Comment Submitted by Will Fischer, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

These comments are submitted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is a non-partisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs affecting low- and moderate-income families and individuals. We support HUD’s proposal to test use of zip code areas to set FMRs in 2011 and move toward a national system of small FMR areas. Using smaller areas will result in more accurate FMRs, and could substantially expand voucher holders’ access to low-poverty areas and improve the cost-effectiveness of the voucher program. The attached comments address several specific aspects of the proposal.