In a major escalation of efforts to combat the state’s housing crunch, Utah lawmakers and advocates for affordable housing are proposing the creation of a state voucher program to help low- and moderate-income residents pay their rent.
The proposed system is part of a larger bill headed to Capitol Hill that would seek a total of $35.3 million for vouchers, housing development loans and other steps aimed at addressing the state’s dire lack of houses and apartments affordable to those making below-average incomes.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development runs several housing-assistance voucher programs based on income, but this new state program would target residents who don’t qualify for those sources of aid, officials said.