A 2004 audit report by HUD's inspector general contends that the city housing authority has not "effectively and efficiently managed" its voucher program to ensure full use of the available money from HUD. As a result, HABC's annual voucher funding will be less than needed.
The goal is to ensure full use of the funds whether needed or not.
Baltimore has a large supply of poor unskilled, uneducated labor and a democratic government (and a democratic MD assembly) that counts on them for power. Here's some more liberal whining:
More section 8 crying by Baltimore Sun:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1397831/posts
HUD cuts in Howard County(boo hoo hoo):
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1383991/posts