Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Vouchers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves 2025 PHA annual action plan, adds Foster Youth preference; housing officials describe wait-list pressures
Summary
Wichita Falls approved its 2025 second-year annual action plan for the public housing agency and amendments to the administrative plan, including establishing a Foster Youth to Independence preference. City housing staff reported long waiting lists and gaps in available rental units at voucher price points.
The Wichita Falls City Council approved on April 15 the city’s 2025 second-year annual action plan for its Public Housing Agency (PHA) and amendments to the administrative plan, including a provision to implement a Foster Youth to Independence preference.
Terry Floyd, Director of Development Services, described the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly Section 8) as HUD-funded rental assistance targeted to low-income individuals and families. Floyd said the city’s PHA serves “over 780 families and individuals” and that “we currently have 70 voucher holders that are looking for units.” He also told the council that “over 927 individuals and families are on the waiting list,” and that waiting times can run about nine to 12 months.
Josh Woodworth, housing supervisor, explained the Foster Youth to Independence program would be a small, targeted preference coordinated with a public child welfare agency (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services). Woodworth said the city would accept referrals from the child-welfare agency for youth aging out of foster care and could issue a limited number of vouchers (the transcript says “maybe a maximum of 10”). The program offers up to 36 months of assistance and requires supportive services from the referring agency while the participant works toward self-sufficiency; Woodworth said the 36-month term can be extended with additional referral and documentation if the youth still requires assistance.
Councilors and public commenters discussed persistent housing-market constraints: staff said rentable units within voucher payment limits are scarce and that the waiting list is a living list with movement when vouchers turnover. A public commenter, Valerie Rhodes, urged partnering vouchers with local supportive programs and said Wichita Falls receives referrals from larger cities that have exhausted their own public housing resources.
The resolution adopting the PHA annual action plan and administrative amendments passed after the public hearing; the transcript records a motion, a second and the chair’s announcement that the motion passed.
