2023, Biden again requested an additional $1.5 billion for the vouchers and Congress approved $130 million, enough to fund 11,700 new vouchers. In 2024, Biden requested an additional $565 million, and Congress approved $45 million, enough for 3,000 new vouchers.

Sonya Acosta, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank, said the additional vouchers have helped families, but data shows that about three-quarters of renters with low incomes — approximately 18 million households — do not get the assistance they need. In 2021, the organization found that families typically wait years before receiving vouchers, mainly due to limited funding. 

"The unmet need for eligible households remains large," Acosta said. "The additional vouchers provided in the past few years are not sufficient to really advance President Biden's campaign goal, though they certainly have made an impact on people's lives and in our communities. But much more is needed to really address affordability issues for people with low incomes."

Biden promised to provide Section 8 vouchers to every eligible family, but his requests, and Congress' approvals, fell short of that. Millions still await the assistance. We rate this Promise Broken.