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Council flags voucher renewals as a strain on HOC operations
Summary
At a Montgomery County reappointment hearing, speakers said federal voucher renewal rules are straining HOC's capacity and urged steps to keep recipients from 'falling through the cracks.'
A council member warned that changes in federal policy are testing the agency's ability to be 'nimble and proactive,' saying the voucher renewal issue 'is really troubling in a whole range of ways.' The comment tied federal-level rules to local operational risks for voucher recipients.
Merkowitz responded that HOC is focusing on timely renewals and outreach to make sure voucher recipients complete renewals when eligible: 'making sure that voucher recipients are responding timely and renewing, their vouchers when they're eligible, and making sure that they don't fall through the cracks,' he said. He also noted the complexity of eligibility forms and recommended partnerships to help applicants with wait-list paperwork.
