by Victoria Lo
In March 2026, HUD introduced a proposed rule that would allow public housing agencies (PHAs) and HUD-assisted housing providers to adopt work requirements and time limits for families receiving rental assistance. This includes Section 8 housing.
What the Proposed Rule Would Do
Two key components are at the center of this proposal:
1. Allowing work requirements for housing assistance
Under the proposed rule, PHAs and housing providers could require certain adults to work up to 40 hours per week or meet other defined activities such as job training or education. While these policies would be optional at the local level, families in communities that adopt them could lose assistance if they are unable to meet ongoing requirements.
2. Allowing time limits on assistance
The rule would also allow housing providers to limit assistance to as little as two years for some households. After that period, families could lose their housing support regardless of whether they are still unable to afford rent.
Why This Matters
At first glance, these policies may appear to promote self-sufficiency. But in practice, they do not reflect the realities facing the families we serve.
Most people receiving rental assistance who can work already do. Many others are balancing caregiving responsibilities, attending school, or managing health conditions. The challenge is not a lack of effort; it is the growing gap between wages and the cost of housing.
In Washington, that gap is especially stark. A full-time worker must earn more than $41 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, while the state minimum wage is $16.66. Even working full-time is often not enough to make rent.
Time limits do not change that math. Instead, they create a fixed deadline after which families may lose assistance, regardless of their circumstances. If implemented, this proposal could put more than 56,000 people in Washington including over 28,000 children at risk of losing housing assistance.
At Neighborhood House, we see how housing instability affects every aspect of a family’s life. In our early childhood education programs, children rely on consistent attendance and stable routines to support their development. In our health programs, continuity of care depends on families having a stable place to live. In our employment and adult education programs, participants need stable housing to maintain jobs and complete training.
When housing is lost, these connections are disrupted. Families move frequently, lose access to services, miss appointments, and face increased stress that affects both physical and mental health.
The proposed rule also introduces additional administrative requirements, including ongoing documentation of work activities. These processes can be difficult to navigate and may result in families losing assistance due to paperwork challenges rather than true ineligibility.
In a region like Seattle, where housing costs continue to rise and homelessness response systems are already stretched, even small increases in housing instability can have significant ripple effects across the community.
Your Voice Matters: Submit a Public Comment
This rule is not final. Federal law requires agencies to consider public input before making decisions like this and public comments can and do influence outcomes.
Deadline to comment: May 1, 2026
Submit your comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/HUD-2026-0298-0001
Neighborhood House has developed sample comment language to help you get started. You can adapt it or copy and paste.