Delaware initative offers better housing for low-income families

The Delaware State Housing Authority is expanding rental opportunities for low income families across the state.

The goal is to offer more quality housing near employment centers and quality schools to more than 1,600 Delaware families.

DSHA will implement this effort under its Areas of Opportunity initiative which covers the State Rental Assistance Program, the federal Housing Choice Voucher program in Kent and Sussex Counties and the federal Family Unification Program.

There’s also a new DSHA map available online to help families find such housing.

“These changes will offer more housing choice and mobility for Delawareans who want to live near good jobs and schools of their choice,” Delaware Governor Jack Markell said.

The new policy also helps youth aging out of foster care and people with disabilities gain access to better communities and education centers.

In addition, DSHA is actively encouraging developers to build new housing near sources of public transportation. Officials believe this initiative helps prevent the concentration of rental housing in distressed neighborhoods.

“Housing vouchers help families afford decent housing and make ends meet,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “But they should not also constrain families to live only in certain neighborhoods.”

DSHA’s imitative to increase housing opportunities also increases rent payments by up to 10 percent for low income families. Rental assistance programs usually have a set amount for vouchers distributed to such families to pay rents.

“All families deserve the same chance to succeed—and providing new tools for families to help move into areas of higher opportunity gives them an opportunity for a better life,” said Jane C.W. Vincent, Regional Administrator for HUD’s Mid-Atlantic region.