Vancouver Housing Authority prepares for another shutdown with $2M plan

In case the federal government shuts down again, Vancouver Housing Authority has a plan.

The agency’s board of commissioners voted Thursday to approve using up to $2 million in unrestricted funds to continue March Move to Work activities, including Section 8 rental assistance payments, if federal funding is interrupted by a shutdown.

“This equips the staff to take action if there’s another shutdown,” Commissioner Lloyd Halverson said.

After a 35-day shutdown, President Donald Trump agreed last week to reopen the government until Feb. 15 while negotiations continue over securing the U.S.-Mexico border. Without congressional agreement, the government could shut down again.

If Vancouver Housing Authority doesn’t receive federal dollars for the month of March, it would have to suspend payments to property owners for tenants getting rental assistance, which would likely result in tenants receiving eviction notices for failing to pay rent. The $2 million would also cover administration — staff who would otherwise be furloughed if federal Move to Work funding was halted. The housing authority would be reimbursed once federal funding resumes.

The housing authority posted a statement on its website last month regarding the shutdown, saying that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has enough money to make February Section 8 payments, otherwise known as the Housing Choice Voucher program, and operating funds will be made available to public housing authorities.

“All VHA business will continue as usual. We will update this website with any changes,” the statement said.

Vancouver Housing Authority conducts business with several federal agencies, including the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and Labor, but was not able to do that while the government was shut down.