Flagstaff Housing Authority reviews voluntary transfer of Williams’ 50 vouchers; no final vote

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The City of Flagstaff Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Jan. 16 reviewed a HUD‑requested voluntary transfer of the City of Williams’ 50 general‑purpose Housing Choice Vouchers to Flagstaff’s voucher program but did not take a final vote.

Sarah Saradhar, housing authority staff, told the board the transfer would add 50 vouchers to Flagstaff’s existing program and expand its service area to include Williams city limits. "The current voucher holders that are part of the City of Williams program will not see any impact beyond the staff that they work with," Saradhar said, emphasizing the proposal was intended to minimize disruption for households already leased in Williams.

The board heard details on why Williams asked for the transfer: a small program size, limited local rental stock and staffing gaps that left Williams without a stable voucher administrator since September 2023. Saradhar said Williams has historically been unable to lease more than roughly 18–25 of its 50 vouchers and that the city had been paying landlord HAP (housing assistance payment) from local funds in the wake of earlier contractor mismanagement.

Why it matters: Transferring the vouchers would keep the federal subsidy in Northern Arizona…