The City of Santa Monica Housing Authority (SMHA) now has stronger tools to assist tenants with obtaining affordable housing.

Santa Monica rents have increased well above Federal program limits, making rental assistance vouchers noncompetitive in the housing market. In response, the SMHA sought approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to significantly increase the amount paid for housing subsidies – and last week HUD agreed.  Advocating on the SMHA’s behalf were U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Santa Monica City Councilmembers, and the Santa Monica Housing Commission.

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