PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds of families in need across Maine may be denied Section 8 Housing choice vouchers as multiple housing authorities say they have no choice but to put the program on hold because of budget constraints.
Housing authorities in Portland, Westbrook, Brewer, and communities covered through MaineHousing's services are pausing the program.
MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan said the agency serves about 3,600 households with its housing choice voucher program.
"The work that we've been doing with landlords has succeeded in getting us—unfortunately—to the point where we have maximized what we're able to give out," Brennan said.
Housing authorities are allotted annual funding for the program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year for MaineHousing, its program budget sits around $38 million.
Brennan said it's not uncommon for the program to be put on a temporary hold because of a lack of funding, as needs for the services are constantly changing.
"The tools that HUD uses now to forecast [budget needs] are a lot more sophisticated than they were 15 to 20 years ago," Brennan said.
Clyde Barr, director of voucher programs for the Portland Housing Authority, said he believes a big portion as to why funding dried up so quickly this year is because of a zero percent increase in budget from HUD to combat inflation. He said housing authorities are normally given a 3 to 4 percent increase.
"We are working with HUD to figure out the best number to get to," Barr explained. "Our projections will be on the line."
Barr and Brennan explained that while it is difficult to predict an exact timeline, it likely will be closer to the beginning of 2025 when Mainers will see the programs resume as budgets rely heavily on congressional spending.
They also said that other housing assistance programs are not being affected by these pauses, and those who already have vouchers should be able to use them without any problems.