WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) issued the following statement today in response to the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) decision to void 3,018 Section 8 housing vouchers:

“The Section 8 housing program is a last resort in the fight against homelessness for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Due to the economic downturn, the New York City Housing Authority has been forced to make the difficult, and unprecedented, decision of voiding more than 3,000 already-issued Section 8 vouchers.

“Now is not the time to point fingers. Instead, we must work together to do all we can to ensure that housing funds are provided through previously allocated federal stimulus funds, or look to city or state programs to assist with the shortfall.

“I am currently exploring options to help those in need, and working to ensure that alternative rental assistance is provided to the thousands of families affected by this situation.”

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