Flagstaff housing authority preparing to take over Williams vouchers; seeks waiver for emergency housing vouchers

Housing authority staff told the commission that HUD has approved in writing the transfer of the Williams voucher program to the City of Flagstaff but that operational details remain incomplete, including an official list of current voucher holders and landlords.

Sarah Darr, speaking as housing authority staff, said the Phoenix HUD field office has acknowledged approval but did not include the conditions the housing authority had requested — for example, a hold-harmless treatment both programmatically and financially. “They have drafted a letter acknowledging the final things we needed, and so things are set to move on the first,” Darr said, adding that staff do not yet have an official list of current voucher holders because the program has been unadministered since September 2023.

Darr also updated the commission on Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV). The authority received 27 EHVs originally and has 24 remaining. She said federal funding for EHVs was discontinued for ongoing issuance and will terminate at the end of 2026. HUD published a notice allowing local housing authorities to request a waiver to permit current EHV households to apply to the Section 8 waiting list and receive a local preference; Darr said her office will pursue that waiver this summer and fall, and the housing authority board must approve the administrative changes.

At the administrative level, Darr said the housing authority board has already approved amendments to the Section 8 administrative plan to extend the service area to Williams city limits and to apply local preference for Williams residents. She described current utilization at about 105 percent leased but said some units are expected to be surrendered, which will reduce utilization.