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Utility Allowance may jump to between 25 and 40 percent for Section 8 recipients 

The Berkeley Housing Authority will consider raising the utility allowance for Section 8 and public housing families at its meeting Tuesday Feb. 6. 

There are 1,400 units of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing and another 75 units of public housing in Berkeley that pay 30 percent of family income for rent and utilities.City Manager Weldon Rucker has recommended the BHA increase the utility allowance for these families because they are the most vulnerable in the current energy crisis that has caused increases in gas and electricity rates. 

The BHA is required by federal law to maintain a utility allowance for its rental housing subsidies, according to the written recommendation. The regulations also require the BHA to review the allowance each year and increase or decrease it according to utility costs. 

The raise in the utility allowance will be between 25 and 40 percent, according to the written recommendation. The allowance will be increased according to whether the house or apartment uses electric of gas appliances. 

The rough estimate for two bedroom apartments is a monthly increase from $80 to $100, according to Director of Housing Stephen Barton.