More landlords are declining Section 8 vouchers, and Bernalillo County leaders say their hands are tied when it comes to the situation.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher allows low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to live anywhere as long as the rent isn’t more than 30% of their income.

“We have no control over that,” Bernalillo County spokesperson Tom Thorpe told Albuquerque’s KRQE. “Landlords make the decision whether they want to accept Section 8 vouchers or not. It is totally up to the owner or the landlord.”

The law doesn’t require landlords to take the vouchers, but those who do must sign an initial one-year lease with a tenant.

The tenant, in turn, must cover the remaining portion of his or rent after the voucher covers its part.

According to KRQE, the increase in rent nationwide has it made difficult for voucher holders to find a willing tenant who could help them.

“There is housing available within this market,” Thorpe told the ABC affiliate. “It’s becoming a little harder to find, we’ll be honest. But it is available, a lot just depends on again, on where people want to go live and how much they have the ability to pay.”

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted all levels of government to implement a temporary stoppage to local eviction proceedings as tenants try to get their affairs in order.

While the federal eviction moratorium ended over the summer, local jurisdictions continued their own rental assistance programs.

In Albuquerque, a nonprofit is assisting families struggling to make rent every month.

According to KRQE,  HopeWorks has offered a COVID eviction-prevention program for the second time after a successful launch last year.

“It’s been successful, and we’re hoping we can make at least the same impact this time,” HopeWorks executive director Kellie Tillerson told the station.