Housing authority reports voucher pressure, new budget reports and capital plans

The Queen Anne's County Housing Authority reported that it is managing rising rents and a projected shortfall in its Housing Choice Voucher program while rolling out improved financial reporting and several capital projects.

Executive Director (name not specified) told the board the authority is about 93% occupied across its properties and administers about 214 housing choice vouchers. The wait list fell from about 200 to 179 in August, and the office completed 105 voucher inspections through August, with seven overdue inspections remaining as staff work to close the gap with county inspection support.

The director said the authority used HUD's two-year projection tool to assess risk of overextending the voucher budget and has submitted applications for additional HUD funds. "We've submitted applications to HUD for additional funds and have already received some supplemental funding to help offset those shortfalls," the director reported. The authority is meeting monthly with HUD and its new accounting firm to monitor the program and said the steps taken so far make staff “optimistic” the situation…