HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 15-20 Revised 10/31/2024 • The family must comply with the obligations of a participant family described in 24 CFR 982.551, except for the following provisions which do not apply to assistance under the homeownership option: 24 CFR 982.551(c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (j).
15-VII.J. MAXIMUM TERM OF HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE [24 CFR 982.634] Except in the case of a family that qualifies as an elderly or disabled family, other family members (described below) shall not receive homeownership assistance for more than:
• Fifteen years, if the initial mortgage incurred to finance purchase of the home has a term of 20 years or longer; or
• Ten years, in all other cases.
The maximum term described above applies to any member of the family who:
• Has an ownership interest in the unit during the time that homeownership payments are made; or • Is the spouse of any member of the household who has an ownership interest in the unit during the time homeownership payments are made.
In the case of an elderly family, the exception only applies if the family qualifies as an elderly family at the start of homeownership assistance. In the case of a disabled family, the exception applies if at any time during receipt of homeownership assistance the family qualifies as a disabled family.
If, during the course of homeownership assistance, the family ceases to qualify as a disabled or elderly family, the maximum term becomes applicable from the date homeownership assistance commenced.
However, such a family must be provided at least 6 months of homeownership assistance after the maximum term becomes applicable (provided the family is otherwise eligible to receive homeownership assistance).
If the family has received such assistance for different homes, or from different PHAs, the total of such assistance terms is subject to the maximum term described in this part. 15-VII.K. HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS AND HOMEOWNERSHIP EXPENSES [24 CFR 982.635]
The monthly homeownership assistance payment is the lower of: the voucher payment standard minus the total tenant payment, or the monthly homeownership expenses minus the total tenant payment.
In determining the amount of the homeownership assistance payment, the PHA will use the same payment standard schedule, payment standard amounts, and subsidy standards as those described elsewhere in this plan for the Housing Choice Voucher program. The payment standard for a family is the greater of (i) The payment standard as determined at the commencement of homeownership assistance for occupancy of the home, or (ii) The payment standard at the most recent regular reexamination of family income and composition since the commencement of homeownership assistance for occupancy of the home.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 15-21 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA may pay the homeownership assistance payments directly to the family, or at the PHA’s discretion, to a lender on behalf of the family. If the assistance payment exceeds the amount due to the lender, the PHA must pay the excess directly to the family.
Homeownership assistance for a family automatically terminates 180 calendar days after the last homeownership assistance payment on behalf of the family. However, a PHA may grant relief from this requirement in those cases where automatic termination would result in extreme hardship for the family.
The PHA must adopt policies for determining the amount of homeownership expenses to be allowed by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements.
Homeownership expenses (not including cooperatives) only include amounts allowed by the PHA to cover:
• Principal and interest on initial mortgage debt, any refinancing of such debt, and any mortgage insurance premium incurred to finance purchase of the home; • Real estate taxes and public assessments on the home; • Home insurance;
• The PHA allowance for maintenance expenses;
• The PHA allowance for costs of major repairs and replacements; • The PHA utility allowance for the home;
• Principal and interest on mortgage debt incurred to finance costs for major repairs, replacements, or improvements for the home. If a member of the family is a person with disabilities, such debt may include debt incurred by the family to finance costs needed to make the home accessible for such person, if the PHA determines that allowance of such costs as homeownership expenses is needed as a reasonable accommodation so that the homeownership option is readily accessible to and usable by such person;
• Land lease payments where a family does not own fee title to the real property on which the home is located; [see 24 CFR 982.628(b)].
• For a condominium unit, condominium operating charges or maintenance fees assessed by the condominium homeowner association.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 15-22 Revised 10/31/2024 Homeownership expenses for a cooperative member may only include amounts allowed by the PHA to cover:
• The cooperative charge under the cooperative occupancy agreement including payment for real estate taxes and public assessments on the home;
• Principal and interest on initial debt incurred to finance purchase of cooperative membership shares and any refinancing of such debt;
• Home insurance;
• The PHA allowance for maintenance expenses;
• The PHA allowance for costs of major repairs and replacements; • The PHA utility allowance for the home; and
• Principal and interest on debt incurred to finance major repairs, replacements, or improvements for the home. If a member of the family is a person with disabilities, such debt may include debt incurred by the family to finance costs needed to make the home accessible for such person, if the PHA determines that allowance of such costs as homeownership expenses is needed as a reasonable accommodation so that the homeownership option is readily accessible to and usable by such person. • Cooperative operating charges or maintenance fees assessed by the cooperative homeowner association.
15-VII.L. PORTABILITY [24 CFR 982.636, 982.637, 982.353(b) and (c), 982.552, 982.553] Subject to the restrictions on portability included in HUD regulations and PHA policies, a family may exercise portability if the receiving PHA is administering a voucher homeownership program and accepting new homeownership families. The receiving PHA may absorb the family into its voucher program, or bill the initial PHA.
The family must attend the briefing and counseling sessions required by the receiving PHA. The receiving PHA will determine whether the financing for, and the physical condition of the unit, are acceptable. The receiving PHA must promptly notify the initial PHA if the family has purchased an eligible unit under the program, or if the family is unable to purchase a home within the maximum time established by the PHA.
15-VII.M. MOVING WITH CONTINUED ASSISTANCE [24 CFR 982.637] A family receiving homeownership assistance may move with continued tenant-based assistance. The family may move with voucher rental assistance or with voucher homeownership assistance. Continued tenant-based assistance for a new unit cannot begin so long as any family member holds title to the prior home.
The PHA may deny permission to move to a new unit with continued voucher assistance:
• If the PHA has insufficient funding to provide continued assistance. • In accordance with 24 CFR 982.638, regarding denial or termination of assistance.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 15-23 Revised 10/31/2024 • In accordance with the PHA’s policy regarding number of moves within a 12-month period.
The PHA must deny the family permission to move to a new unit with continued voucher rental assistance if:
• The family defaulted on an FHA-insured mortgage; and
• The family fails to demonstrate that the family has conveyed, or will convey, title to the home, as required by HUD, to HUD or HUD's designee; and the family has moved, or will move, from the home within the period established or approved by HUD.
15-VII.N. DENIAL OR TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE [24 CFR 982.638] At any time, the PHA may deny or terminate homeownership assistance in accordance with HCV program requirements in 24 CFR 982.552 (Grounds for denial or termination of assistance) or 24 CFR 982.553 (Crime by family members).
The PHA may also deny or terminate assistance for violation of participant obligations described in 24 CFR Parts 982.551 or 982.633 and in accordance with its own policy, with the exception of failure to meet obligations under the Family Self-Sufficiency program as prohibited under the alternative requirements set forth in FR Notice 12/29/14.
The PHA must terminate voucher homeownership assistance for any member of family receiving homeownership assistance that is dispossessed from the home pursuant to a judgment or order of foreclosure on any mortgage (whether FHA insured or non-FHA) securing debt incurred to purchase the home, or any refinancing of such debt.
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-1 Revised 10/30/2024 CHAPTER 16
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses administrative policies and practices that are relevant to the activities covered in this plan. The policies are discussed in seven parts as described below:
Part I: Administrative Fee Reserve. This part describes the PHA’s policies with regard to oversight of expenditures from its administrative fee reserve.
Part II: Setting Program Standards and Schedules. This part describes what payment standards are, and how they are updated, as well as how utility allowances are established and revised.
Part III: Informal Reviews and Hearings. T his part outlines the requirements and procedures for informal reviews and hearings, and for informal hearings regarding citizenship status.
Part IV: Owner or Family Debts to the PHA. T his part describes policies for recovery of monies that the PHA has overpaid on behalf of families, or to owners, and describes the circumstances under which the PHA will offer repayment agreements to owners and families.
Also discussed are the consequences for failure to make payments in accordance with a repayment agreement.
Part V: Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP). This part describes what the SEMAP scores represent, how they are established, and how those scores affect a PHA.
Part VI: Record-K eeping. All aspects of the program involve certain types of record-keeping.
This part outlines the privacy rights of applicants and participants and record retention policies the PHA will follow.
Part VII: Reporting and Record Keeping for Children with Elevated Blood Lead Level.
This part describes the PHA’s responsibilities for reporting, data collection, and record keeping relative to children with elevated blood lead levels that are less than six years of age, and are receiving HCV assistance.
Part VIII: Determination of Insufficient Funding. This part describes the PHA’s policies for determining if there is sufficient funding to issue vouchers, to approve moves to higher cost units or areas, and to continue assistance for all participant families.
Part IX: Violence against Women Act (VAWA): Notification, Documentation, Confidentiality. This part contains key terms used in VAWA and describes requirements related to notifying families and owners about their rights and responsibilities under VAWA; requesting documentation from victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained from victims.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-2 Revised 10/31/2024 PART I: ADMINISTRATIVE FEE RESERVE [24 CFR 982.155]
The PHA will maintain administrative fee reserves, or unrestricted net position (UNP) for the program to pay program administrative expenses in excess of administrative fees paid by HUD for a PHA fiscal year. HUD appropriations acts beginning with FFY 2004 have specified that administrative fee funding may be used only for activities related to the provision of HCV assistance, including related development activities. Notice PIH 2012-9 cites two examples of related development activities: unit modification for accessibility purposes and development of project-based voucher units. The notice makes clear that other activities may also qualify as related development activities. Administrative fees that remain in the UNP account from funding provided prior to 2004 may be used for “other housing purposes permitted by state and local law,” in accordance with 24 CFR 982.155(b)(1).
If a PHA has not adequately administered its HCV program, HUD may prohibit use of funds in the UNP Account and may direct the PHA to use funds in that account to improve administration of the program, for HCV HAP expenses, or to reimburse ineligible expenses in accordance with the regulation at 24 CFR 982.155(b)(3).
HUD requires the PHA Board of Commissioners or other authorized officials to establish the maximum amount that may be charged against the UNP account without specific approval.
PHA Policy
Expenditures from the UNP account will be made in accordance with all applicable federal requirements. Expenditures will not exceed $10,000 per occurrence without the prior approval of the PHA’s Board of Commissioners.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-3 Revised 10/31/2024 PART II: SETTING PROGRAM STANDARDS AND SCHEDULES
16-II.A. OVERVIEW
Although many of the program’s requirements are established centrally by HUD, the HCV program’s regulations recognize that some flexibility is required to allow the PHA to adapt the program to local conditions. This part discusses how the PHA establishes and updates certain schedules and standards that are used to administer the program locally. Details about how these schedules are applied to individual families are provided in other chapters. The schedules and standards discussed here include:
• Payment Standards, which dictate the maximum subsidy a family can receive (application of the payment standards is discussed in Chapter 6); and
• Utility Allowances, which specify how a family’s payment should be adjusted to account for tenant- paid utilities (application of utility allowances is discussed in Chapter 6).
PHA Policy
Copies of the payment standard and utility allowance schedules are available for review in the PHA’s offices during normal business hours or on the PHA website.
Families, owners, and members of the public may submit written comments on the schedules discussed in this part, at any time, for consideration during the next revision cycle.
The PHA will maintain documentation to support its annual review of payment standards and utility allowance schedules. This documentation will be retained for at least 3 years.
Establishing and updating the PHA passbook rate, which is used to calculate imputed income from assets, is covered in Chapter 6 (see Section 6-I.G.).
16-II.B. PAYMENT STANDARDS [24 CFR 982.503; HCV GB, Chapter 7] The payment standard sets the maximum subsidy payment a family can receive from the PHA each month [24 CFR 982.505(a)]. Payment standards are based on fair market rents (FMRs) published annually by HUD. FMRs are set at a percentile within the rent distribution of standard quality rental housing units in each FMR area. For most jurisdictions FMRs are set at the 40th percentile of rents in the market area.
The PHA must establish a payment standard schedule that establishes payment standard amounts for each FMR area within the PHA’s jurisdiction, and for each unit size within each of the FMR areas. For each unit size, the PHA may establish a single payment standard amount for the whole FMR area, or may set different payment standards for different parts of the FMR area. Unless HUD grants an exception, the PHA is required to establish a payment standard within a “basic range” established by HUD – between 90 and 110 percent of the published FMR for each unit size.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-4 Revised 10/31/2024 Updating Payment Standards
When HUD updates its FMRs, the PHA must update its payment standards if the standards are no longer within the basic range [24 CFR 982.503(b)]. HUD may require the PHA to make further adjustments if it determines that rent burdens for assisted families in the PHA’s jurisdiction are unacceptably high [24 CFR 982.503(g)].
PHA Policy
The PHA will review the appropriateness of the payment standards on an annual basis when the new FMR is published, and at other times as determined necessary. In addition to ensuring the payment standards are always within the “basic range” the PHA will consider the following factors when determining whether an adjustment should be made to the payment standard schedule:
Funding Availability: The PHA will review the budget to determine the impact projected subsidy adjustments will have on funding available for the program and the number of families served. The PHA will compare the number of families who could be served under revised payment standard amounts with the number assisted under current payment standard amounts.
Rent Burden of Participating Families: Rent burden will be determined by identifying the percentage of families, for each unit size, that are paying more than 30 percent of their monthly adjusted income as the family share. When 40 percent or more of families, for any given unit size, are paying more than 30 percent of adjusted monthly income as the family share, the PHA will consider increasing the payment standard. In evaluating rent burdens, the PHA will not include families renting a larger unit than their family unit size.
Quality of Units Selected: The PHA may review the quality of units selected by participant families when making the determination of the percent of income families are paying for housing, to ensure that payment standard increases are only made when needed to reach the mid-range of the market.
Changes in Rent to Owner: The PHA may review a sample of the units to determine how often owners are increasing or decreasing rents and the average percent of increases/decreases by bedroom size.
Unit Availability: The PHA will review the availability of units for each unit size, particularly in areas with low concentrations of poor and minority families.
Lease-up Time and Success Rate: The PHA will consider the percentage of families that are unable to locate suitable housing before the voucher expires and whether families are leaving the jurisdiction to find affordable housing.
Effective dates of changes to payment standard amounts will be determined at time of update.
The PHA will always ensure the payment standards will be within the basic range.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-5 Revised 10/31/2024 Exception Payment Standards [24 CFR 982.503(d), Notice PIH 2024-34 and 2023-32] A non-SAFMR PHA may establish an exception payment standard for a zip code area of up to and including 110 percent of the SAFMR determined by HUD for that zip code area. Regardless of the level of the exception payment standard compared to the metropolitan area FMRs (MAFMRs), the PHA must send an email to [email protected] to notify HUD that it has adopted an exception payment standard based on the SAFMR. A PHA that adopts an exception payment standard pursuant to this authority must apply it to the entire ZIP code area, for both its HCV, and if applicable, its PBV program. For the PBV program, this means that the rent to owner may not exceed the new exception payment standard amount, provided the rent is still reasonable. A PHA that adopts an exception payment standard area must revise its briefing materials to make families aware of the exception payment standard and the area that it covers.
Voluntary Use of Small Area FMRs [24 CFR 982.503, Notice PIH 2024-34] PHAs that administer vouchers in a metropolitan area where the adoption of SAFMRs is not required may request approval from HUD to voluntarily adopt SAFMRs. SAFMRs may be voluntarily adopted for one or more zip code areas.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not voluntarily adopt the use of SAFMRs except to establish exception payment standards in certain zip code areas.
Unit-by-Unit Exceptions [24 CFR 982.503(d)(5), 24 CFR 982.505, Notice PIH 2011-31] Unit-by-unit exceptions to the PHA’s payment standards generally are not permitted. However, an exception may be made as a reasonable accommodation for a family that includes a person with disabilities. (See Chapter 2 for a discussion of reasonable accommodations.) This type of exception does not affect the PHA’s payment standard schedule.
When needed as a reasonable accommodation, the PHA may make an exception to the payment standard without HUD approval if the exception amount does not exceed 120 percent of the applicable FMR for the unit size [24 CFR 982.503(d)(5)]. The PHA may request HUD approval for an exception to the payment standard for a particular family if the required amount exceeds 120 percent of the FMR.
PHA Policy
A family that requires a reasonable accommodation may request a higher payment standard at the time the Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) is submitted. The family must document the need for the exception. In order to approve an exception, or request an exception from HUD, the PHA must determine that:
There is a shortage of affordable units that would be appropriate for the family; The family's TTP would otherwise exceed 40 percent of adjusted monthly income; and The rent for the unit is reasonable.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-6 Revised 10/31/2024 "Success Rate" Payment Standard Amounts [24 CFR 982.503(f)] HUD will no longer approve success rate payment standards. However, a PHA that was approved to establish a success rate payment standards amount under this paragraph in effect prior to June 6, 2024 shall not be required to reduce such payment standards amount as a result of the discontinuance of success rate payment standards.
PHA Policy
Fairfield Housing Authority does not have a “Success Rate” payment standards. Decreases in the Payment Standard below the Basic Range [24 CFR 982.503(e)] The PHA must request HUD approval to establish a payment standard amount that is lower than the basic range. At HUD’s sole discretion, HUD may approve establishment of a payment standard lower than the basic range. HUD will not approve a lower payment standard if the family share for more than 40 percent of program participants exceeds 30 percent of adjusted monthly income. 16-II.C. UTILITY ALLOWANCES [24 CFR 982.517]
A PHA-established utility allowance schedule is used in determining family share and PHA subsidy.
The PHA must maintain a utility allowance schedule for (1) all tenant-paid utilities, (2) the cost of tenant-supplied refrigerators and ranges, and (3) other tenant-paid housing services such as trash collection.
The utility allowance schedule must be determined based on the typical cost of utilities and services paid by energy-conservative households that occupy housing of similar size and type in the same locality. In developing the schedule, the PHA must use normal patterns of consumption for the community as a whole, and current utility rates.
The utility allowance must include the utilities and services that are necessary in the locality to provide housing that complies with housing quality standards. Costs for telephone, cable/satellite television, and internet services are not included in the utility allowance schedule.
In the utility allowance schedule, the PHA must classify utilities and other housing services according to the following general categories: space heating; air conditioning; cooking; water heating; water; sewer; trash collection; other electric; cost of tenant-supplied refrigerator; cost of tenant-supplied range; and other specified housing services.
The cost of each utility and housing service must be stated separately by unit size and type. Chapter 18 of the HCV Guidebook provides detailed guidance to the PHA about establishing utility allowance schedules.
Air Conditioning
An allowance for air-conditioning must be provided when the majority of housing units in the market have central air-conditioning or are wired for tenant-installed air conditioners.
PHA Policy
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-7 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA has included an allowance for air-conditioning in its schedule. Central air-conditioning or a wall- or window-mounted air conditioner must be present in a unit before the PHA will apply this allowance to a family’s rent and subsidy calculations.
Reasonable Accommodation
HCV program regulations require a PHA to approve a utility allowance amount higher than shown on the PHA’s schedule if a higher allowance is needed as a reasonable accommodation for a family member with a disability. For example, if a family member with a disability requires such an accommodation, the PHA will approve an allowance for air-conditioning, even if the PHA has determined that an allowance for air-conditioning generally is not needed (See Chapter 2 for policies regarding the request and approval of reasonable accommodations).
Utility Allowance Revisions
The PHA must review its schedule of utility allowances each year and must revise the schedule if there has been a change of 10 percent or more in any utility rate since the last time the allowance for that utility was revised.
The PHA must maintain information supporting its annual review of utility allowance and any revisions made in its utility allowance schedule.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-8 Revised 10/31/2024 PART III: INFORMAL REVIEWS AND HEARINGS
16-III.A. OVERVIEW
Both applicants and participants have the right to disagree with, and appeal, certain decisions of the PHA that may adversely affect them. PHA decisions that may be appealed by applicants and participants are discussed in this section.
The process for applicant appeals of PHA decisions is called the “informal review.” For participants (or applicants denied admission because of citizenship issues), the appeal process is called an “informal hearing.” PHAs are required to include informal review procedures for applicants and informal hearing procedures for participants in their administrative plans [24 CFR 982.54(d)(12) and (13)]. 16-III.B. INFORMAL REVIEWS
Informal reviews are provided for program applicants. An applicant is someone who has applied for admission to the program but is not yet a participant in the program. Informal reviews are intended to provide a “minimum hearing requirement” [24 CFR 982.554], and need not be as elaborate as the informal hearing requirements [Federal Register 60, no. 127 (3 July 1995): 34690].
Decisions Subject to Informal Review [24 CFR 982.554(a) and (c)] The PHA must give an applicant the opportunity for an informal review of a decision denying assistance [24 CFR 982.554(a)]. Denial of assistance may include any or all of the following [24 CFR 982.552(a)(2)]:
• Denying listing on the PHA waiting list
• Denying or withdrawing a voucher
• Refusing to enter into a HAP contract or approve a lease • Refusing to process or provide assistance under portability procedures
Informal reviews are not required for the following reasons [24 CFR 982.554(c)]:
• Discretionary administrative determinations by the PHA • General policy issues or class grievances
• A determination of the family unit size under the PHA subsidy standards • A PHA determination not to approve an extension of a voucher term • A PHA determination not to grant approval of the tenancy • A PHA determination that the unit is not in compliance with the HQS • A PHA determination that the unit is not in accordance with the HQS due to family size or composition
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-9 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA Policy
The PHA will only offer an informal review to applicants for whom assistance is being denied.
Denial of assistance includes: denying listing on the PHA waiting list; denying or withdrawing a voucher; refusing to enter into a HAP contract or approve a lease; refusing to process or provide assistance under portability procedures.
Informal reviews are not offered to applicants that are not placed on the waiting list based on a randomized selection process.
Informal reviews are not offered to applicants who are returned to the waiting list.
Notice to the Applicant [24 CFR 982.554(a)]
The PHA must give an applicant prompt notice of a decision denying assistance. The notice must contain a brief statement of the reasons for the PHA decision, and must also state that the applicant may request an informal review of the decision. The notice must describe how to obtain the informal review.
Scheduling an Informal Review
PHA Policy
A request for an informal review must be made in writing and delivered to the PHA either in person or by first class mail, by the close of the business day, no later than 10 business days from the date of the PHA’s denial of assistance.
The PHA must schedule and send written notice of the informal review within 10 business days of the family’s request.
If the informal review is conducted remotely, at the time the PHA notifies the family of the informal review, the family will be informed:
• Regarding the processes to conduct a remote informal review; • That, if needed, the PHA will provide technical assistance prior to and during the informal review; and
• That if the family or any individual witness has any technological, resource, or accessibility barriers preventing them from fully accessing the remote informal review, the family may inform the PHA and the PHA will assist the family in either resolving the issues or allow the family to participate in an in-person informal review, as appropriate.
Informal Review Procedures [24 CFR 982.554(b)]
The informal review must be conducted by a person other than the one who made or approved the decision under review, or a subordinate of this person.
The applicant must be provided an opportunity to present written or oral objections to the decision of the PHA.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-10 Revised 10/31/2024 Remote Informal Reviews [Notice PIH 2020-32]
There is no requirement that informal reviews be conducted in-person and, as such, HUD allows PHAs to conduct all or a portion of their informal review remotely either over the phone, via video conferencing, or through other virtual platforms. If the PHA chooses to conduct remote informal reviews, applicants may still request an in-person informal review, as applicable.
PHA Policy
The PHA has the sole discretion to require that informal reviews be conducted remotely in case of local, state, or national physical distancing orders, and in cases of inclement weather or natural disaster.
In addition, the PHA will conduct an informal review remotely upon request of the applicant as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability, if an applicant does not have childcare or transportation that would enable them to attend the informal review, or if the applicant believes an in-person informal review would create an undue health risk. The PHA will consider other reasonable requests for a remote informal review on a case-by-case basis.
Ensuring Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and LEP Individuals As with in-person informal reviews, the platform for conducting remote informal reviews must be accessible to persons with disabilities and the informal review must be conducted in accordance with Section 504 and accessibility requirements. This includes ensuring any information, websites, emails, digital notifications, and other virtual platforms are accessible for persons with vision, hearing, and other disabilities. Further, providing effective communication in a digital context may require the use of individualized auxiliary aids or services, such as audio description, captioning, sign language and other types of interpreters, keyboard accessibility, accessible documents, screen reader support, and transcripts. Auxiliary aids or services must be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way to protect the privacy and independence of the individual. PHAs may never request or require that individuals with disabilities provide their own auxiliary aids or services, including for remote informal hearings.
PHAs are required to make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, and procedures to ensure persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all aspects of the informal review process. See Chapter 2 for a more detailed discussion of reasonable accommodation requirements.
If no method of conducting a remote informal review is available that appropriately accommodates an individual’s disability, the PHA may not hold against the individual his or her inability to participate in the remote informal review, and the PHA should consider whether postponing the remote informal review to a later date is appropriate or whether there is a suitable alternative.
Due to the individualized nature of disability, the appropriate auxiliary aid or service necessary, or reasonable accommodation, will depend on the specific circumstances and requirements.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-11 Revised 10/31/2024 As with in-person reviews, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements also apply to remote informal reviews, including the use of interpretation services and document translation. See Chapter 2 for a more thorough discussion of accessibility and LEP requirements, all of which apply in the context of remote informal reviews.
Conducting Remote Informal Reviews
The PHA must ensure that the lack of technology or inability to use technology for remote informal reviews does not pose a disadvantage to families that may not be apparent to the PHA. The PHA should determine through a survey or other means if these barriers exist prior to conducting the remote informal review and, if the family does not have the proper technology to fully participate, either postpone the informal review or provide an alternative means of access.
As with in-person informal reviews, the PHA must provide all materials presented, whether paper or electronic, to the family prior to the remote informal review. The family must also be provided with an accessible means by which to transmit their own evidence.
The PHA must ensure that the applicant has the right to hear and be heard. All PHA policies and processes for remote informal reviews must be conducted in accordance with due process requirements and be in compliance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 982.554 and guidance specified in Notice PIH 2020-32.
PHA Policy
The PHA will conduct remote informal reviews via a video conferencing platform, when available. If, after attempting to resolve any barriers, applicants are unable to adequately access the video conferencing platform at any point, or upon applicant request, the informal review will be conducted by telephone conferencing call-in. If the family is unable to adequately access the telephone conferencing call-in at any point, the remote informal review will be postponed, and an in-person alternative will be provided promptly within a reasonable time.
At least five business days prior to scheduling the remote review, the PHA will provide the family with login information and/or conferencing call-in information and an electronic and/or physical copy of all materials being presented via first class mail and/or email. The notice will advise the family of technological requirements for the review and request the family notify the PHA of any known barriers. The PHA will resolve any barriers using the guidance in Section 6 of Notice PIH 2020-32, including offering the family the opportunity to attend an in-person hearing.
If the informal review is to be conducted remotely, the PHA will require the family to provide any documents directly relevant to the informal review at least 48 hours before the scheduled review through the mail or via email. The PHA will scan and email copies of these documents to the PHA representative the same day.
Documents will be shared electronically whenever possible.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-12 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA will follow up the email with a phone call and/or email to the applicant at least one business day prior to the remote informal review to ensure that the applicant received all information and is comfortable accessing the video conferencing or call-in platform.
The PHA will ensure that all electronic information stored or transmitted with respect to the informal review is secure, including protecting personally identifiable information (PII), and meets the requirements for accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with LEP.
Informal Review Decision [24 CFR 982.554(b)]
The PHA must notify the applicant of the PHA’s final decision, including a brief statement of the reasons for the final decision.
PHA Policy
In rendering a decision, the PHA will evaluate the following matters:
Whether or not the grounds for denial were stated factually in the notice to the family.
The validity of the grounds for denial of assistance. If the grounds for denial are not specified in the regulations or PHA policy, then the decision to deny assistance will be overturned.
The validity of the evidence. The PHA will evaluate whether the facts presented prove the grounds for denial of assistance. If the facts prove that there are grounds for denial, and the denial is required by HUD, the PHA will uphold the decision to deny assistance.
If the facts prove the grounds for denial, and the denial is discretionary, the PHA will consider the recommendation of the person conducting the informal review in making the final decision whether to deny assistance.
The PHA will notify the applicant of the final decision, including a statement explaining the reason(s) for the decision. The notice will be mailed within 10 business days of the informal review, to the applicant and his or her representative, if any, along with proof of mailing.
If the decision to deny is overturned as a result of the informal review, processing for admission will resume.
If the family fails to appear for their informal review, the PHA will not conduct the informal review, and the denial of admission will stand and the family will be so notified.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-13 Revised 10/31/2024 16-III.C. INFORMAL HEARINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS [24 CFR 982.555] PHAs must offer an informal hearing for certain PHA determinations relating to the individual circumstances of a participant family. A participant is defined as a family that has been admitted to the PHA’s HCV program and is currently assisted in the program. The purpose of the informal hearing is to consider whether the PHA’s decisions related to the family’s circumstances are in accordance with the law, HUD regulations and PHA policies.
The PHA is not permitted to terminate a family’s assistance until the time allowed for the family to request an informal hearing has elapsed, and any requested hearing has been completed. Termination of assistance for a participant may include any or all of the following:
• Refusing to enter into a HAP contract or approve a lease • Terminating housing assistance payments under an outstanding HAP contract • Refusing to process or provide assistance under portability procedures Decisions Subject to Informal Hearing
Circumstances for which the PHA must give a participant family an opportunity for an informal hearing are as follows:
• A determination of the family’s annual or adjusted income, and the use of such income to compute the housing assistance payment
• A determination of the appropriate utility allowance (if any) for tenant-paid utilities from the PHA utility allowance schedule
• A determination of the family unit size under the PHA’s subsidy standards • A determination to terminate assistance for a participant family because of the family’s actions or failure to act
• A determination to terminate assistance because the participant has been absent from the assisted unit for longer than the maximum period permitted under PHA policy and HUD rules • A determination to terminate a family’s Family Self Sufficiency contract, withhold supportive services, or propose forfeiture of the family’s escrow account [24 CFR 984.303(i)]
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-14 Revised 10/31/2024 Circumstances for which an informal hearing is not required are as follows:
• Discretionary administrative determinations by the PHA • General policy issues or class grievances
• Establishment of the PHA schedule of utility allowances for families in the program • A PHA determination not to approve an extension of a voucher term • A PHA determination not to approve a unit or tenancy
• A PHA determination that a unit selected by the applicant is not in compliance with the HQS • A PHA determination that the unit is not in accordance with HQS because of family size • A determination by the PHA to exercise or not to exercise any right or remedy against an owner under a HAP contract
PHA Policy
The PHA will only offer participants the opportunity for an informal hearing when required to by the regulations, and if the PHA denies a request for a reasonable accommodation (see Chapter 2).
Remote Informal Hearings [Notice PIH 2020-32]
There is no requirement that informal hearings be conducted in-person, and as such, HUD allows PHAs to conduct all or a portion of their informal hearings remotely either over the phone, via video conferencing, or through other virtual platforms. If the PHA chooses to conduct remote informal hearings, applicants may still request an in-person informal hearing, as applicable.
PHA Policy
The PHA has the sole discretion to require that informal hearings be conducted remotely in case of local, state, or national physical distancing orders, and in cases of inclement weather or natural disaster.
In addition, the PHA will conduct an informal hearing remotely upon request as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability, if a participant does not have child care or transportation that would enable them to attend the informal hearing, or if the participant believes an in-person hearing would create an undue health risk. The PHA will consider other reasonable requests for a remote informal hearing on a case-by-case basis.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-15 Revised 10/31/2024 Ensuring Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and LEP Individuals As with in-person informal hearings, the platform for conducting remote informal hearings must be accessible to persons with disabilities and the informal hearings must be conducted in accordance with Section 504 and accessibility requirements. This includes ensuring any information, websites, emails, digital notifications, and other virtual platforms are accessible for persons with vision, hearing, and other disabilities. Further, providing effective communication in a digital context may require the use of individualized auxiliary aids or services, such as audio description, captioning, sign language and other types of interpreters, keyboard accessibility, accessible documents, screen reader support, and transcripts. Auxiliary aids or services must be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way to protect the privacy and independence of the individual. PHAs may never request or require that individuals with disabilities provide their own auxiliary aids or services, including for remote informal hearings.
PHAs are required to make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, and procedures to ensure persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all aspects of the informal hearing process. See Chapter 2 for a more detailed discussion of reasonable accommodation requirements.
If no method of conducting a remote informal hearings is available that appropriately accommodates an individual’s disability, the PHA may not hold against the individual his or her inability to participate in the remote informal hearing, and the PHA should consider whether postponing the remote hearing to a later date is appropriate or whether there is a suitable alternative.
Due to the individualized nature of disability, the appropriate auxiliary aid or service necessary, or reasonable accommodation will depend on the specific circumstances and requirements.
As with in-person reviews, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements also apply to remote informal hearings, including the use of interpretation services and document translation. See Chapter 2 for a more thorough discussion of accessibility and LEP requirements, all of which apply in the context of remote informal hearings.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-16 Revised 10/31/2024 Conducting Informal Hearings Remotely
The PHA must ensure that the lack of technology or inability to use technology for remote informal hearings does not pose a disadvantage to families that may not be apparent to the PHA. The PHA should determine through a survey or other means if these barriers exist prior to conducting the remote informal hearing and, if the family does not have the proper technology to fully participate, either postpone the informal hearing or provide an alternative means of access.
As with in-person informal hearings, the PHA must provide all materials presented, whether paper or electronic, to the family prior to the remote informal hearing. The family must also be provided with an accessible means by which to transmit their own evidence.
The PHA’s essential responsibility is to ensure informal hearings meet the requirements of due process and comply with HUD regulations. Therefore, all PHA policies and processes for remote informal hearings will be conducted in accordance with due process requirements, and will be in compliance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 982.555 and the guidance for conducting remote hearings specified in Notice PIH 2020-32.
PHA Policy
The PHA will conduct remote informal hearings via a video conferencing platform, when available. If, after attempting to resolve any barriers, participants are unable to adequately access the video conferencing platform at any point, or upon request, the informal hearing will be conducted by telephone conferencing call-in. If the family is unable to adequately access the telephone conferencing call-in at any point, the remote informal hearing will be postponed, and an in-person alternative will be provided promptly within a reasonable time.
At least five business days prior to scheduling the remote hearing, the PHA will provide the family with login information and/or conferencing call-in information and an electronic copy of all materials being presented via first class mail and/or email. The notice will advise the family of technological requirements for the hearing and request the family notify the PHA of any known barriers. The PHA will resolve any barriers using the guidance in Section 6 of Notice PIH 2020-32, including offering the family the opportunity to attend an in-person hearing.
The PHA will follow up with a phone call and/or email to the family at least one business day prior to the remote informal hearing to ensure that the family received all information and is comfortable accessing the video conferencing or call-in platform.
The PHA will ensure that all electronic information stored or transmitted with respect to the informal hearing is secure, including protecting personally identifiable information (PII), and meets the requirements for accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with LEP.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-17 Revised 10/31/2024 Informal Hearing Procedures
Notice to the Family [24 CFR 982.555(c)]
When the PHA makes a decision that is subject to informal hearing procedures, the PHA must inform the family of its right to an informal hearing at the same time that it informs the family of the decision.
For decisions related to the family’s annual or adjusted income, the determination of the appropriate utility allowance, and the determination of the family unit size, the PHA must notify the family that they may ask for an explanation of the basis of the determination, and that if they do not agree with the decision, they may request an informal hearing on the decision.
For decisions related to the termination of the family’s assistance, or the denial of a family’s request for an exception to the PHA’s subsidy standards, the notice must contain a brief statement of the reasons for the decision, a statement that if the family does not agree with the decision, the family may request an informal hearing on the decision, and a statement of the deadline for the family to request an informal hearing.
PHA Policy
In cases where the PHA makes a decision for which an informal hearing must be offered, the notice to the family will include all of the following:
The proposed action or decision of the PHA.
A brief statement of the reasons for the decision, including the regulatory reference.
The date the proposed action will take place.
A statement of the family’s right to an explanation of the basis for the PHA’s decision.
A statement that if the family does not agree with the decision the family may request an informal hearing of the decision.
A deadline for the family to request the informal hearing.
To whom the hearing request should be addressed.
A copy of the PHA’s hearing procedures.
That the family may request a remote informal hearing
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-18 Revised 10/31/2024 Scheduling an Informal Hearing [24 CFR 982.555(d)]
When an informal hearing is required, the PHA must proceed with the hearing in a reasonably expeditious manner upon the request of the family.
PHA Policy
A request for an informal hearing must be made in writing and delivered to the PHA either in person or by first class mail, by the close of the business day, no later than 10 business days from the date of the PHA’s decision or notice to terminate assistance.
The PHA must schedule and send written notice of the informal hearing to the family within 10 business days of the family’s request.
If the PHA hearing will be conducted remotely, at the time the notice is sent to the family, the family will be notified:
Regarding the processes involved in a remote informal hearing; That the PHA will provide technical assistance prior to and during the informal hearing, if needed; and
That if the family or any individual witness has any technological, resource, or accessibility barriers, the family may inform the PHA and the PHA will assist the family in either resolving the issue or allow the family to participate in an in-person hearing, as appropriate.
The family may request to reschedule a hearing for good cause, or if it is needed as a reasonable accommodation for a person with disabilities. Good cause is defined as an unavoidable conflict which seriously affects the health, safety, or welfare of the family. Requests to reschedule a hearing must be made orally or in writing prior to the hearing date. At its discretion, the PHA may request documentation of the “good cause” prior to rescheduling the hearing.
If the family does not appear within 20 minutes of the scheduled time, and was unable to reschedule the hearing in advance due to the nature of the conflict, the family must contact the PHA within 24 hours of the scheduled hearing date, excluding weekends and holidays. The PHA will reschedule the hearing only if the family can show good cause for the failure to appear, or if it is needed as a reasonable accommodation for a person with disabilities. If the family cannot show good cause for the failure to appear, or a rescheduling is not needed as a reasonable accommodation, the PHA will conduct the hearing and the hearing officer’s decision will be final.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-19 Revised 10/31/2024 Pre-Hearing Right to Discovery [24 CFR 982.555(e)]
Participants and the PHA are permitted pre-hearing discovery rights. The family must be given the opportunity to examine before the hearing any PHA documents that are directly relevant to the hearing.
The family must be allowed to copy any such documents at their own expense. If the PHA does not make the document available for examination on request of the family, the PHA may not rely on the document at the hearing.
For the purpose of informal hearings, documents include records and regulations.
PHA Policy
The family will be allowed to copy any documents related to the hearing at cost of $.10 per page.
The family must request discovery of PHA documents at least two business days prior to the scheduled hearing date.
If the hearing will be conducted remotely, the PHA will compile a hearing packet, consisting of all documents the PHA intends to produce at the informal hearing. The PHA will mail copies of the hearing packet to the family, the family’s representatives, if any, and the hearing officer at least three days before the scheduled remote informal hearing. The original hearing packet will be in the possession of the PHA representative and retained by the PHA.
Documents will be shared electronically whenever possible.
The PHA hearing procedures may provide that the PHA must be given the opportunity to examine at the PHA offices before the hearing any family documents that are directly relevant to the hearing. The PHA must be allowed to copy any such document at the PHA’s expense. If the family does not make the document available for examination on request of the PHA, the family may not rely on the document at the hearing.
PHA Policy
For in-person hearings, the PHA will require pre-hearing discovery by the PHA of family documents directly relevant to the hearing. The family must provide documents at least two business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
If the informal hearing is to be conducted remotely, the PHA will require the family to provide any documents directly relevant to the informal hearing at least two business days before the scheduled hearing through the mail or via email. The PHA will scan and email copies of these documents to the hearing officer and the PHA representative the same day.
Documents will be shared electronically whenever possible.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-20 Revised 10/31/2024 Participant’s Right to Bring Counsel [24 CFR 982.555(e)(3)] At its own expense, the family may be represented by a lawyer or other representative at the informal hearing.
Informal Hearing Officer [24 CFR 982.555(e)(4)]
Informal hearings will be conducted by a person or persons approved by the PHA, other than the person who made or approved the decision or a subordinate of the person who made or approved the decision.
Attendance at the Informal Hearing
PHA Policy
Hearings may be attended by a hearing officer and the following applicable persons:
A PHA representative(s) and any witnesses for the PHA
The participant and any witnesses for the participant
The participant’s counsel or other representative
Any other person approved by the PHA as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability
Conduct at Hearings
The person who conducts the hearing may regulate the conduct of the hearing in accordance with the PHA’s hearing procedures [24 CFR 982.555(4)(ii)].
PHA Policy
The hearing officer is responsible to manage the order of business and to ensure that hearings are conducted in a professional and businesslike manner. Attendees are expected to comply with all hearing procedures established by the hearing officer and guidelines for conduct. Any person demonstrating disruptive, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be excused from the hearing at the discretion of the hearing officer.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-21 Revised 10/31/2024 Evidence [24 CFR 982.555(e)(5)]
The PHA and the family must be given the opportunity to present evidence and question any witnesses.
In general, all evidence is admissible at an informal hearing. Evidence may be considered without regard to admissibility under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings.
PHA Policy
Any evidence to be considered by the hearing officer must be presented at the time of the hearing. There are four categories of evidence.
Oral evidence: the testimony of witnesses
Documentary evidence: a writing which is relevant to the case, for example, a letter written to the PHA. Writings include all forms of recorded communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, videotapes or symbols or combinations thereof.
Demonstrative evidence: Evidence created specifically for the hearing and presented as an illustrative aid to assist the hearing officer, such as a model, a chart or other diagram.
Real evidence: A tangible item relating directly to the case.
Hearsay Evidence is evidence based not on a witness’ personal knowledge. In and of itself, hearsay evidence carries no weight when making a finding of fact. The hearing officer may include hearsay evidence when considering their decision if it is corroborated by other evidence.
Even though hearsay evidence is generally admissible in a hearing, the hearing officer will not base a hearing decision on hearsay alone unless there is clear probative value and credibility of the evidence, and the party seeking the change has met the burden of proof.
If either the PHA (or the family, if required in a remote hearing) fail to comply with the discovery requirements described above, the hearing officer will refuse to admit such evidence.
Other than the failure of a party to comply with discovery, the hearing officer has the authority to overrule any objections to evidence.
Procedures for Rehearing or Further Hearing
PHA Policy
The hearing officer may ask the family for additional information and/or might adjourn the hearing in order to reconvene at a later date, before reaching a decision. If the family misses an appointment or deadline ordered by the hearing officer, the action of the PHA will take effect and another hearing will not be granted.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-22 Revised 10/31/2024 Hearing Officer’s Decision [24 CFR 982.555(e)(6)]
The person who conducts the hearing must issue a written decision, stating briefly the reasons for the decision. Factual determinations relating to the individual circumstances of the family must be based on a preponderance of evidence presented at the hearing.
PHA Policy
In rendering a decision, the hearing officer will consider the following matters:
PHA Notice to the Family: The hearing officer will determine if the reasons for the PHA’s decision are factually stated in the Notice.
Discovery: The hearing officer will determine if the PHA and the family were given the opportunity to examine any relevant documents in accordance with PHA policy.
PHA Evidence to Support the PHA Decision: The evidence consists of the facts presented. Evidence is not conclusion and it is not argument. The hearing officer will evaluate the facts to determine if they support the PHA’s conclusion.
Validity of Grounds for Termination of Assistance (when applicable): The hearing officer will determine if the termination of assistance is for one of the grounds specified in the HUD regulations and PHA policies. If the grounds for termination are not specified in the regulations or in compliance with PHA policies, then the decision of the PHA will be overturned.
The hearing officer will issue a written decision to the family and the PHA no later than 10 business days after the hearing. The report will contain the following information:
Hearing information:
Name of the participant;
Date, time and place of the hearing;
Name of the hearing officer;
Name of the PHA representative; and
Name of family representative (if any).
Background: A brief, impartial statement of the reason for the hearing.
Summary of the Evidence: The hearing officer will summarize the testimony of each witness and identify any documents that a witness produced in support of his/her testimony and that are admitted into evidence.
Findings of Fact: The hearing officer will include all findings of fact, based on a preponderance of the evidence. Preponderance of the evidence is defined as evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-23 Revised 10/31/2024 opposition to it; that is, evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not. Preponderance of the evidence may not be determined by the number of witnesses, but by the greater weight of all evidence.
Conclusions: The hearing officer will render a conclusion derived from the facts that were found to be true by a preponderance of the evidence. The conclusion will result in a determination of whether these facts uphold the PHA’s decision.
Order: The hearing report will include a statement of whether the PHA’s decision is upheld or overturned. If it is overturned, the hearing officer will instruct the PHA to change the decision in accordance with the hearing officer’s determination. In the case of termination of assistance, the hearing officer will instruct the PHA to restore the participant’s program status.
Issuance of Decision [24 CFR 982.555(e)(6)]
A copy of the hearing must be furnished promptly to the family.
PHA Policy
The hearing officer will mail a “Notice of Hearing Decision” to the PHA. This notice will be sent by first-class mail. The PHA will mail the “Notice of Hearing Decision” and a copy of the proof of mailing to the participant. A copy of the “Notice of Hearing Decision” will be maintained in the PHA’s file.
Effect of Final Decision [24 CFR 982.555(f)]
The PHA is not bound by the decision of the hearing officer for matters in which the PHA is not required to provide an opportunity for a hearing, decisions that exceed the authority of the hearing officer, decisions that conflict with or contradict HUD regulations, requirements, or are otherwise contrary to federal, state, or local laws.
If the PHA determines it is not bound by the hearing officer’s decision in accordance with HUD regulations, the PHA must promptly notify the family of the determination and the reason for the determination.
PHA Policy
The Executive Director has the authority to determine that the PHA is not bound by the decision of the hearing officer because the PHA was not required to provide a hearing, the decision exceeded the authority of the hearing officer, the decision conflicted with or contradicted HUD regulations and requirements, or the decision was otherwise contrary to federal, state, or local laws.
In such a case, the PHA will mail a “Notice of Final Decision” to the participant. The “Notice of Final Decision” will be sent by first-class mail. A copy of this notice will be maintained in the PHA’s file.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-24 Revised 10/31/2024 16-III.D. HEARING AND APPEAL PROVISIONS FOR NONCITIZENS [24 CFR 5.514] Denial or termination of assistance based on immigration status is subject to special hearing and notice rules. Applicants who are denied assistance due to immigration status are entitled to an informal hearing, not an informal review.
Assistance to a family may not be delayed, denied, or terminated on the basis of immigration status at any time prior to a decision under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) appeal process. Assistance to a family may not be terminated or denied while the PHA hearing is pending, but assistance to an applicant may be delayed pending the completion of the informal hearing.
A decision against a family member, issued in accordance with the USCIS appeal process or the PHA informal hearing process, does not preclude the family from exercising the right, that may otherwise be available, to seek redress directly through judicial procedures.
Notice of Denial or Termination of Assistance [24 CFR 5.514(d)] The notice of denial or termination of assistance for noncitizens must advise the family:
• That financial assistance will be denied or terminated, and provide a brief explanation of the reasons for the proposed denial or termination of assistance.
• The family may be eligible for proration of assistance. • In the case of a participant, the criteria, and procedures for obtaining relief under the provisions for preservation of families [24 CFR 5.514 and 5.518].
• That the family has a right to request an appeal to the USCIS of the results of secondary verification of immigration status and to submit additional documentation or explanation in support of the appeal.
• That the family has a right to request an informal hearing with the PHA either upon completion of the USCIS appeal or in lieu of the USCIS appeal.
• For applicants, assistance may not be delayed until the conclusion of the USCIS appeal process, but assistance may be delayed during the period of the informal hearing process.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-25 Revised 10/31/2024 USCIS Appeal Process [24 CFR 5.514(e)]
When the PHA receives notification that the USCIS secondary verification failed to confirm eligible immigration status, the PHA must notify the family of the results of the USCIS verification. The family will have 30 days from the date of the notification to request an appeal of the USCIS results. The request for appeal must be made by the family in writing directly to the USCIS. The family must provide the PHA with a copy of the written request for appeal and the proof of mailing.
PHA Policy
The PHA will notify the family in writing of the results of the USCIS secondary verification within 10 business days of receiving the results.
The family must provide the PHA with a copy of the written request for appeal and proof of mailing within 10 business days of sending the request to the USCIS.
The family must forward to the designated USCIS office any additional documentation or written explanation in support of the appeal. This material must include a copy of the USCIS document verification request (used to process the secondary request) or such other form specified by the USCIS, and a letter indicating that the family is requesting an appeal of the USCIS immigration status verification results.
The USCIS will notify the family, with a copy to the PHA, of its decision. When the USCIS notifies the PHA of the decision, the PHA must notify the family of its right to request an informal hearing.
PHA Policy
The PHA will send written notice to the family of its right to request an informal hearing within 10 business days of receiving notice of the USCIS decision regarding the family’s immigration status.
Informal Hearing Procedures for Applicants [24 CFR 5.514(f)] After notification of the USCIS decision on appeal, or in lieu of an appeal to the USCIS, the family may request that the PHA provide a hearing. The request for a hearing must be made either within 30 days of receipt of the PHA notice of denial, or within 30 days of receipt of the USCIS appeal decision.
The informal hearing procedures for applicant families are described below.
Informal Hearing Officer
The PHA must provide an informal hearing before an impartial individual, other than a person who made or approved the decision under review, and other than a person who is a subordinate of the person who made or approved the decision. See Section 16-III.C. for a listing of positions that serve as informal hearing officers.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-26 Revised 10/31/2024 Evidence
The family must be provided the opportunity to examine and copy at the family’s expense, at a reasonable time in advance of the hearing, any documents in the possession of the PHA pertaining to the family’s eligibility status, or in the possession of the USCIS (as permitted by USCIS requirements), including any records and regulations that may be relevant to the hearing.
PHA Policy
The family will be allowed to copy any documents related to the hearing at a cost of $.10 per page. The family must request discovery of PHA documents no later than two business days prior to the hearing.
The family must be provided the opportunity to present evidence and arguments in support of eligible status. Evidence may be considered without regard to admissibility under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings.
The family must also be provided the opportunity to refute evidence relied upon by the PHA, and to confront and cross-examine all witnesses on whose testimony or information the PHA relies.
Representation and Interpretive Services
The family is entitled to be represented by an attorney or other designee, at the family’s expense, and to have such person make statements on the family’s behalf.
The family is entitled to request an interpreter. Upon request, the PHA will provide competent interpretation services, free of charge.
Recording of the Hearing
The family is entitled to have the hearing recorded by audiotape. The PHA may, but is not required to provide a transcript of the hearing.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not provide a transcript of an audio taped hearing.
Hearing Decision
The PHA must provide the family with a written final decision, based solely on the facts presented at the hearing, within 14 calendar days of the date of the informal hearing. The decision must state the basis for the decision.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-27 Revised 10/31/2024 Informal Hearing Procedures for Residents [24 CFR 5.514(f)] After notification of the USCIS decision on appeal, or in lieu of an appeal to the USCIS, the family may request that the PHA provide a hearing. The request for a hearing must be made either within 30 days of receipt of the PHA notice of termination, or within 30 days of receipt of the USCIS appeal decision.
For the informal hearing procedures that apply to participant families whose assistance is being terminated based on immigration status, see Section 16-III.C.
Retention of Documents [24 CFR 5.514(h)]
The PHA must retain for a minimum of 5 years the following documents that may have been submitted to the PHA by the family, or provided to the PHA as part of the USCIS appeal or the PHA informal hearing process:
• The application for assistance
• The form completed by the family for income reexamination • Photocopies of any original documents, including original USCIS documents • The signed verification consent form
• The USCIS verification results
• The request for a USCIS appeal
• The final USCIS determination
• The request for an informal hearing
• The final informal hearing decision
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-28 Revised 10/31/2024 PART IV: OWNER OR FAMILY DEBTS TO THE PHA
16-IV.A. OVERVIEW
PHAs are required to include in the administrative plan, policies concerning repayment by a family of amounts owed to the PHA [24 CFR 982.54]. This part describes the PHA’s policies for recovery of monies owed to the PHA by families or owners.
PHA Policy
When an action or inaction of an owner or participant results in the overpayment of housing assistance, the PHA holds the owner or participant liable to return any overpayments to the PHA.
The PHA will enter into repayment agreements in accordance with the policies contained in this part as a means to recover overpayments.
When an owner or participant refuses to repay monies owed to the PHA, the PHA will utilize other available collection alternatives including, but not limited to, the following:
Collection agencies
Small claims court
Civil law suit
State income tax set-off program
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-29 Revised 10/31/2024 16-IV.B. REPAYMENT POLICY
Owner Debts to the PHA
PHA Policy
Any amount due to the PHA by an owner must be repaid by the owner within 30 days of the PHA determination of the debt.
If the owner fails to repay the debt within the required time frame and is entitled to future HAP payments, the PHA will reduce the future HAP payments by the amount owed until the debt is paid in full.
If the owner is not entitled to future HAP payments the PHA may, in its sole discretion, offer to enter into a repayment agreement on terms prescribed by the PHA.
If the owner refuses to repay the debt, does not enter into a repayment agreement, or breaches a repayment agreement, the PHA will ban the owner from future participation in the program and pursue other modes of collection.
Family Debts to the PHA
PHA Policy
Any amount owed to the PHA by an HCV family must be repaid by the family. If the family is unable to repay the debt within 30 days, the PHA will offer to enter into a repayment agreement in accordance with the policies below.
If the family refuses to repay the debt, does not enter into a repayment agreement, or breaches a repayment agreement, the PHA will terminate assistance in accordance with the policies in Chapter 12 and pursue other modes of collection.
Repayment Agreement [24 CFR 792.103]
The term repayment agreement refers to a formal written document signed by a tenant or owner and provided to the PHA in which a tenant or owner acknowledges a debt in a specific amount and agrees to repay the amount due at specific time periods.
General Repayment Agreement Guidelines for Families
Down Payment Requirement
PHA Policy
Before executing a repayment agreement with a family, the PHA will generally require a down payment of 10 percent of the total amount owed. If the family can provide evidence satisfactory to the PHA that a down payment of 10 percent would impose an undue hardship, the PHA may, in its sole discretion, require a lesser percentage or waive the requirement.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-30 Revised 10/31/2024 Payment Thresholds
Notice PIH 2018-18 recommends that the total amount that a family must pay each month—the family’s monthly share of rent plus the monthly debt repayment amount—should not exceed 40 percent of the family’s monthly adjusted income. However, a family may already be paying 40 per cent or more of its monthly adjusted income in rent. Moreover, Notice PIH 2018-18 acknowledges that PHAs have the discretion to establish “thresholds and policies” for repayment agreements with families [24 CFR 982.552(c)(1)(vii)].
Notice PIH 2018-18 mandates that if the family refuses to enter into a repayment agreement or fails to make payments on an existing or new repayment agreement, the PHA must terminate the family’s assistance. HUD does not authorize any PHA-sponsored amnesty or debt forgiveness programs.
PHA Policy
The PHA has established the following thresholds for repayment of debts:
Amounts of $3,000 or greater will cause the family to be subject to termination.
Amounts between $2,000 and $2,999 must be repaid within 36 months.
Amounts between $1,000 and $1,999 must be repaid within 24 months.
Amounts under $1,000 must be repaid within 12 months.
If a family can provide evidence satisfactory to the PHA that the threshold applicable to the family’s debt would impose an undue hardship, the PHA may, in its sole discretion, determine that a lower monthly payment amount is reasonable. In making its determination, the PHA will consider all relevant information, including the following:
The amount owed by the family to the PHA
The reason for the debt, including whether the debt was the result of family action/inaction or circumstances beyond the family’s control The family’s current and potential income and expenses
The family’s current family share, as calculated under 24 CFR 982.515 The family’s history of meeting its financial responsibilities Execution of the Agreement
PHA Policy
Any repayment agreement between the PHA and a family must be signed and dated by the PHA and by all adult household members.
Due Dates
PHA Policy
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-31 Revised 10/31/2024 All payments are due by the close of business on the 15th day of the month. If the 15th does not fall on a business day, the due date is the close of business on the first business day after the 15th.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-32 Revised 10/31/2024 Late or Missed Payments
PHA Policy
If a payment is not received by the end of the business day on the date due, and prior approval for the missed payment has not been given by the PHA, the PHA will send the family a delinquency notice giving the family 10 business days to make the late payment. If the payment is not received by the due date of the delinquency notice, it will be considered a breach of the agreement and the PHA will terminate assistance in accordance with the policies in Chapter 12.
If a family receives three delinquency notices for unexcused late payments in a 12-month period, the repayment agreement will be considered in default, and the PHA will terminate assistance in accordance with the policies in Chapter 12.
No Offer of Repayment Agreement
PHA Policy
The PHA will not enter into a repayment agreement with a family if there is already a repayment agreement in place with the family or if the amount owed by the family is $3,000 or greater. The PHA will not enter into a repayment agreement with a family who previously completed a repayment agreement due to noncompliance of the same policy or regulation.
Repayment Agreements Involving Improper Payments
Notice PIH 2018-18 requires certain provisions to be included in any repayment agreement involving amounts owed by a family because it underreported or failed to report income:
• A reference to the items in the family briefing packet that state the family’s obligation to provide true and complete information at every reexamination and the grounds on which the PHA may terminate assistance because of a family’s action or failure to act • A statement clarifying that each month the family not only must pay to the PHA the monthly payment amount specified in the agreement but must also pay to the owner the family’s monthly share of the rent to owner
• A statement that the terms of the repayment agreement may be renegotiated if the family’s income decreases or increases
• A statement that late or missed payments constitute default of the repayment agreement and may result in termination of assistance
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-33 Revised 10/31/2024 PART V: SECTION 8 MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (SEMAP) 16-V.A. OVERVIEW
The Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) is a tool that allows HUD to measure PHA performance in key areas to ensure program integrity and accountability. SEMAP scores translate into a rating for each PHA as high performing, standard, or troubled. Scores on individual SEMAP indicators, as well as overall SEMAP ratings, can affect the PHA in several ways. • High-performing PHAs can be given a competitive advantage under notices of funding availability [24 CFR 985.103].
• PHAs with deficiencies on one or more indicators are required to correct the deficiencies and report to HUD [24 CFR 985.106].
• PHAs with an overall rating of “troubled” are subject to additional HUD oversight, including on-site reviews by HUD staff, a requirement to develop a corrective action plan, and monitoring to ensure the successful implementation of the corrective action plan. In addition, PHAs that are designated “troubled” may not use any part of the administrative fee reserve for other housing purposes [24 CFR 985.107].
• HUD may determine that a PHA's failure to correct identified SEMAP deficiencies or to prepare and implement a corrective action plan required by HUD constitutes a default under the ACC [24 CFR 985.109].
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-34 Revised 10/31/2024 16-V.B. SEMAP CERTIFICATION [24 CFR 985.101]
PHAs must submit the HUD-required SEMAP certification form within 60 calendar days after the end of its fiscal year. The certification must be approved by PHA board resolution and signed by the PHA executive director. If the PHA is a unit of local government or a state, a resolution approving the certification is not required, and the certification must be executed by the Section 8 program director.
PHAs with less than 250 voucher units are only required to be assessed every other PHA fiscal year.
HUD will assess such PHAs annually if the PHA elects to have its performance assessed on an annual basis; or is designated as “troubled” [24 CFR 985.105].
Failure of a PHA to submit its SEMAP certification within the required time frame will result in an overall performance rating of “troubled.”
A PHA’s SEMAP certification is subject to HUD verification by an on-site confirmatory review at any time.
Upon receipt of the PHA’s SEMAP certification, HUD will rate the PHA’s performance under each SEMAP indicator in accordance with program requirements.
HUD Verification Method
Several of the SEMAP indicators are scored based on a review of a quality control sample selected for this purpose. The PHA or the Independent Auditor must select an unbiased sample that provides an adequate representation of the types of information to be assessed, in accordance with SEMAP requirements [24 CFR 985.2].
If the HUD verification method for the indicator relies on data in the Form-50058 module (formerly known as MTCS) in the PIH Information Center (PIC), and HUD determines that those data are insufficient to verify the PHA's certification on the indicator due to the PHA's failure to adequately report family data, HUD will assign a zero rating for the indicator [24 CFR 985.3]. 16-V.C. SEMAP INDICATORS [24 CFR 985.3 and form HUD-52648] The table below lists each of the SEMAP indicators, contains a description of each indicator, and explains the basis for points awarded under each indicator.
A PHA that expends less than $300,000 in Federal awards and whose Section 8 programs are not audited by an independent auditor, is not be rated under SEMAP indicators 1-7.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-35 Revised 10/31/2024
SEMAP Indicators
Indicator 1: Selection from the waiting list
Maximum Score: 15
• This indicator shows whether the PHA has written policies in its administrative plan for selecting applicants from the waiting list and whether the PHA follows these policies when selecting applicants for admission from the waiting list. • Points are based on the percent of families that are selected from the waiting list in accordance with the PHA’s written policies, according to the PHA’s quality control sample.
Indicator 2: Rent reasonableness
Maximum Score: 20
• This indicator shows whether the PHA has and implements a reasonable written method to determine and document for each unit leased that the rent to owner is reasonable based on current rents for comparable unassisted units
• Points are based on the percent of units for which the PHA follows its written method to determine reasonable rent and has documented its determination that the rent to owner is reasonable, according to the PHA’s quality control sample.
Indicator 3: Determination of adjusted income
Maximum Score: 20
• This indicator measures whether the PHA verifies and correctly determines adjusted income for each assisted family, and where applicable, uses the appropriate utility allowances for the unit leased in determining the gross rent. • Points are based on the percent of files that are calculated and verified correctly, according to the PHA’s quality control sample.
Indicator 4: Utility allowance schedule
Maximum Score: 5
• This indicator shows whether the PHA maintains an up-to-date utility allowance schedule.
• Points are based on whether the PHA has reviewed the utility allowance schedule and adjusted it when required, according to the PHA’s certification.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-36 Revised 10/31/2024
Indicator 5: HQS quality control inspections
Maximum Score: 5
• This indicator shows whether a PHA supervisor reinspects a sample of units under contract during the PHA fiscal year, which meets the minimum sample size requirements for quality control of HQS inspections.
• Points are based on whether the required quality control reinspections were completed, according to the PHA’s certification.
Indicator 6: HQS enforcement
Maximum Score: 10
• This indicator shows whether, following each HQS inspection of a unit under contract where the unit fails to meet HQS, any cited life-threatening deficiencies are corrected within 24 hours from the inspection and all other deficiencies are corrected within no more than 30 calendar days from the inspection or any PHA-approved extension. • Points are based on whether the PHA corrects all HQS deficiencies in accordance with required time frames, according to the PHA’s certification.
Indicator 7: Expanding housing opportunities
Maximum Points: 5
• Only applies to PHAs with jurisdiction in metropolitan FMR areas. • This indicator shows whether the PHA has adopted and implemented a written policy to encourage participation by owners of units located outside areas of poverty or minority concentration; informs voucher holders of the full range of areas where they may lease units both inside and outside the PHA’s jurisdiction; and supplies a list of landlords or other parties who are willing to lease units or help families find units, including units outside areas of poverty or minority concentration.
• Points are based on whether the PHA has adopted and implemented written policies in accordance with SEMAP requirements, according to the PHA’s certification.
Indicator 8: FMR limit and payment standards
Maximum Points: 5 points
• This indicator shows whether the PHA has adopted a payment standard schedule that establishes payment standard amounts by unit size for each FMR area in the PHA’s jurisdiction, that are within the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the published FMR. • Points are based on whether the PHA has appropriately adopted a payment standard schedule(s), according to the PHA’s certification.
Indicator 9: Annual reexaminations
Maximum Points: 10
• This indicator shows whether the PHA completes a reexamination for each participating family at least every 12 months.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-37 Revised 10/31/2024 • Points are based on the percent of reexaminations that are more than 2 months overdue, according to data from PIC.
Indicator 10: Correct tenant rent calculations
Maximum Points: 5
• This indicator shows whether the PHA correctly calculates the family’s share of the rent to owner.
• Points are based on the percent of correct calculations of family share of the rent, according to data from PIC.
Indicator 11: Pre-contract HQS inspections
Maximum Points: 5
• This indicator shows whether newly leased units pass HQS inspection on or before the effective date of the assisted lease and HAP contract.
• Points are based on the percent of newly leased units that passed HQS inspection prior to the effective date of the lease and HAP contract, according to data from PIC.
Indicator 12: Annual HQS inspections
Maximum Points: 10
• This indicator shows whether the PHA inspects each unit under contract at least annually.
• Points are based on the percent of annual HQS inspections of units under contract that are more than 2 months overdue, according to data from PIC.
Indicator 13: Lease-up
Maximum Points: 20 points
• This indicator shows whether the PHA enters HAP contracts for at least 98 percent of the number of the PHA’s baseline voucher units in the ACC for the calendar year ending on or before the PHA’s fiscal year, or whether the PHA has expended at least 98 percent of its allocated budget authority for the same calendar year. The PHA can receive 15 points if 95 to 97 percent of vouchers are leased or budget authority is utilized. • Points are based on utilization of vouchers and HAP expenditures as reported in the voucher management system (VMS) for the most recently completed calendar year.
Indicator 14: Family self-sufficiency (FSS) enrollment and escrow account balances Maximum Points: 10
• Only applies to PHAs with mandatory FSS programs.
• This indicator shows whether the PHA has enrolled families in the FSS program as required, and measures the percent of current FSS participants that have had increases in earned income which resulted in escrow account balances. • Points are based on the percent of mandatory FSS slots that are filled and the percent of families with escrow account balances, according to data from PIC.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-38 Revised 10/31/2024
Success Rate of Voucher Holders
Maximum Points: 5
• Only applies to PHAs that have received approval to establish success rate payment standard amounts, and isn’t effective until the second full PHA fiscal year following the date of HUD approval of success rate payment standard amounts. • This indicator shows whether voucher holders were successful in leasing units with voucher assistance.
• Points are based on the percent of families that were issued vouchers, and that became participants in the voucher program.
Deconcentration Bonus Indicator
Maximum Points: 5
• Submission of data for this indicator is mandatory for a PHA using one or more payment standard amount(s) that exceed(s) 100 percent of the published FMR set at the 50 percentile rent, starting with the second full PHA fiscal year following initial use of payment standard amounts based on the FMRs set at the 50 th percentile.
• Additional points are available to PHAs that have jurisdiction in metropolitan FMR areas and that choose to submit the required data.
• Points are based on whether the data that is submitted meets the requirements for bonus points.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-39 Revised 10/31/2024 PART VI: RECORD KEEPING
16-VI.A. OVERVIEW
The PHA must maintain complete and accurate accounts and other records for the program in accordance with HUD requirements, in a manner that permits a speedy and effective audit. All such records must be made available to HUD or the Comptroller General of the United States upon request.
In addition, the PHA must ensure that all applicant and participant files are maintained in a way that protects an individual’s privacy rights.
16-VI.B. RECORD RETENTION [24 CFR 982.158]
During the term of each assisted lease, and for at least three years thereafter, the PHA must keep:
• A copy of the executed lease;
• The HAP contract; and
• The application from the family.
In addition, the PHA must keep the following records for at least three years:
• Records that provide income, racial, ethnic, gender, and disability status data on program applicants and participants;
• An application from each ineligible family and notice that the applicant is not eligible; • HUD-required reports;
• Unit inspection reports;
• Lead-based paint records as required by 24 CFR 35, Subpart B. • Accounts and other records supporting PHA budget and financial statements for the program; • Records to document the basis for PHA determination that rent to owner is a reasonable rent (initially and during the term of a HAP contract); and
• Other records specified by HUD.
Notice PIH 2014-20 requires PHAs to keep records of all complaints, investigations, notices, and corrective actions related to violations of the Fair Housing Act or the equal access final rule.
The PHA must keep confidential records of all emergency transfer requested by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking under the PHA’s Emergency Transfer Plan, as well as the outcomes of such requests, and retain the records for a period of three years [24 CFR
5.2002(e)(12)].
If an informal hearing to establish a family’s citizenship status is held, longer retention requirements apply for some types of documents. For specific requirements, see Section 16-III.D., Retention of Documents.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-40 Revised 10/31/2024 16-VI.C. RECORDS MANAGEMENT
PHAs must maintain applicant and participant files and information in accordance with the regulatory requirements described below.
PHA Policy
All applicant and participant information will be kept in a secure location and access will be limited to authorized PHA staff.
PHA staff will not discuss personal family information unless there is a business reason to do so.
Inappropriate discussion of family information or improper disclosure of family information by staff will result in disciplinary action.
Privacy Act Requirements [24 CFR 5.212 and Form-9886]
The collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of social security numbers (SSN), employer identification numbers (EIN), any information derived from these numbers, and income information of applicants and participants must be conducted, to the extent applicable, in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, and all other provisions of Federal, State, and local law.
Applicants and participants, including all adults in the household, are required to sign a consent form, HUD-9886, Authorization for Release of Information. This form incorporates the Federal Privacy Act Statement and describes how the information collected using the form may be used, and under what conditions HUD or the PHA may release the information collected.
Upfront Income Verification (UIV) Records
PHAs that access UIV data through HUD’s Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system are required to adopt and follow specific security procedures to ensure that all EIV data is protected in accordance with federal laws, regardless of the media on which the data is recorded (e.g. electronic, paper). These requirements are contained in the HUD-issued document, Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System, Security Procedures for Upfront Income Verification data.
PHA Policy
Prior to utilizing HUD’s EIV system, the PHA will adopt and implement EIV security procedures required by HUD.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-41 Revised 10/31/2024 Criminal Records
The PHA may only disclose the criminal conviction records which the PHA receives from a law enforcement agency to officers or employees of the PHA, or to authorized representatives of the PHA who have a job-related need to have access to the information [24 CFR 5.903(e)].
The PHA must establish and implement a system of records management that ensures that any criminal record received by the PHA from a law enforcement agency is maintained confidentially, not misused or improperly disseminated, and destroyed, once the purpose for which the record was requested has been accomplished, including expiration of the period for filing a challenge to the PHA action without institution of a challenge or final disposition of any such litigation [24 CFR 5.903(g)].
The PHA must establish and implement a system of records management that ensures that any sex offender registration information received by the PHA from a State or local agency is maintained confidentially, not misused or improperly disseminated, and destroyed, once the purpose for which the record was requested has been accomplished, including expiration of the period for filing a challenge to the PHA action without institution of a challenge or final disposition of any such litigation. However, a record of the screening, including the type of screening and the date performed must be retained [Notice PIH 2012-28]. This requirement does not apply to information that is public information, or is obtained by a PHA other than under 24 CFR 5.905.
Medical/Disability Records
PHAs are not permitted to inquire about the nature or extent of a person’s disability. The PHA may not inquire about a person’s diagnosis or details of treatment for a disability or medical condition. If the PHA receives a verification document that provides such information, the PHA should not place this information in the tenant file. The PHA should destroy the document.
Documentation of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking For requirements and PHA policies related to management of documentation obtained from victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, see section 16-IX.E.
PART VII: REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING FOR CHILDREN WITH ELEVATED
BLOOD LEAD LEVEL
16-VII.A. OVERVIEW
The PHA has certain responsibilities relative to children with elevated blood lead levels that are receiving HCV assistance. The notification, verification, and hazard reduction requirements are discussed in Chapter 8. This part deals with the reporting requirements, and data collection and record keeping responsibilities that the PHA is subject to.
16-VII.B. REPORTING REQUIREMENT [24 CFR 35.1225(e); Notice PIH 2017-13] The owner must report the name and address of a child identified as having an elevated blood lead level to the public health department within five business days of being so notified by any other medical health care professional. The owner must also notify the HUD field office and the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) of the child’s address within five business days. The
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-42 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA may collaborate with the owner on the notification process, such as by agreeing with the owner to provide the required notifications on the owner’s behalf.
PHA Policy
Upon notification by the owner, the PHA will provide the public health department written notice of the name and address of any child identified as having an elevated blood lead level within five business days.
Upon notification by the owner, the PHA will notify the HUD field office and the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) of the child’s address within five business days.
16-VII.C. DATA COLLECTION AND RECORD KEEPING [24 CFR 35.1225(f)] At least quarterly, the PHA must attempt to obtain from the public health department(s) with a similar area of jurisdiction, the names and/or addresses of children less than 6 years old with an elevated blood lead level.
If the PHA obtains names and addresses of elevated blood lead level children from the public health department(s), the PHA must match this information with the names and addresses of families receiving HCV assistance, unless the public health department performs such a procedure. If a match occurs, the PHA must carry out the notification, verification, and hazard reduction requirements discussed in Chapter 8, and the reporting requirement discussed above.
At least quarterly, the PHA must also report an updated list of the addresses of units receiving assistance under the HCV program to the same public health department(s), unless the public health department(s) states that it does not wish to receive such a report.
PHA Policy
The public health department(s) has stated they do not wish to receive a report of an updated list of the addresses of units receiving assistance under the HCV program, on a quarterly basis.
Therefore, the PHA is not providing such a report.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-43 Revised 10/31/2024 PART VIII: DETERMINATION OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDING
16-VIII.A. OVERVIEW
The HCV regulations allow PHAs to deny families permission to move and to terminate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contracts if funding under the consolidated ACC is insufficient to support continued assistance [24 CFR 982.354(e)(1) and 982.454]. If a PHA denies a family a portability move based on insufficient funding, the PHA is required to notify the local HUD office within 10 business days [24 CFR 982.354]. Insufficient funding may also impact the PHA’s ability to issue vouchers to families on the waiting list. This part discusses the methodology the PHA will use to determine whether or not the PHA has sufficient funding to issue vouchers, approve moves, and to continue subsidizing all families currently under a HAP contract.
16-VIII.B. METHODOLOGY
PHA Policy
The PHA will determine whether there is adequate funding to issue vouchers, approve moves to higher cost units and areas, and continue subsidizing all current participants by comparing the PHA’s annual budget authority to the annual total HAP needs on a monthly basis. The total HAP needs for the calendar year will be projected by establishing the actual HAP costs year to date.
To that figure, the PHA will add anticipated HAP expenditures for the remainder of the calendar year. Projected HAP expenditures will be calculated by multiplying the projected number of units leased per remaining months by the most current month’s average HAP. The projected number of units leased per month will take into account the average monthly turnover of participant families. If the total annual HAP needs equal or exceed the annual budget authority, or if the PHA cannot support the cost of the proposed subsidy commitment (voucher issuance or move) based on the funding analysis, the PHA will be considered to have insufficient funding.
PART IX: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA): NOTIFICATION,
DOCUMENTATION, CONFIDENTIALITY
16-IX.A. OVERVIEW
The Violence against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA) provides special protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking who are applying for or receiving assistance under the housing choice voucher (HCV) program. If your state or local laws provide greater protection for such victims, those laws apply in conjunction with VAWA.
In addition to definitions of key terms used in VAWA, this part contains general VAWA requirements and PHA policies in three areas: notification, documentation, and confidentiality. Specific VAWA requirements and PHA policies are located primarily in the following sections: 3-I.C, “Family Breakup and Remaining Member of Tenant Family”; 3-III.G, “Prohibition against Denial of Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking”; 10-I.A, “Allowable Moves”; 10-I.B, “Restrictions on Moves”; 12-II.E, “Terminations Related to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Stalking”; and 12-II.F, “Termination Notice.”
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-44 Revised 10/31/2024 16-IX.B. DEFINITIONS [24 CFR 5.2003, 42 USC 13925]
As used in VAWA:
• The term bifurcate means, with respect to a public housing or Section 8 lease, to divide a lease as a matter of law such that certain tenants can be evicted or removed while the remaining family members’ lease and occupancy rights are allowed to remain intact. • The term dating violence means violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
- The length of the relationship
- The type of relationship
- The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship • The term domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
• The term affiliated individual means, with respect to a person:
- A spouse, parent, brother or sister, or child of that individual, or an individual to whom that individual stands in the position or place of a parent; or - Any other individual, tenant, or lawful occupant living in the household of the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. • The term sexual assault means:
- Any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks the capacity to consent
• The term stalking means:
- To engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress. 16-IX.C. NOTIFICATION [24 CFR 5.2005(a)]
Notification to Public
The PHA adopts the following policy to help ensure that all actual and potential beneficiaries of its HCV program are aware of their rights under VAWA.
PHA Policy
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-45 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA will post the following information regarding VAWA in its offices and on its website.
It will also make the information readily available to anyone who requests it.
A copy of the notice of occupancy rights under VAWA to housing choice voucher program applicants and participants who are or have been victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (Form HUD-5380, see Exhibit 16-1) A copy of form HUD-5382, Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking and Alternate Documentation (see Exhibit 16-2) A copy of the PHA’s emergency transfer plan (Exhibit 16-3) A copy of HUD’s Emergency Transfer Request for Certain Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking, Form HUD-5383 (Exhibit 16-4) The National Domestic Violence Hot Line: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) (included in Exhibits 16-1 and 16-2) Contact information for local victim advocacy groups or service providers
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-46 Revised 10/31/2024 Notification to Program Applicants and Participants [24 CFR 5.2005(a)(1)] PHAs are required to inform program applicants and participants of their rights under VAWA, including their right to confidentiality and the limits thereof, when they are denied assistance, when they are admitted to the program, and when they are notified of an eviction or termination of housing benefits.
PHA Policy
The PHA will provide all applicants with information about VAWA at the time they request an application for housing assistance, as part of the written briefing packet, and at the time the family is admitted to the program. The PHA will also include information about VAWA in all notices of denial of assistance (see section 3-III.G).
The PHA will provide all participants with information about VAWA at the time of admission (see section 5-I.B) and at annual reexamination. The PHA will also include information about VAWA in notices of termination of assistance, as provided in section 12-II.F.
The VAWA information provided to applicants and participants will consist of the notices in Exhibits 16-1 and 16-2.
The PHA is not limited to providing VAWA information at the times specified in the above policy. If the PHA decides to provide VAWA information to a participant following an incident of domestic violence, Notice PIH 2017-08 cautions against sending the information by mail, since the abuser may be monitoring the mail. The notice recommends that in such cases the PHA make alternative delivery arrangements that will not put the victim at risk.
PHA Policy
Whenever the PHA has reason to suspect that providing information about VAWA to a participant might place a victim of domestic violence at risk, it will attempt to deliver the information by hand directly to the victim or by having the victim come to an office or other space that may be safer for the individual, making reasonable accommodations as necessary. For example, the PHA may decide not to send mail regarding VAWA protections to the victim’s unit if the PHA believes the perpetrator may have access to the victim’s mail, unless requested by the victim.
When discussing VAWA with the victim, the PHA will take reasonable precautions to ensure that no one can overhear the conversation, such as having conversations in a private room.
The victim may, but is not required to, designate an attorney, advocate, or other secure contact for communications regarding VAWA protections.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-47 Revised 10/31/2024 Notification to Owners and Managers
While PHAs are no longer required by regulation to notify owners and managers participating in the HCV program of their rights and obligations under VAWA, the PHA may still choose to inform them.
PHA Policy
The PHA will provide owners and managers with information about their rights and obligations under VAWA when they begin their participation in the program and at least annually thereafter.
The VAWA information provided to owners will consist of the notice in Exhibit 16-5 and a copy of form HUD-5382, Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking and Alternate Documentation.
16-IX.D. DOCUMENTATION [24 CFR 5.2007]
A PHA presented with a claim for initial or continued assistance based on status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or criminal activity related to any of these forms of abuse may—but is not required to—request that the individual making the claim document the abuse.
Any request for documentation must be in writing, and the individual must be allowed at least 14 business days after receipt of the request to submit the documentation. The PHA may extend this time period at its discretion. [24 CFR 5.2007(a)]
The individual may satisfy the PHA’s request by providing any one of the following three forms of documentation [24 CFR 5.2007(b)]:
1. A completed and signed HUD-approved certification form (HUD-5382, Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking), which must include the name of the perpetrator only if the name of the perpetrator is safe to provide and is known to the victim. The form may be filled out and submitted on behalf of the victim.
2. A federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local police report or court record, or an administrative record
3. Documentation signed by a person who has assisted the victim in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, or the effects of such abuse. This person may be an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider; an attorney; a mental health professional; or a medical professional. The person signing the documentation must attest under penalty of perjury to the person’s belief that the incidents in question are bona fide incidents of abuse. The victim must also sign the documentation.
The PHA may not require third-party documentation (forms 2 and 3) in addition to certification (form 1), except as specified below under “Conflicting Documentation,” nor may it require certification in addition to third-party documentation [VAWA final rule].
PHA Policy
Any request for documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking will be in writing, will specify a deadline of 14 business days following receipt of the request, will describe the three forms of acceptable documentation, will provide explicit instructions on
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-48 Revised 10/31/2024 where and to whom the documentation must be submitted, and will state the consequences for failure to submit the documentation or request an extension in writing by the deadline.
The PHA may, in its discretion, extend the deadline for 10 business days. In determining whether to extend the deadline, the PHA will consider factors that may contribute to the victim’s inability to provide documentation in a timely manner, including cognitive limitations, disabilities, limited English proficiency, absence from the unit, administrative delays, the danger of further violence, and the victim’s need to address health or safety issues. Any extension granted by the PHA will be in writing.
Once the victim provides documentation, the PHA will acknowledge receipt of the documentation within 10 business days.
Conflicting Documentation [24 CFR 5.2007(e)]
In cases where the PHA receives conflicting certification documents from two or more members of a household, each claiming to be a victim and naming one or more of the other petitioning household members as the perpetrator, the PHA may determine which is the true victim by requiring each to provide acceptable third-party documentation, as described above (forms 2 and 3). The PHA may also request third-party documentation when submitted documentation contains information that conflicts with existing information already available to the PHA. Individuals have 30 calendar days to return third-party verification to the PHA. If the PHA does not receive third-party documentation, and the PHA will deny or terminate assistance as a result, the PHA must hold separate hearings for the tenants [Notice PIH 2017-08].
The PHA must honor any court orders issued to protect the victim or to address the distribution of property.
PHA Policy
If presented with conflicting certification documents from members of the same household, the PHA will attempt to determine which is the true victim by requiring each of them to provide third-party documentation in accordance with 24 CFR 5.2007(e) and by following any HUD guidance on how such determinations should be made.
When requesting third-party documents, the PHA will provide contact information for local domestic violence and legal aid offices. In such cases, applicants or tenants will be given 30 calendar days from the date of the request to provide such documentation.
If the PHA does not receive third-party documentation within the required timeframe (and any extensions) the PHA will deny VAWA protections and will notify the applicant or tenant in writing of the denial. If, as a result, the applicant or tenant is denied or terminated from the program, the PHA will hold separate hearings for the applicants or tenants.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-49 Revised 10/31/2024 Discretion to Require No Formal Documentation [24 CFR 5.2007(d)] The PHA has the discretion to provide benefits to an individual based solely on the individual’s statement or other corroborating evidence; i.e., without requiring formal documentation of abuse in accordance with 24 CFR 5.2007(b). HUD recommends documentation in a confidential manner when a verbal statement or other evidence is accepted.
PHA Policy
If the PHA accepts an individual’s statement or other corroborating evidence (as determined by the victim) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the PHA will document acceptance of the statement or evidence in the individual’s file.
Failure to Provide Documentation [24 CFR 5.2007(c)]
In order to deny relief for protection under VAWA, a PHA must provide the individual requesting relief with a written request for documentation of abuse. If the individual fails to provide the documentation within 14 business days from the date of receipt, or such longer time as the PHA may allow, the PHA may deny relief for protection under VAWA.
16-IX.E. CONFIDENTIALITY [24 CFR 5.2007(b)(4)]
All information provided to the PHA regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including the fact that an individual is a victim of such violence or stalking, must be retained in confidence. This means that the PHA (1) may not enter the information into any shared database, (2) may not allow employees or others to access the information unless they are explicitly authorized to do so and have a need to know the information for purposes of their work, and (3) may not provide the information to any other entity or individual, except to the extent that the disclosure is (a) requested or consented to by the individual in writing, (b) required for use in an eviction proceeding, or (c) otherwise required by applicable law.
PHA Policy
If disclosure is required for use in an eviction proceeding or is otherwise required by applicable law, the PHA will inform the victim before disclosure occurs so that safety risks can be identified and addressed.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-50 Revised 10/31/2024 EXHIBIT 16-1: SAMPLE NOTICE OF OCCUPANCY RIGHTS UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, FORM HUD-5380
Fairfield Housing Authority
Notice of Occupancy Rights under the Violence Against Women Act2 To all Tenants and Applicants
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. VAWA protections are not only available to women, but are available equally to all individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.3 The U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency that oversees that the housing choice voucher program is in compliance with VAWA. This notice explains your rights under VAWA. A HUD-approved certification form is attached to this notice. You can fill out this form to show that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and that you wish to use your rights under VAWA.” Protections for Applicants
If you otherwise qualify for assistance under the housing choice voucher program, you cannot be denied admission or denied assistance because you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Protections for Tenants
If you are receiving assistance under the housing choice voucher program, you may not be denied assistance, terminated from participation, or be evicted from your rental housing because you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Also, if you or an affiliated individual of yours is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by a member of your household or any guest, you may not be denied rental assistance or occupancy rights under the housing choice voucher program solely on the basis of criminal activity directly relating to that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Affiliated individual means your spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child, or a person to whom you stand in the place of a parent or guardian (for example, the affiliated individual is in your care, custody, or control); or any individual, tenant, or lawful occupant living in your household.
2 Despite the name of this law, VAWA protection is available regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 3 Housing providers cannot discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or age. HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing must be made available to all otherwise eligible individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-51 Revised 10/31/2024 Removing the Abuser or Perpetrator from the Household
The PHA may divide (bifurcate) your lease in order to evict the individual or terminate the assistance of the individual who has engaged in criminal activity (the abuser or perpetrator) directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
If the PHA chooses to remove the abuser or perpetrator, the PHA may not take away the rights of eligible tenants to the unit or otherwise punish the remaining tenants. If the evicted abuser or perpetrator was the sole tenant to have established eligibility for assistance under the program, the PHA must allow the tenant who is or has been a victim and other household members to remain in the unit for a period of time, in order to establish eligibility under the program or under another HUD housing program covered by VAWA, or, find alternative housing.
In removing the abuser or perpetrator from the household, the PHA must follow federal, state, and local eviction procedures. In order to divide a lease, the PHA may, but is not required to, ask you for documentation or certification of the incidences of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Moving to Another Unit
Upon your request, the PHA may permit you to move to another unit, subject to the availability of other units, and still keep your assistance. In order to approve a request, the PHA may ask you to provide documentation that you are requesting to move because of an incidence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If the request is a request for emergency transfer, the housing provider may ask you to submit a written request or fill out a form where you certify that you meet the criteria for an emergency transfer under VAWA. The criteria are:
1. You are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If your housing provider does not already have documentation that you are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, your housing provider may ask you for such documentation, as described in the documentation section below.
2. You expressly request the emergency transfer. Your housing provider may choose to require that you submit a form, or may accept another written or oral request.
3. You reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your current unit. This means you have a reason to fear that if you do not receive a transfer you would suffer violence in the very near future.
OR
You are a victim of sexual assault and the assault occurred on the premises during the 90 -calendar-day period before you request a transfer. If you are a victim of sexual assault, then in addition to qualifying for an emergency transfer because you reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your unit, you may qualify for an emergency transfer if the sexual assault occurred on the premises of the property from which you are seeking your transfer, and
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-52 Revised 10/31/2024 that assault happened within the 90- calendar-day period before you expressly request the transfer.
The PHA will keep confidential requests for emergency transfers by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the location of any move by such victims and their families.
The PHA’s emergency transfer plan provides further information on emergency transfers, and the PHA must make a copy of its emergency transfer plan available to you if you ask to see it.
Documenting You Are or Have Been a Victim of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking
The PHA can, but is not required to, ask you to provide documentation to “certify” that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Such request from the PHA must be in writing, and the PHA must give you at least 14 business days (Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays do not count) from the day you receive the request to provide the documentation. The PHA may, but does not have to, extend the deadline for the submission of documentation upon your request.
You can provide one of the following to the PHA as documentation. It is your choice which of the following to submit if the PHA asks you to provide documentation that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. • A complete HUD-approved certification form given to you by the PHA with this notice, that documents an incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The form will ask for your name, the date, time, and location of the incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and a description of the incident. The certification form provides for including the name of the abuser or perpetrator if the name of the abuser or perpetrator is known and is safe to provide.
• A record of a Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency, court, or administrative agency that documents the incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Examples of such records include police reports, protective orders, and restraining orders, among others.
• A statement, which you must sign, along with the signature of an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, an attorney, a medical professional or a mental health professional (collectively, “professional”) from whom you sought assistance in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or the effects of abuse, and with the professional selected by you attesting under penalty of perjury that he or she believes that the incident or incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking are grounds for protection. • Any other statement or evidence that the PHA has agreed to accept.
If you fail or refuse to provide one of these documents within the 14 business days, the PHA does not have to provide you with the protections contained in this notice.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-53 Revised 10/31/2024 If the PHA receives conflicting evidence that an incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking has been committed (such as certification forms from two or more members of a household each claiming to be a victim and naming one or more of the other petitioning household members as the abuser or perpetrator), the PHA has the right to request that you provide third-party documentation within thirty 30 calendar days in order to resolve the conflict. If you fail or refuse to provide third-party documentation where there is conflicting evidence, the PHA does not have to provide you with the protections contained in this notice.
Confidentiality
The PHA must keep confidential any information you provide related to the exercise of your rights under VAWA, including the fact that you are exercising your rights under VAWA.
The PHA must not allow any individual administering assistance or other services on behalf of the PHA (for example, employees and contractors) to have access to confidential information unless for reasons that specifically call for these individuals to have access to this information under applicable Federal, State, or local law.
The PHA must not enter your information into any shared database or disclose your information to any other entity or individual. The PHA, however, may disclose the information provided if:
You give written permission to the PHA to release the information on a time limited basis. The PHA needs to use the information in an eviction or termination proceeding, such as to evict your abuser or perpetrator or terminate your abuser or perpetrator from assistance under this program.
A law requires the PHA or your landlord to release the information.
VAWA does not limit the PHA’s duty to honor court orders about access to or control of the property.
This includes orders issued to protect a victim and orders dividing property among household members in cases where a family breaks up.
Reasons a Tenant Eligible for Occupancy Rights under VAWA May Be Evicted or Assistance May Be Terminated
You can be evicted and your assistance can be terminated for serious or repeated lease violations that are not related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed against you.
However, the PHA cannot hold tenants who have been victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to a more demanding set of rules than it applies to tenants who have not been victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The protections described in this notice might not apply, and you could be evicted and your assistance terminated, if the PHA can demonstrate that not evicting you or terminating your assistance would present a real physical danger that:
1. Would occur within an immediate time frame, and
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-54 Revised 10/31/2024
2. Could result in death or serious bodily harm to other tenants or those who work on the property.
If the PHA can demonstrate the above, the PHA should only terminate your assistance or evict you if there are no other actions that could be taken to reduce or eliminate the threat.
Other Laws
VAWA does not replace any federal, state, or local law that provides greater protection for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. You may be entitled to additional housing protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking under other Federal laws, as well as under State and local laws.
Non-Compliance with The Requirements of This Notice
You may report a covered housing provider’s violations of these rights and seek additional assistance, if needed, by contacting or filing a complaint with
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
San Francisco Regional Office
One Sansome Street, Suite 1200
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415)489-6400
For Additional Information
You may view a copy of HUD’s final VAWA rule at:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-11-
16/pdf/2016-25888.pdf.
Additionally, the PHA must make a copy of HUD’s VAWA regulations available to you if you ask to see them.
For questions regarding VAWA, please contact
Solano Justice Center (707)784-7635
For help regarding an abusive relationship, you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1- 800-799-7233 or, for persons with hearing impairments, 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). You may also contact Safequest Solano (707)422-7345
Solano Justice Center (707)784-7635
For tenants who are or have been victims of stalking seeking help may visit the National Center for Victims of Crime’s Stalking Resource Center at https://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking- resource-center.
For help regarding sexual assault, you may contact
Safequest Solano (707)422-7345
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-55 Revised 10/31/2024 Solano Justice Center (707)784-7635
Victims of stalking seeking help may contact
Safequest Solano (707)422-7345
Solano Justice Center (707)784-7635
Attachment: Certification form HUD-5382 [form approved for this program to be included]
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-56 Revised 10/31/2024 EXHIBIT 16-2: CERTIFICATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING AND ALTERNATE DOCUMENTATION, FORM HUD-5382
CERTIFICATION OF U.S. Department of Housing OMB Approval No. 2577- 0286
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, and Urban Development Exp. 06/30/2017
DATING VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING,
AND ALTERNATE DOCUMENTATION
Purpose of Form: The Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) protects applicants, tenants, and program participants in certain HUD programs from being evicted, denied housing assistance, or terminated from housing assistance based on acts of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against them. Despite the name of this law, VAWA protection is available to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Use of This Optional Form: If you are seeking VAWA protections from your housing provider, your housing provider may give you a written request that asks you to submit documentation about the incident or incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
In response to this request, you or someone on your behalf may complete this optional form and submit it to your housing provider, or you may submit one of the following types of third-party documentation:
(1) A document signed by you and an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, an attorney, or medical professional, or a mental health professional (collectively, “professional”) from whom you have sought assistance relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or the effects of abuse. The document must specify, under penalty of perjury, that the professional believes the incident or incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking occurred and meet the definition of “domestic violence,” “dating violence,” “sexual assault,” or “stalking” in HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 5.2003.
(2) A record of a Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency, court, or administrative agency; or
(3) At the discretion of the housing provider, a statement or other evidence provided by the applicant or tenant.
Submission of Documentation: The time period to submit documentation is 14 business days from the date that you receive a written request from your housing provider asking that you provide documentation of the occurrence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Your housing provider may, but is not required to, extend the time period to submit the documentation if you
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-57 Revised 10/31/2024 request an extension of the time period. If the requested information is not received within 14 business days of when you received the request for the documentation, or any extension of the date provided by your housing provider, your housing provider does not need to grant you any of the VAWA protections.
Distribution or issuance of this form does not serve as a written request for certification.
Confidentiality: All information provided to your housing provider concerning the incident(s) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be kept confidential and such details shall not be entered into any shared database. Employees of your housing provider are not to have access to these details unless to grant or deny VAWA protections to you, and such employees may not disclose this information to any other entity or individual, except to the extent that disclosure is: (i) consented to by you in writing in a time-limited release; (ii) required for use in an eviction proceeding or hearing regarding termination of assistance; or (iii) otherwise required by applicable law.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-58 Revised 10/31/2024
TO BE COMPLETED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING
1. Date the written request is received by victim: _________________________________________
2. Name of victim: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Your name (if different from victim’s):________________________________________________
4. Name(s) of other family member(s) listed on the lease:___________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Residence of victim:
________________________________________________________________
6. Name of the accused perpetrator (if known and can be safely disclosed):____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________
7. Relationship of the accused perpetrator to the victim:___________________________________
8. Date(s) and times(s) of incident(s) (if known):__________________________________________
10. Location of
incident(s):_____________________________________________________________
This is to certify that the information provided on this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and recollection, and that the individual named above in Item 2 is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. I acknowledge that submission of false information could jeopardize program eligibility and could be the basis for denial of admission, termination of assistance, or eviction.
In your own words, briefly describe the incident(s):
______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-59 Revised 10/31/2024 Signature __________________________________Signed on (Date) ___________________________ Public Reporting Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response. This includes the time for collecting, reviewing, and reporting the data.
The information provided is to be used by the housing provider to request certification that the applicant or tenant is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The information is subject to the confidentiality requirements of VAWA. This agency may not collect this information, and you are not required to complete this form, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-60 Revised 10/31/2024 EXHIBIT 16-3: EMERGENCY TRANSFER PLAN FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING
(HCV VERSION)
Attachment: Certification form HUD-5382
Fairfield Housing Authority
Emergency Transfer Plan for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Emergency Transfers
The PHA is concerned about the safety of its tenants, and such concern extends to tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. In accordance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),4 the PHA allows tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to request an emergency transfer from the tenant’s current unit to another unit. The ability to request a transfer is available regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.5 The ability of the PHA to honor such request for tenants currently receiving assistance, however, may depend upon a preliminary determination that the tenant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and on whether the PHA has another dwelling unit that is available and is safe to offer the tenant for temporary or more permanent occupancy.
This plan i dentifies ten ants who are eligible for an emergency transfer, the documentation needed to request an emergency transfer, confidentiality protections, how an emergency transfer may occur, and guidance to tenants on safety and security. This plan is based on a model emergency transfer plan published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the federal agency that oversees that the public housing and housing choice voucher (HCV) programs are in compliance with VAWA.
Eligibility for Emergency Transfers
A tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as provided in HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR part 5, subpart L, is eligible for an emergency transfer if the tenant reasonably believes that there is a threat of imminent harm from further violence if the tenant remains within the same unit. If the tenant is a victim of sexual assault, the tenant may also be eligible to transfer if the sexual assault occurred on the premises within the 90-calendar- day period preceding a request for an emergency transfer.
4Despite the name of this law, VAWA protection is available to all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 5Housing providers cannot discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or age. HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing must be made available to all otherwise eligible individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-61 Revised 10/31/2024 A tenant requesting an emergency transfer must expressly request the transfer in accordance with the procedures described in this plan.
Tenants who are not in good standing may still request an emergency transfer if they meet the eligibility requirements in this section.
Emergency Transfer Request Documentation
To request an emergency transfer, the tenant shall notify the PHA’s management office and submit a written request for a transfer to any PHA office. The PHA will provide reasonable accommodations to this policy for individuals with disabilities. The tenant’s written request for an emergency transfer should include either:
1. A statement expressing that the tenant reasonably believes that there is a threat of imminent harm from further violence if the tenant were to remain in the same dwelling unit assisted under the PHA’s program; OR
2. A statement that the tenant was a sexual assault victim and that the sexual assault occurred on the premises during the 90-calendar-day period preceding the tenant’s request for an emergency transfer.
Confidentiality
The PHA will keep confidential any information that the tenant submits in requesting an emergency transfer, and information about the emergency transfer, unless the tenant gives the PHA written permission to release the information on a time-limited basis, or disclosure of the information is required by law or required for use in an eviction proceeding or hearing regarding termination of assistance from the covered program. This includes keeping confidential the new location of the dwelling unit of the tenant, if one is provided, from the person or persons that committed an act of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against the tenant. See the Notice of Occupancy Rights under the Violence against Women Act for All Tenants for more information about the PHA’s responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of information related to incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Emergency Transfer Timing and Availability
The PHA cannot guarantee that a transfer request will be approved or how long it will take to process a transfer request. The PHA will, however, act as quickly as possible to move a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to another unit, subject to availability and safety of a unit. If a tenant reasonably believes a proposed transfer would not be safe, the tenant may request a transfer to a different unit. If a unit is available, the transferred tenant must agree to abide by the terms and conditions that govern occupancy in the unit to which the tenant has been transferred. The PHA may be unable to transfer a tenant to a particular unit if the tenant has not or cannot establish eligibility for that unit.
If the PHA has no safe and available units for which a tenant who needs an emergency transfer is eligible, the PHA will assist the tenant in identifying other housing providers who may have safe and
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-62 Revised 10/31/2024 available units to which the tenant could move. At the tenant’s request, the PHA will also assist tenants in contacting the local organizations offering assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking that are attached to this plan.
Emergency Transfers: Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Tenant-based assistance: If you are a participant in the tenant-based HCV program and request an emergency transfer as described in this plan, the PHA will assist you to move to a safe unit quickly using your existing voucher assistance. The PHA will make exceptions to program regulations restricting moves as required.
At your request, the PHA will refer you to organizations that may be able to further assist you.
Project-based assistance: If you are assisted under the project-based voucher (PBV) program, you may request an emergency transfer under the following programs for which you are not required to apply:
• Tenant-based voucher, if available
• Project-based assistance in the same project (if a vacant unit is available and you determine that the vacant unit is safe)
• Project-based assistance in another development owned by the PHA Emergency transfers under VAWA will take priority over waiting list admissions for these types of assistance.
You may also request an emergency transfer under the following programs for which you are required to apply:
• PBV assistance in another development not owned by the PHA • Low-Income Housing Tax Credit developments
Emergency transfers will not take priority over waiting list admissions for these programs. At your request, the PHA will refer you to organizations that may be able to further assist you.
Safety and Security of Tenants
Pending processing of the transfer and the actual transfer, if it is approved and occurs, the tenant is urged to take all reasonable precautions to be safe.
Tenants who are or have been victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or a local domestic violence shelter, for assistance in creating a safety plan. For persons with hearing impairments, that hotline can be accessed by calling 1- 800-787-3224 (TTY).
Ten
ants who have been v ictims of sexual assault may call the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, or visit the online hotline at:
https://ohl.rainn.org/online/.
Tenants who are or have been victims of stalking seeking help may visit the National Center for Victims of Crime’s Stalking Resource Center at: https://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking- resource-center.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-63 Revised 10/31/2024 Attachment: Local organizations offering assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-64 Revised 10/31/2024 EXHIBIT 16-4: EMERGENCY TRANSFER REQUEST FOR CERTAIN VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING, FORM HUD-5383
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-65 Revised 10/30/2024 EMERGENCY TRANSFER U.S. Department of Housing OMB Approval No. 2577-0286 REQUEST FOR CERTAIN and Urban Development Exp. 06/30/2017
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING
Purpose of Form: If you are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and you are seeking an emergency transfer, you may use this form to request an emergency transfer and certify that you meet the requirements of eligibility for an emergency transfer under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Although the statutory name references women, VAWA rights and protections apply to all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Using this form does not necessarily mean that you will receive an emergency transfer. See your housing provider’s emergency transfer plan for more information about the availability of emergency transfers.
The requirements you must meet are:
(1) You are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If your housing provider does not already have documentation that you are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, your housing provider may ask you for such documentation. In response, you may submit Form HUD-5382, or any one of the other types of documentation listed on that Form. (2) You expressly request the emergency transfer. Submission of this form confirms that you have expressly requested a transfer. Your housing provider may choose to require that you submit this form, or may accept another written or oral request. Please see your housing provider’s emergency transfer plan for more details.
(3) You reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your current unit. This means you have a reason to fear that if you do not receive a transfer you would suffer violence in the very near future.
OR
You are a victim of sexual assault and the assault occurred on the premises during the 90 -calendar- day period before you request a transfer. If you are a victim of sexual assault, then in addition to qualifying for an emergency transfer because you reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your unit, you may qualify for an emergency transfer if the sexual assault occurred on the premises of the property from which you are seeking your transfer, and that assault happened within the 90- calendar-day period before you submit this form or otherwise expressly request the transfer.
Submission of Documentation: If you have third- party documentation that demonstrates why you are eligible for an emergency transfer, you should submit that documentation to your housing provider if it is safe for you to do so. Examples of third party documentation include, but are not limited to: a letter or other documentation from a victim service provider, social worker, legal assistance provider, pastoral counselor, mental health provider, or other professional from whom you have sought assistance; a current restraining order; a recent court order or other court records; a law enforcement report or records; communication records from the perpetrator of the violence or family members or friends of the perpetrator of the violence, including emails, voicemails, text messages, and social media posts.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-66 Revised 10/31/2024 Confidentiality: All information provided to your housing provider concerning the incident(s) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and concerning your request for an emergency transfer shall be kept confidential. Suc h details shall not be entered into any shared database. Employees of your housing provider are not to have access to these details unless to grant or deny VAWA protections or an emergency transfer to you. Such employees may not disclose this information to any other entity or individual, except to the extent that disclosure is: (i) consented to by you in writing in a time-limited release; (ii) required for use in an eviction proceeding or hearing regarding termination of assistance; or (iii) otherwise required by applicable law.
TO BE COMPLETED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON REQUESTING A TRANSFER
1. Name of victim requesting an emergency transfer: ______________________________________
2. Your name (if different from victim’s)________________________________________________
3. Name(s) of other family member(s) listed on the lease:__________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
4. Name(s) of other family member(s) who would transfer with the victim:____________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Address of location from which the victim seeks to transfer:
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Address or phone number for contacting the victim:____________________________________
7. Name of the accused perpetrator (if known and can be safely disclosed):___________________
8. Relationship of the accused perpetrator to the victim:___________________________________
9. Date(s), Time(s) and location(s) of incident(s):________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________
10. Is the person requesting the transfer a victim of a sexual assault that occurred in the past 90 days on the premises of the property from which the victim is seeking a transfer? If yes, skip question 11. If no, fill out question
11. Describe why the victim believes they are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if they remain in their current unit.
___________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
12. If voluntarily provided, list any third-party documentation you are providing along with this notice:
___________________________________________________________________ This is to certify that the information provided on this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that the individual named above in Item 1 meets the requirement laid out on this form for an emergency transfer. I acknowledge that submission of false information could jeopardize program eligibility and could be the basis for denial of admission, termination of assistance, or eviction.
Signature __________________________________Signed on (Date) ___________________________
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-67 Revised 10/31/2024
MODEL OWNER NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Fairfield Housing Authority
NOTIFICATION OF YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)
VAWA provides protections for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and PBV applicants, tenants, and participants from being denied assistance on the basis or as a direct result of being a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Purpose
Many of VAWA’s protections to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking involve action by the public housing agency (PHA), but some situations involve action by owners of assisted housing. The purpose of this notice (herein called “Notice”) is to explain your rights and obligations under VAWA, as an owner of housing assisted through [insert name of housing provider] HCV program. Each component of this Notice also provides citations to HUD’s applicable regulations.
Denial of Tenancy
Protections for applicants: Owners cannot deny tenancy based on the applicant having been or currently being a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. However, the applicant must be otherwise eligible for tenancy. (See 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 982.452(b)(1).) Eviction
Protections for HCV participants: Incidents or threats of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking will not be considered a serious or repeated lease violation by the victim, or good cause to terminate the tenancy of the victim (24 CFR 5.2005(c)). Protection also applies to criminal activity related directly to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, conducted by a member of a tenant’s household or any guest or other person under the tenant’s control, if the tenant or an affiliated individual of the tenant is the victim or threatened victim of such domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (24 CFR 5.2005(b)(2)).
Limitations of VAWA protections:
a. Nothing in the VAWA Final Rule limits the authority of an owner, when notified of a court order, to comply with a court order with respect to (24 CFR 5.2005(d)(1)):
1) The rights of access or control of property, including civil protection orders issued to protect a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or 2) The distribution or possession of property among members of a household in a case. b. Nothing in the VAWA Final Rule limits an owner from evicting a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking for a lease violation that is not premised on an act of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as long as the owner does not subject the victim to more demanding standards than other tenants when deciding whether to evict. (See 24 CFR
5.2005(d)(2).)
c. Nothing in the VAWA Final Rule limits an owner from evicting a tenant (including the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking) if the owner can demonstrate an actual and imminent threat to other tenants or those employed at or providing services to the HCV property would be present if the tenant or lawful occupant is not evicted. (See 24 CFR 5.2005(d)(3).) i. In this
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-68 Revised 10/31/2024 context, words, gestures, actions, or other indicators will be considered an “actual and imminent threat” if they meet the following standards: An actual and imminent threat consists of a physical danger that is real, would occur within an immediate time frame, and could result in death or serious bodily harm. In determining whether an individual would pose an actual and imminent threat, the factors to be considered include: the duration of the risk, the nature and severity of the potential harm, the likelihood that the potential harm will occur, and the length of time before the potential harm would occur. (See 24 CFR 5.2003.)
ii. Any eviction due to “actual and imminent threat” should be utilized by an owner only when there are no other actions that could be taken to reduce or eliminate the threat, including, but not limited to, transferring the victim to a different unit, barring the perpetrator from the property, contacting law enforcement to increase police presence or develop other plans to keep the property safe, or seeking other legal remedies to prevent the perpetrator from acting on a threat. Restrictions predicated on public safety cannot be based on stereotypes, but must be tailored to particularized concerns about individual residents. (See 24 CFR 5.2005(d)(4).)
Documentation of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking If an applicant or tenant requests VAWA protection based on status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the owner has the option to request that the victim document or provide written evidence to demonstrate that the violence occurred. However, nothing in HUD’s regulation requires a covered housing provider to request this documentation. (See 24 CFR
5.2007(b)(3).)
If the owner chooses to request this documentation, the owner must make such request in writing. The individual may satisfy this request by providing any one document type listed under 24 CFR
5.2007(b)(1):
a. Form HUD-55383 (Self-Certification Form); or
b. A document: 1) Signed by an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, an attorney, or medical professional or a mental health professional (collectively, “professional”) from whom the victim has sought assistance relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or the effects of abuse:
2) Signed by the applicant or tenant; and
3) That specifies, under penalty of perjury, that the professional believes in the occurrence of the incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking that is the ground for protection and remedies under 24 CFR part 5, subpart L, and that the incident meets the applicable definition of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking under 24 CFR 5.2003; or c. A record of a Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency, court, or administrative agency; or
d. At the discretion of a covered housing provider, a statement or other evidence provided by the applicant or tenant.
The owner must accept any of the above items (a – c). The owner has discretion to accept a statement or other evidence (d).
The owner is prohibited from requiring third-party documentation of the domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, unless the submitted documentation contains conflicting information.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-69 Revised 10/31/2024 If the owner makes a written request for documentation, the owner may require submission of that documentation within 14 business days after the date that the individual received the written request for documentation. (24 CFR 5.2007(a)(2)). The owner may extend this time period at its discretion. During the 14 business day period and any granted extensions of that time, no adverse actions, such as evictions or terminations, can be taken against the individual requesting VAWA protection.
Once a victim provides documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the owner is encouraged to acknowledge receipt of the documentation in a timely manner.
If the applicant or tenant fails to provide documentation that meets the criteria in 24 CFR 5.2007 within 14 business days after receiving the written request for that documentation or within the designated extension period, nothing in VAWA Final Rule may be construed to limit the authority of the covered housing provider to:
a. Deny admission by the applicant or tenant to the housing or program; b. Deny assistance under the covered housing program to the applicant or tenant; c. Terminate the participation of the tenant in the covered housing program; or d. Evict the tenant, or a lawful occupant that commits a violation of a lease.
An individual’s failure to timely provide documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking does not result in a waiver of the individual’s right to challenge the denial of assistance or termination, nor does it preclude the individual’s ability to raise an incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking at eviction or termination proceedings.
Moves
A victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking may move in violation of their lease if the move is required to protect their safety. If a move results in the termination of the Housing Assistance Payment Contract, the lease is automatically terminated.
Lease Bifurcation
Owners may choose to bifurcate a lease, or remove a household member from a lease in order to evict, remove, terminate occupancy rights, or terminate assistance to such member who engages in criminal activity directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against an affiliated individual or other individual. (See 24 CFR 5.2009(a).) If an owner chooses to bifurcate the lease, the owner must comply with the reasonable time to establish eligibility under the covered housing program or find alternative housing following lease bifurcation provision in 24 CFR 5.2009(b). VAWA protections, including bifurcation, do not apply to guests or unreported members of a household or anyone else residing in a household who is not a tenant.
Eviction, removal, termination of occupancy rights, or termination of assistance must be effected in accordance with the procedures prescribed by federal, state, or local law for termination of leases.
To avoid unnecessary delay in the bifurcation process, HUD recommends that owners seek court-ordered eviction of the perpetrator pursuant to applicable laws. This process results in the underlying lease becoming null and void once the owner regains possession of the unit. The owner would then execute a new lease with the victim.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-70 Revised 10/31/2024 Evictions Due to “Actual and Imminent Threat” or Violations Not Premised on Abuse The VAWA Final Rule generally prohibits eviction on the basis or as a direct result of the fact that the applicant or tenant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the applicant or tenant otherwise qualifies for assistance, participation, or occupancy. (See 24 CFR 5.2005.)
However, the VAWA Final Rule does not prohibit an owner from evicting a tenant for any violation not premised on an act of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking that is in question against the tenant or an affiliated individual of the tenant. Nor does the VAWA Final Rule prohibit an owner from evicting a tenant if the owner can demonstrate an actual and imminent threat to other tenants or those employed at or providing services to property of the owner would be present if that tenant or lawful occupant is not evicted or terminated from assistance. (See 5.2005(d)(2) and (3).) In order to demonstrate an actual and imminent threat to other tenants or employees at the property, the covered housing provider must have objective evidence of words, gestures, actions, or other indicators that meet the standards in the following definition:
Actual and imminent threat refers to a physical danger that is real, would occur within an immediate time frame, and could result in death or serious bodily harm. In determining whether an individual would pose an actual and imminent threat, the factors to be considered include:
• The duration of the risk;
• The nature and severity of the potential harm;
• The likelihood that the potential harm will occur; and • The length of time before the potential harm would occur. (See 24 CFR 5.2003 and 5.2005(d)(2).)
Confidentiality
Any information submitted to a covered housing provider under 24 CFR 5.2007, including the fact that an individual is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, must be maintained in strict confidence by the covered housing provider. (See 24 CFR
5.2007(c).)
Employees of the owner (or those within their employ, e.g., contractors) must not have access to the information unless explicitly authorized by the owner for reasons that specifically call for these individuals to have access to this information under applicable Federal, State, or local law (e.g., the information is needed by an employee to provide the VAWA protections to the victim).
The owner must not enter this information into any shared database, or disclose this information to any other entity or individual, except to the extent that disclosure is:
a. Requested or consented to in writing by the individual (victim) in a time-limited release; b. Required for use in an eviction proceeding or hearing regarding termination of assistance from the covered program; or
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-71 Revised 10/31/2024 c. Otherwise required by applicable law.
When communicating with the victim, owners must take precautions to ensure compliance with these confidentiality requirements.
Service Providers
Fairfield Housing Authority has extensive relationships with local service providers. Fairfield Housing Authority staff are available to provide referrals to shelters, counselors, and advocates.
These resources are also provided in Fairfield Housing Authority’s Annual and 5-Year Plan, Administrative Plan, VAWA Notice of Occupancy Rights, and Emergency Transfer Plan. A list of local service providers is attached to this Notice.
Definitions
Actual and imminent threat refers to a physical danger that is real, would occur within an immediate time frame, and could result in death or serious bodily harm. In determining whether an individual would pose an actual and imminent threat, the factors to be considered include: the duration of the risk, the nature and severity of the potential harm, the likelihood that the potential harm will occur, and the length of time before the potential harm would occur.
Affiliated individual, with respect to an individual, means:
(1) A spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of that individual, or a person to whom that individual stands in the place of a parent or guardian (for example, the affiliated individual is a person in the care, custody, or control of that individual); or
(2) Any individual, tenant, or lawful occupant living in the household of that individual.
Bifurcate means to divide a lease as a matter of law, subject to the permissibility of such process under the requirements of the applicable HUD-covered program and State or local law, such that certain tenants or lawful occupants can be evicted or removed and the remaining tenants or lawful occupants can continue to reside in the unit under the same lease requirements or as may be revised depending upon the eligibility for continued occupancy of the remaining tenants and lawful occupants.
Dating violence means violence committed by a person:
(1) Who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (2) Where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
(i) The length of the relationship;
(ii) The type of relationship; and
(iii) The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction. The term “spouse or intimate partner of the
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 16-72 Revised 10/31/2024 victim” includes a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, as determined by the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Sexual assault means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.
Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:
(1) Fear for the person’s individual safety or the safety of others; or (2) Suffer substantial emotional distress.
VAWA means the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended (42 U.S.C. 13925 and 42 U.S.C. 14043e et seq.).
Attached:
Legal services and the domestic violence resources for the Metro area Form HUD-5382 Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking Fairfield Housing Authority VAWA Notice of Occupancy Rights
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-1 Revised 10/30/2024 CHAPTER 17
PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes HUD regulations and PHA policies related to the project-based voucher (PBV) program in nine parts:
Part I: General Requirements. This part describes general provisions of the PBV program including maximum budget authority requirements, relocation requirements, and equal opportunity requirements.
Part II: PBV Owner Proposals. T his part includes policies related to the submission and selection of owner proposals for PBV assistance. It describes the factors the PHA will consider when selecting proposals, the type of housing that is eligible to receive PBV assistance, the cap on assistance at projects receiving PBV assistance, subsidy layering requirements, site selection standards, and environmental review requirements.
Part III: Dwelling Units. This part describes requirements related to housing quality standards, the type and frequency of inspections, and housing accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Part IV: Rehabilitated and Newly Constructed Units. T
his part describes requirements and
policies related to the development and completion of rehabilitated and newly constructed housing units that will be receiving PBV assistance.
Part V: Housing Assistance Payments Contract. This part discusses HAP contract requirements and policies including the execution, term, and termination of the HAP contract. In addition, it describes how the HAP contract may be amended and identifies provisions that may be added to the HAP contract at the PHA’s discretion.
Part VI: Selection of PBV Program Participants. T his part describes the requirements and policies governing how the PHA and the owner will select a family to receive PBV assistance.
Part VII: Occupancy. This part discusses occupancy requirements related to the lease and describes under what conditions families are allowed or required to move. In addition, exceptions to the occupancy cap (which limits PBV assistance to 25 percent of the units in any project) are also discussed.
Part VIII: Determining Rent to Owner. This part describes how the initial rent to owner is determined, and how rent will be redetermined throughout the life of the HAP contract. Rent reasonableness requirements are also discussed.
Part IX: Payments to Owner. This part describes the types of payments owners may receive under this program.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-2 Revised 10/31/2024 PART I: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
17-I.A. OVERVIEW [24 CFR 983.5; FR Notice 1/18/17; Notice PIH 2017-21] The project-based voucher (PBV) program allows PHAs that already administer a tenant-based voucher program under an annual contributions contract (ACC) with HUD to take up to 20 percent of its authorized units and attach the funding to specific units rather than using it for tenant-based assistance [24 CFR 983.6]. PHAs may only operate a PBV program if doing so is consistent with the PHA’s Annual Plan, and the goal of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities [42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)].
PHA Policy
The PHA will operate a project-based voucher program using up to 20 percent of its authorized units for project-based assistance.
See Exhibit 17-1 for information on projects to which the PHA has attached PBV assistance.
PBV assistance may be attached to existing housing or newly constructed or rehabilitated housing [24 CFR 983.52]. If PBV units are already selected for project-based assistance either under an agreement to enter into HAP Contract (Agreement) or a HAP contract, the PHA is not required to reduce the number of these units if the number of authorized units is subsequently reduced. However, the PHA is responsible for determining the amount of budget authority that is available for project-based vouchers and ensuring that the amount of assistance that is attached to units is within the amounts available under the ACC, regardless of whether the PHA has vouchers available for project-basing [FR Notice 1/18/17].
Additional Project-Based Units [FR Notice 1/18/17; Notice PIH 2017-21] The PHA may project-base an additional 10 percent of its units above the 20 percent program limit. The units may be distributed among one, all, or a combination of the categories as long as the total number of units does not exceed the 10 percent cap. Units qualify under this exception if the units:
• Are specifically made available to house individuals and families that meet the definition of homeless under section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302) and contained in the Continuum of Care Interim Rule at 24 CFR 578.3.
• Are specifically made available to house families that are comprised of or include a veteran. - Veteran means an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces. • Provide supportive housing to persons with disabilities or elderly persons as defined in 24 CFR 5.403. • Are located in a census tract with a poverty rate of 20 percent or less, as determined in the most recent American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates.
Only units that that are under a HAP contract that was first executed on or after April 18, 2017, are covered by the 10 percent exception.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-3 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA Policy
The PHA may project-base up to an additional 10 percent of its authorized units, up to 30 percent, in accordance with HUD regulations and requirements.
Units Not Subject to the PBV Program Limitation [FR Notice 1/18/17] PBV units under the RAD program and HUD-VASH PBV set-aside vouchers do not count toward the 20 percent limitation when PBV assistance is attached to them.
In addition, units that were previously subject to certain federal rent restrictions or were receiving another type of long-term housing subsidy provided by HUD are not subject to the cap. The unit must be covered under a PBV HAP contract that first became effective on or after April 18, 2017.
PHA Policy
The PHA may project-base units not subject to the 20 percent cap in accordance with HUD regulations and requirements.
17-I.B. TENANT-BASED VS. PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER ASSISTANCE [24 CFR 983.2]
Much of the tenant-based voucher program regulations also apply to the PBV program. Consequently, many of the PHA policies related to tenant-based assistance also apply to PBV assistance. The provisions of the tenant-based voucher regulations that do not apply to the PBV program are listed at 24 CFR 983.2.
PHA Policy
Except as otherwise noted in this chapter, or unless specifically prohibited by PBV program regulations, the PHA policies for the tenant-based voucher program contained in this administrative plan also apply to the PBV program and its participants. 17-I.C. RELOCATION REQUIREMENTS [24 CFR 983.7]
Any persons displaced as a result of implementation of the PBV program must be provided relocation assistance in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (URA)[42 U.S.C. 4201-4655] and implementing regulations at 49 CFR part 24.
The cost of required relocation assistance may be paid with funds provided by the owner, local public funds, or funds available from other sources. PHAs may not use voucher program funds to cover relocation costs, except that PHAs may use their administrative fee reserve to pay for relocation expenses after all other program administrative expenses are satisfied, and provided that payment of the relocation benefits is consistent with state and local law. Use of the administrative fee for these purposes must also be consistent with other legal and regulatory requirements, including the requirement in 24 CFR 982.155 and other official HUD issuances.
The acquisition of real property for a PBV project is subject to the URA and 49 CFR part 24, subpart B. It is the responsibility of the PHA to ensure the owner complies with these requirements.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-4 Revised 10/31/2024 17-I.D. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REQUIREMENTS [24 CFR 983.8]
The PHA must comply with all equal opportunity requirements under federal law and regulations in its implementation of the PBV program. This includes the requirements and authorities cited at 24 CFR
5.105(a). In addition, the PHA must comply with the PHA Plan certification on civil rights and affirmatively furthering fair housing, submitted in accordance with 24 CFR 903.7(o).
PART II: PBV OWNER PROPOSALS
17-II.A. OVERVIEW
With certain exceptions, the PHA must describe the procedures for owner submission of PBV proposals and for PHA selection of PBV proposals [24 CFR 983.51]. Before selecting a PBV proposal, the PHA must determine that the PBV proposal complies with HUD program regulations and requirements, including a determination that the property is eligible housing [24 CFR 983.53 and 983.54], complies with the cap on the number of PBV units per project [24 CFR 983.56], and meets the site selection standards [24 CFR 983.57]. The PHA may not commit PBVs until or unless it has followed the proposal selection requirements defined in 24 CFR 983.51 [Notice PIH 2011-54]. 17-II.B. OWNER PROPOSAL SELECTION PROCEDURES [24 CFR 983.51(b)] The PHA must select PBV proposals in accordance with the selection procedures in the PHA administrative plan. The PHA must select PBV proposals by either of the following two methods. • PHA request for PBV Proposals. The PHA may solicit proposals by using a request for proposals to select proposals on a competitive basis in response to the PHA request. The PHA may not limit proposals to a single site or impose restrictions that explicitly or practically preclude owner submission of proposals for PBV housing on different sites. • T
he PHA may select proposal that were previously selected based on a competition . This may include selection of a proposal for housing assisted under a federal, state, or local government housing assistance program that was subject to a competition in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program, community development program, or supportive services program that requires competitive selection of proposals (e.g., HOME, and units for which competitively awarded LIHTCs have been provided), where the proposal has been selected in accordance with such program's competitive selection requirements within three years of the PBV proposal selection date, and the earlier competitive selection proposal did not involve any consideration that the project would receive PBV assistance. The PHA need not conduct another competition.
Units Selected Non-Competitively [FR Notice 1/18/17; Notice PIH 2017-21; 24 CFR 983.51(b)] For certain public housing projects where the PHA has an ownership interest or control, the PHA may attach PBV assistance non-competitively without following one of the two processes above.
This exception applies when the PHA is engaged in an initiative to improve, develop, or replace a public housing property or site. The public housing units may either currently be in the public housing inventory or may have been removed from the public housing inventory within five years of the date on which the PHA entered into the AHAP or HAP.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-5 Revised 10/31/2024 If the PHA is planning rehabilitation or new construction on the project, a minimum threshold of $25,000 per unit in hard costs must be expended.
If the PHA plans to replace public housing by attaching PBV assistance to existing housing in which the PHA has an ownership interest or control, then the $25,000 per unit minimum threshold does not apply as long as the existing housing substantially complies with HQS.
The PHA must include in the administrative plan what work it plans to do on the property or site and how many PBV units will be added to the site.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not attach PBVs to projects owned by the PHA as described above.
Solicitation and Selection of PBV Proposals [24 CFR 983.51(c)] PHA procedures for selecting PBV proposals must be designed and actually operated to provide broad public notice of the opportunity to offer PBV proposals for consideration by the PHA. The public notice procedures may include publication of the public notice in a local newspaper of general circulation and other means designed and actually operated to provide broad public notice. The public notice of the PHA request for PBV proposals must specify the submission deadline. Detailed application and selection information must be provided at the request of interested parties.
PHA Policy
PHA Request for Proposals for Rehabilitated and Newly Constructed Units The PHA will advertise its request for proposals (RFP) for rehabilitated and newly constructed housing in the following newspapers and trade journals.
Daily Republic
The advertisement will state the number of vouchers available to be project-based, the type of units that will be considered, the submission deadline, and will note how to obtain the full RFP with information on the application and selection process. Advertisements will also contain a statement that participation in the PBV program requires compliance with Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) requirements.
In addition, the PHA will post the RFP and proposal submission and rating and ranking procedures on its website.
The PHA will publish its advertisement in the newspapers and trade journals mentioned above for at least one day per week for three consecutive weeks. The advertisement will specify the number of units the PHA estimates that it will be able to assist under the funding the PHA is making available. Proposals will be due in the PHA office by close of business 30 calendar days from the date of the last publication.
In order for the proposal to be considered, the owner must submit the proposal to the PHA by the published deadline date, and the proposal must respond to all requirements as outlined in the RFP.
Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-6 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA will rate and rank proposals for rehabilitated and newly constructed housing using the following criteria:
Owner experience and capability to build or rehabilitate housing as identified in the RFP; Extent to which the project furthers the PHA goal of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities;
If applicable, the extent to which services for special populations are provided on site or in the immediate area for occupants of the property; and
In order to promote partially assisted projects, projects where less than 25 percent of the units will be assisted will be rated higher than projects where 25 percent or more of the units will be assisted. In the case of projects for occupancy by the elderly, persons with disabilities or families needing other services, the PHA will rate partially assisted projects on the percentage of units assisted. Projects with the lowest percentage of assisted units will receive the highest score.
PHA Requests for Proposals for Existing Housing Units
The PHA will advertise its request for proposals (RFP) for existing housing in the following newspapers and trade journals.
Daily Republic
The advertisement will state the number of vouchers available to be project-based, the type of units that will be considered, the submission deadline, and will note how to obtain the full RFP with information on the application and selection process. Advertisements will also contain a statement that participation in the PBV program requires compliance with Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) requirements.
In addition, the PHA will post the notice inviting such proposal submission and the rating and ranking procedures on its website.
The PHA will periodically publish its advertisement in the newspapers and trade journals mentioned above for at least one day per week for three consecutive weeks. The advertisement will specify the number of units the PHA estimates that it will be able to assist under the funding the PHA is making available. Owner proposals will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis and will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Experience as an owner in the tenant-based voucher program and owner compliance with the owner’s obligations under the tenant-based program; Extent to which the project furthers the PHA goal of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities;
If applicable, extent to which services for special populations are provided on site or in the immediate area for occupants of the property; and
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-7 Revised 10/31/2024 Extent to which units are occupied by families that are eligible to participate in the PBV program.
PHA Selection of Proposals Subject to a Previous Competition under a Federal, State, or Local Housing Assistance Program
The PHA will accept proposals for PBV assistance from owners that were competitively selected under another federal, state, or local housing assistance program, including projects that were competitively awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits on an ongoing basis.
The PHA may periodically advertise that it is accepting proposals, in the following newspapers and trade journals:
Daily Republic
The advertisement will state the number of vouchers available to be project-based, the type of units that will be considered, the submission deadline, and will note how to obtain the full RFP with information on the application and selection process. Advertisements will also contain a statement that participation in the PBV program requires compliance with Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) requirements.
In addition to, or in place of advertising, the PHA may also directly contact specific owners that have already been selected for Federal, state, or local housing assistance based on a previously held competition, to inform them of available PBV assistance.
Proposals will be reviewed on a first-come first-served basis. The PHA will evaluate each proposal on its merits using the following factors:
Extent to which the project furthers the PHA goal of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities; and
Extent to which the proposal complements other local activities such as the redevelopment of a public housing site under the HOPE VI program, the HOME program, CDBG activities, other development activities in a HUD-designated Enterprise Zone, Economic Community, Choice Neighborhood, or Renewal Community.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-8 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA-Owned Units [24 CFR 983.51(e), 983.59, FR Notice 1/18/17, and Notice PIH 2017-21] A PHA-owned unit may be assisted under the PBV program only if the HUD field office or HUD- approved independent entity reviews the selection process and determines that the PHA-owned units were appropriately selected based on the selection procedures specified in the PHA administrative plan. This also applies to noncompetitive selections. If the PHA selects a proposal for housing that is owned or controlled by the PHA, the PHA must identify the entity that will review the PHA proposal selection process and perform specific functions with respect to rent determinations, the term of the HAP contract, and inspections.
In the case of PHA-owned units, the term of the HAP contract and any HAP contract renewal must be agreed upon by the PHA and a HUD-approved independent entity. In addition, an independent entity must determine the initial rent to owner, the redetermined rent to owner, and reasonable rent. Housing quality standards inspections must also be conducted by an independent entity.
The independent entity that performs these program services may be the unit of general local government for the PHA jurisdiction (unless the PHA is itself the unit of general local government or an agency of such government) or another HUD-approved public or private independent entity.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not attach PBVs to projects owned by the PHA as described above.
The PHA may only compensate the independent entity from PHA ongoing administrative fee income (including amounts credited to the administrative fee reserve). The PHA may not use other program receipts to compensate the independent entity for its services. The PHA and independent entity may not charge the family any fee for the appraisal or the services provided by the independent entity.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-9 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA Notice of Owner Selection [24 CFR 983.51(d)]
The PHA must give prompt written notice to the party that submitted a selected proposal and must also give prompt public notice of such selection. Public notice procedures may include publication of public notice in a local newspaper of general circulation and other means designed and actually operated to provide broad public notice.
PHA Policy
Within 10 business days of the PHA making the selection, the PHA will notify the selected owner in writing of the owner’s selection for the PBV program. The PHA will also notify in writing all owners that submitted proposals that were not selected and advise such owners of the name of the selected owner.
In addition, the PHA will publish its notice for selection of PBV proposals for two consecutive days in the same newspapers and trade journals the PHA used to solicit the proposals. The announcement will include the name of the owner that was selected for the PBV program. The PHA will also post the notice of owner selection on its electronic web site.
The PHA will make available to any interested party its rating and ranking sheets and documents that identify the PHA basis for selecting the proposal. These documents will be available for review by the public and other interested parties for one month after publication of the notice of owner selection. The PHA will not make available sensitive owner information that is privileged, such as financial statements and similar information about the owner.
The PHA will make these documents available for review at the PHA during normal business hours. The cost for reproduction of allowable documents will be $.25 per page. 17-II.C. HOUSING TYPE [24 CFR 983.52]
The PHA may attach PBV assistance for units in existing housing or for newly constructed or rehabilitated housing developed under and in accordance with an agreement to enter into a housing assistance payments contract that was executed prior to the start of construction. A housing unit is considered an existing unit for purposes of the PBV program, if, at the time of notice of PHA selection, the units substantially comply with HQS. Units for which new construction or rehabilitation began after the owner's proposal submission but prior to the execution of the HAP do not subsequently qualify as existing housing. Units that were newly constructed or rehabilitated in violation of program requirements also do not qualify as existing housing.
The PHA must decide what housing type, new construction, rehabilitation, or existing housing, will be used to develop project-based housing. The PHA choice of housing type must be reflected in its solicitation for proposals.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-10 Revised 10/31/2024 17-II.D. PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN UNITS
Ineligible Housing Types [24 CFR 983.53]
The PHA may not attach or pay PBV assistance to shared housing units; units on the grounds of a penal reformatory, medical, mental, or similar public or private institution; nursing homes or facilities providing continuous psychiatric, medical, nursing services, board and care, or intermediate care (except that assistance may be provided in assisted living facilities); units that are owned or controlled by an educational institution or its affiliate and are designated for occupancy by students; manufactured homes; and transitional housing. In addition, the PHA may not attach or pay PBV assistance for a unit occupied by an owner and the PHA may not select or enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP contract or HAP contract for a unit occupied by a family ineligible for participation in the PBV program. A member of a cooperative who owns shares in the project assisted under the PBV program is not considered an owner for purposes of participation in the PBV program. Finally, PBV assistance may not be attached to units for which construction or rehabilitation has started after the proposal submission and prior to the execution of an AHAP.
Subsidized Housing [24 CFR 983.54]
A PHA may not attach or pay PBV assistance to units in any of the following types of subsidized housing:
• A public housing unit;
• A unit subsidized with any other form of Section 8 assistance; • A unit subsidized with any governmental rent subsidy; • A unit subsidized with any governmental subsidy that covers all or any part of the operating costs of the housing;
• A unit subsidized with Section 236 rental assistance payments (except that a PHA may attach assistance to a unit subsidized with Section 236 interest reduction payments); • A Section 202 project for non-elderly with disabilities; • Section 811 project-based supportive housing for persons with disabilities; • Section 202 supportive housing for the elderly;
• A Section 101 rent supplement project;
• A unit subsidized with any form of tenant-based rental assistance; • A unit with any other duplicative federal, state, or local housing subsidy, as determined by HUD or the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-11 Revised 10/31/2024 17-II.E. SUBSIDY LAYERING REQUIREMENTS [24 CFR 983.55, Notice PIH 2013-11, and FR Notice 2/28/20]
The subsidy layering review is intended to prevent excessive public assistance by combining (layering) housing assistance payment subsidy under the PBV program with other governmental housing assistance from federal, state, or local agencies, including assistance such as tax concessions or tax credits.
HUD requires new construction and rehabilitation housing that will include forms of governmental assistance other than PBVs to undergo a subsidy layering review (SLR) prior to entering into an Agreement to Enter into Housing Assistance Payments Contract (AHAP). Subsidy layering requirements do not apply to existing housing, when PBV is the only governmental assistance, or for projects already subject to a PBV HAP contract, even if the project is recapitalized with outside sources of funding.
When a PHA selects a new construction or rehabilitation project, the PHA must require information regarding all HUD and/or other federal, state, or local governmental assistance to be disclosed by the project owner using Form HUD-2880. Appendix A of FR Notice 2/28/20 contains a list of all required documentation.
Either HUD or a HUD-approved housing credit agency (HCA) in the PHA’s jurisdiction performs the subsidy layering review. The PHA must request an SLR through their local HUD Field Office or, if eligible, through a participating HCA.
If the SLR request is submitted to an approved HCA, and the proposed project-based voucher assistance meets HUD subsidy layering requirements, the HCA must submit a certification to HUD and notify the PHA. The PHA may proceed to execute an AHAP at that time if the environmental approval is received.
The HAP contract must contain the owner's certification that the project has not received and will not receive (before or during the term of the HAP contract) any public assistance for acquisition, development, or operation of the housing other than assistance disclosed in the subsidy layering review in accordance with HUD requirements.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-12 Revised 10/31/2024 17-II.F. CAP ON NUMBER OF PBV UNITS IN EACH PROJECT
25 Percent per Project Cap [24 CFR 983.56, FR Notice 1/18/17, and Notice PIH 2017-21] In general, the PHA may not select a proposal to provide PBV assistance for units in a project or enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP or a HAP contract to provide PBV assistance for units in a project, if the total number of dwelling units in the project that will receive PBV assistance during the term of the PBV HAP contract is more than the greater of 25 units or 25 percent of the number of dwelling units (assisted or unassisted) in the project.
Exceptions to 25 Percent per Project Cap [FR Notice 1/18/17; Notice PIH 2017-21] As of April 18, 2017, units are not counted against the 25 percent or 25-unit per project cap if:
• The units are exclusively for elderly families
• The units are for households eligible for supportive services available to all families receiving PBV assistance in the project
− If the project is located in a census tract with a poverty rate of 20 percent or less, as determined in the most recent American Community Survey Five-Year estimates, the project cap is the greater of 25 units or 40 percent (instead of 25 percent) of the units in the project [FR Notice 7/14/17].
The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) eliminated the project cap exemption for projects that serve disabled families and modified the exception for supportive services.
Projects where these caps were implemented prior to HOTMA (HAP contracts executed prior to April 18, 2017) may continue to use the former exceptions and may renew their HAP contracts under the old requirements, unless the PHA and owner agree to change the conditions of the HAP contract. However, this change may not be made if it would jeopardize an assisted family’s eligibility for continued assistance in the project.
Supportive Services
PHAs must include in the PHA administrative plan the type of services offered to families for a project to qualify for the exception and the extent to which such services will be provided. As of April 18, 2017, the project must make supportive services available to all families receiving PBV assistance in the project, but the family does not actually have to accept and receive supportive services for the exception to apply to the unit, although the family must be eligible to receive the supportive services. It is not necessary that the services be provided at or by the project, but must be reasonably available to families receiving PBV assistance at the project and designed to help families in the project achieve self-sufficiency or live in the community as independently as possible A PHA may not require participation in the supportive service as a condition of living in the excepted unit, although such services may be offered.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-13 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA Policy
Excepted units will be targeted toward elderly families, households either at risk of homelessness (30% or below AMI) or homeless, and family households. All such households must receive services that include but may not be limited to self-sufficiency services, recreational activities, educational programs, life skills, financial management, job training, medical services, or counseling to the extent necessary for the effective operation of the project.
Projects not Subject to a Project Cap [FR Notice 1/18/17; Notice PIH 2017-21] PBV units that were previously subject to certain federal rent restrictions or receiving another type of long-term housing subsidy provided by HUD are exempt from the project cap. In other words, 100 percent of the units in these projects may receive PBV assistance.
PHA Policy
The PHA does not have any PBV units that are subject to the per project cap exception.
Promoting Partially Assisted Projects [24 CFR 983.56(c)] A PHA may establish local requirements designed to promote PBV assistance in partially assisted projects. A partially assisted project is a project in which there are fewer units covered by a HAP contract than residential units [24 CFR 983.3].
A PHA may establish a per-project cap on the number of units that will receive PBV assistance or other project-based assistance in a multifamily project containing excepted units or in a single-family building.
A PHA may also determine not to provide PBV assistance for excepted units, or the PHA may establish a per-project cap of less than 25 units or 25 percent of units.
PHA Policy:
The PHA will not impose any further cap on the number of PBV units assisted per project.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-14 Revised 10/31/2024 17-II.G. SITE SELECTION STANDARDS
Compliance with PBV Goals, Civil Rights Requirements, and HQS Site Standards [24 CFR 983.57(b)]
The PHA may not select a proposal for existing, newly constructed, or rehabilitated PBV housing on a site or enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP contract or HAP contract for units on the site, unless the PHA has determined that PBV assistance for housing at the selected site is consistent with the goal of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities. The standard for deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities must be consistent with the PHA Plan under 24 CFR 903 and the PHA administrative plan.
In addition, prior to selecting a proposal, the PHA must determine that the site is suitable from the standpoint of facilitating and furthering full compliance with the applicable Civil Rights Laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, and that the site meets the HQS site and neighborhood standards at 24 CFR 982.401(l).
PHA Policy
It is the PHA goal to select sites for PBV housing that provide for deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities. In complying with this goal the PHA will limit approval of sites for PBV housing in census tracts that have poverty concentrations of 20 percent or less.
However, the PHA will grant exceptions to the 20 percent standard where the PHA determines that the PBV assistance will complement other local redevelopment activities designed to deconcentrate poverty and expand housing and economic opportunities in census tracts with poverty concentrations greater than 20 percent, such as sites in:
A census tract in which the proposed PBV development will be located in a HUD- designated Enterprise Zone, Economic Community, Choice Neighborhood, or Renewal Community;
A census tract where the concentration of assisted units will be or has decreased as a result of public housing demolition and HOPE VI redevelopment; A census tract in which the proposed PBV development will be located is undergoing significant revitalization as a result of state, local, or federal dollars invested in the area; A census tract where new market rate units are being developed where such market rate units will positively impact the poverty rate in the area; A census tract where there has been an overall decline in the poverty rate within the past five years; or
A census tract where there are meaningful opportunities for educational and economic advancement.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-15 Revised 10/31/2024 Existing and Rehabilitated Housing Site and Neighborhood Standards [24 CFR 983.57(d)] The PHA may not enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP contract nor enter into a HAP contract for existing or rehabilitated housing until it has determined that the site complies with the HUD required site and neighborhood standards. The site must:
• Be adequate in size, exposure, and contour to accommodate the number and type of units proposed; • Have adequate utilities and streets available to service the site; • Promote a greater choice of housing opportunities and avoid undue concentration of assisted persons in areas containing a high proportion of low-income persons; • Be accessible to social, recreational, educational, commercial, and health facilities and services and other municipal facilities and services equivalent to those found in neighborhoods consisting largely of unassisted similar units; and
• Be located so that travel time and cost via public transportation or private automobile from the neighborhood to places of employment is not excessive.
New Construction Site and Neighborhood Standards [24 CFR 983.57(e)] In order to be selected for PBV assistance, a site for newly constructed housing must meet the following HUD required site and neighborhood standards:
• The site must be adequate in size, exposure, and contour to accommodate the number and type of units proposed;
• The site must have adequate utilities and streets available to service the site; • The site must not be located in an area of minority concentration unless the PHA determines that sufficient, comparable opportunities exist for housing for minority families in the income range to be served by the proposed project outside areas of minority concentration or that the project is necessary to meet overriding housing needs that cannot be met in that housing market area; • The site must not be located in a racially mixed area if the project will cause a significant increase in the proportion of minority to non-minority residents in the area. • The site must promote a greater choice of housing opportunities and avoid undue concentration of assisted persons in areas containing a high proportion of low-income persons; • The neighborhood must not be one that is seriously detrimental to family life or in which substandard dwellings or other undesirable conditions predominate;
• The housing must be accessible to social, recreational, educational, commercial, and health facilities and services and other municipal facilities and services equivalent to those found in neighborhoods consisting largely of unassisted similar units; and
• Except for housing designed for elderly persons, the housing must be located so that travel time and cost via public transportation or private automobile from the neighborhood to places of employment is not excessive.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-16 Revised 10/31/2024 17-II.H. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW [24 CFR 983.58]
The PHA activities under the PBV program are subject to HUD environmental regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and 58. The responsible entity is responsible for performing the federal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The PHA may not enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP contract nor enter into a HAP contract until it has complied with the environmental review requirements.
In the case of existing housing, the responsible entity that is responsible for the environmental review under 24 CFR part 58 must determine whether or not PBV assistance is categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act and whether or not the assistance is subject to review under the laws and authorities listed in 24 CFR 58.5.
The PHA may not enter into an agreement to enter into a HAP contract or a HAP contract with an owner, and the PHA, the owner, and its contractors may not acquire, rehabilitate, convert, lease, repair, dispose of, demolish, or construct real property or commit or expend program or local funds for PBV activities under this part, until the environmental review is completed.
The PHA must supply all available, relevant information necessary for the responsible entity to perform any required environmental review for any site. The PHA must require the owner to carry out mitigating measures required by the responsible entity (or HUD, if applicable) as a result of the environmental review.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-17 Revised 10/31/2024 PART III: DWELLING UNITS
17-III.A. OVERVIEW
This part identifies the special housing quality standards that apply to the PBV program, housing accessibility for persons with disabilities, and special procedures for conducting housing quality standards inspections.
17-III.B. HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS [24 CFR 983.101]
The housing quality standards (HQS) for the tenant-based program, including those for special housing types, generally apply to the PBV program. HQS requirements for shared housing, manufactured home space rental, and the homeownership option do not apply because these housing types are not assisted under the PBV program.
The physical condition standards at 24 CFR 5.703 do not apply to the PBV program.
Lead-based Paint [24 CFR 983.101(c)]
The lead-based paint requirements for the tenant-based voucher program do not apply to the PBV program. Instead, The Lead-based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. 4821-4846), the Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4851-4856), and implementing regulations at 24 CFR Part 35, Subparts A, B, H, and R, and 40 CFR 745.227, apply to the PBV program. 17-III.C. HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES The housing must comply with program accessibility requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 8. The PHA must ensure that the percentage of accessible dwelling units complies with the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), as implemented by HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 8, subpart C.
Housing first occupied after March 13, 1991, must comply with design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and implementing regulations at 24 CFR 100.205, as applicable. (24 CFR 983.102)
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-18 Revised 10/31/2024 17-III.D. INSPECTING UNITS
Pre-selection Inspection [24 CFR 983.103(a)]
The PHA must examine the proposed site before the proposal selection date. If the units to be assisted already exist, the PHA must inspect all the units before the proposal selection date, and must determine whether the units substantially comply with HQS. To qualify as existing housing, units must substantially comply with HQS on the proposal selection date. However, the PHA may not execute the HAP contract until the units fully comply with HQS.
Pre-HAP Contract Inspections [24 CFR 983.103(b), FR Notice 1/18/17, and Notice PIH 2017-20] The PHA must inspect each contract unit before execution of the HAP contract. The PHA may not provide assistance on behalf of the family until the unit fully complies with HQS, unless the PHA has adopted a policy to enter into a HAP contract for units that fail the initial HQS inspection as a result of only non-life-threatening conditions, or if the unit passed an alternative inspection.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not provide assistance on behalf of the family until the unit fully complies with HQS.
If the effective date of a PBV’s initial inspection is more than 90 days from the effective date of the lease and tenancy addendum, another inspection is not necessary as long as the property certifies in writing that:
• The unit has not been occupied since the date the unit pass the initial HQS inspection; and • The unit remains in the same rent-ready condition as when it passed HQS inspection.
Turnover Inspections [24 CFR 983.103(c)]
Before providing assistance to a new family in a contract unit, the PHA must inspect the unit. The PHA may not provide assistance on behalf of the family until the unit fully complies with HQS.
Annual/Biennial Inspections [24 CFR 983.103(d); FR Notice 6/25/14] At least once every 24 months during the term of the HAP contract, the PHA must inspect a random sample consisting of at least 20 percent of the contract units in each building to determine if the contract units and the premises are maintained in accordance with HQS. Turnover inspections are not counted toward meeting this inspection requirement. The PHA also has the option in certain mixed finance properties to rely on alternative inspections conducted at least triennially.
PHA Policy
The PHA will inspect on an annual basis a random sample consisting of at least 20 percent of the contract units in each building to determine if the contract units and the premises are maintained in accordance with HQS.
If more than 20 percent of the sample of inspected contract units in a building fail the initial inspection, the PHA must reinspect 100 percent of the contract units in the building.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-19 Revised 10/31/2024 Other Inspections [24 CFR 983.103(e)]
The PHA must inspect contract units whenever needed to determine that the contract units comply with HQS and that the owner is providing maintenance, utilities, and other services in accordance with the HAP contract. The PHA must take into account complaints and any other information coming to its attention in scheduling inspections.
The PHA must conduct follow-up inspections needed to determine if the owner (or, if applicable, the family) has corrected an HQS violation, and must conduct inspections to determine the basis for exercise of contractual and other remedies for owner or family violation of HQS.
In conducting PHA supervisory quality control HQS inspections, the PHA should include a representative sample of both tenant-based and project-based units.
Inspecting PHA-Owned Units [24 CFR 983.103(f)]
In the case of PHA-owned units, the inspections must be performed by an independent entity designated by the PHA and approved by HUD. The independent entity must furnish a copy of each inspection report to the PHA and to the HUD field office where the project is located. The PHA must take all necessary actions in response to inspection reports from the independent entity, including exercise of contractual remedies for violation of the HAP contract by the PHA-owner.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-20 Revised 10/31/2024 PART IV: REHABILITATED AND NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNITS
17-IV.A. OVERVIEW [24 CFR 983.151]
There are specific requirements that apply to PBV assistance for newly constructed or rehabilitated housing that do not apply to PBV assistance in existing housing. This part describes the requirements unique to this type of assistance.
Housing selected for this type of assistance may not at a later date be selected for PBV assistance as existing housing.
17-IV.B. AGREEMENT TO ENTER INTO HAP CONTRACT
In order to offer PBV assistance in rehabilitated or newly constructed units, the PHA must enter into an agreement to enter into HAP contract (Agreement) with the owner of the property. The Agreement must be in the form required by HUD [24 CFR 983.152(b)]. The PHA may not enter into an Agreement if commencement of construction or rehabilitation has commenced after proposal submission [24 CFR 983.152(c)]. Construction begins when excavation or site preparation (including clearing of the land) begins for the housing. Rehabilitation begins with the physical commencement of rehabilitation activity on the housing.
In the Agreement the owner agrees to develop the PBV contract units to comply with HQS, and the PHA agrees that upon timely completion of such development in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the PHA will enter into a HAP contract with the owner for the contract units [24 CFR 983.152(a)].
Content of the Agreement [24 CFR 983.152(d)]
At a minimum, the Agreement must describe the following features of the housing to be developed and assisted under the PBV program:
• Site and the location of the contract units;
• Number of contract units by area (size) and number of bedrooms and bathrooms; • Services, maintenance, or equipment to be supplied by the owner without charges in addition to the rent;
• Utilities available to the contract units, including a specification of utility services to be paid by the owner and utility services to be paid by the tenant;
• An indication of whether or not the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 apply to units under the Agreement. If applicable, any required work item resulting from these requirements must be included in the description of work to be performed under the Agreement;
• Estimated initial rents to owner for the contract units; • Description of the work to be performed under the Agreement. For rehabilitated units, the description must include the rehabilitation work write up and, where determined necessary by the PHA, specifications and plans. For new construction units, the description must include the working drawings and specifications.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-21 Revised 10/31/2024 • Any additional requirements for quality, architecture, or design over and above HQS.
Execution of the Agreement [24 CFR 983.153]
The Agreement must be executed promptly after PHA notice of proposal selection to the selected owner.
The PHA may not enter into the Agreement if construction or rehabilitation has started after proposal submission. Generally, the PHA may not enter into the Agreement with the owner until the subsidy layering review is completed. Likewise, the PHA may not enter into the Agreement until the environmental review is completed and the PHA has received environmental approval. However, the PHA does not need to conduct a subsidy layering review in the case of a HAP contract for existing housing or if the applicable state or local agency has conducted such a review. Similarly, environmental reviews are not required for existing structures unless otherwise required by law or regulation.
PHA Policy
The PHA will enter into the Agreement with the owner within 10 business days of receiving both environmental approval and notice that subsidy layering requirements have been met, and before construction or rehabilitation work is started.
17-IV.C. CONDUCT OF DEVELOPMENT WORK
Labor Standards [24 CFR 983.154(b)]
If an Agreement covers the development of nine or more contract units (whether or not completed in stages), the owner and the owner’s contractors and subcontractors must pay Davis-Bacon wages to laborers and mechanics employed in the development of housing. The HUD-prescribed form of the Agreement will include the labor standards clauses required by HUD, such as those involving Davis- Bacon wage rates.
The owner, contractors, and subcontractors must also comply with the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, Department of Labor regulations in 29 CFR part 5, and other applicable federal labor relations laws and regulations. The PHA must monitor compliance with labor standards.
Owner Disclosure [24 CFR 983.154(d) and (e)]
The Agreement and HAP contract must include a certification by the owner that the owner and other project principals are not on the U.S. General Services Administration list of parties excluded from federal procurement and non-procurement programs.
The owner must also disclose any possible conflict of interest that would be a violation of the Agreement, the HAP contract, or HUD regulations.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-22 Revised 10/31/2024 17-IV.D. COMPLETION OF HOUSING
The Agreement must specify the deadlines for completion of the housing, and the owner must develop and complete the housing in accordance with these deadlines. The Agreement must also specify the deadline for submission by the owner of the required evidence of completion.
Evidence of Completion [24 CFR 983.155(b)]
At a minimum, the owner must submit the following evidence of completion to the PHA in the form and manner required by the PHA:
• Owner certification that the work has been completed in accordance with HQS and all requirements of the Agreement; and
• Owner certification that the owner has complied with labor standards and equal opportunity requirements in development of the housing.
At the PHA’s discretion, the Agreement may specify additional documentation that must be submitted by the owner as evidence of housing completion.
PHA Policy
The PHA will determine the need for the owner to submit additional documentation as evidence of housing completion on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the PBV project. The PHA will specify any additional documentation requirements in the Agreement to enter into HAP contract.
PHA Acceptance of Completed Units [24 CFR 983.156]
Upon notice from the owner that the housing is completed, the PHA must inspect to determine if the housing has been completed in accordance with the Agreement, including compliance with HQS and any additional requirements imposed under the Agreement. The PHA must also determine if the owner has submitted all required evidence of completion.
If the work has not been completed in accordance with the Agreement, the PHA must not enter into the HAP contract.
If the PHA determines the work has been completed in accordance with the Agreement and that the owner has submitted all required evidence of completion, the PHA must submit the HAP contract for execution by the owner and must then execute the HAP contract.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-23 Revised 10/31/2024 PART V: HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS CONTRACT (HAP)
17-V.A. OVERVIEW
The PHA must enter into a HAP contract with an owner for units that are receiving PBV assistance. The purpose of the HAP contract is to provide housing assistance payments for eligible families. Housing assistance is paid for contract units leased and occupied by eligible families during the HAP contract term.
With the exception of single-family scattered-site projects, a HAP contract shall cover a single project. If multiple projects exist, each project is covered by a separate HAP contract. The HAP contract must be in the form required by HUD [24 CFR 983.202(a)].
17-V.B. HAP CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
Contract Information [24 CFR 983.203]
The HAP contract must specify the following information:
• The total number of contract units by number of bedrooms; • The project’s name, street address, city or county, state and zip code, block and lot number (if known), and any other information necessary to clearly identify the site and the building; • The number of contract units in each building, the location of each contract unit, the area of each contract unit, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in each contract unit; • Services, maintenance, and equipment to be supplied by the owner and included in the rent to owner; • Utilities available to the contract units, including a specification of utility services to be paid by the owner (included in rent) and utility services to be paid by the tenant; • Features provided to comply with program accessibility requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 8; • The HAP contract term;
• The number of units in any project that will exceed the 25 percent per project cap, which will be set aside for occupancy by qualifying families (elderly and/or disabled families and families receiving supportive services); and
• The initial rent to owner for the first 12 months of the HAP contract term.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-24 Revised 10/31/2024 Execution of the HAP Contract [24 CFR 983.204]
The PHA may not enter into a HAP contract until each contract unit has been inspected and the PHA has determined that the unit complies with the Housing Quality Standards (HQS), unless the PHA has adopted a policy to enter into a HAP contract for units that fail the initial HQS inspection as a result of only non- life-threatening conditions. For existing housing, the HAP contract must be executed promptly after the PHA selects the owner proposal and inspects the housing units. For newly constructed or rehabilitated housing the HAP contract must be executed after the PHA has inspected the completed units and has determined that the units have been completed in accordance with the agreement to enter into HAP, and the owner furnishes all required evidence of completion.
PHA Policy
For existing housing, the HAP contract will be executed within 10 business days of the PHA determining that all units pass HQS.
For rehabilitated or newly constructed housing, the HAP contract will be executed within 10 business days of the PHA determining that the units have been completed in accordance with the agreement to enter into HAP, all units meet HQS, and the owner has submitted all required evidence of completion.
Term of HAP Contract [24 CFR 983.205, FR Notice 1/18/17, and Notice PIH 2017-21] The PHA may enter into a HAP contract with an owner for an initial term of no less than one year and no more than 20 years for each contract unit. The length of the term of the HAP contract for any contract unit may not be less than one year, nor more than 20 years. In the case of PHA-owned units, the term of the HAP contract must be agreed upon by the PHA and the independent entity approved by HUD [24 CFR 983.59(b)(2)].
PHA Policy
The term of all PBV HAP contracts will be negotiated with the owner on a case-by-case basis.
At the time of the initial HAP contract term or any time before expiration of the HAP contract, the PHA may extend the term of the contract for an additional term of up to 20 years if the PHA determines an extension is appropriate to continue providing affordable housing for low-income families. A HAP contract extension may not exceed 20 years. A PHA may provide for multiple extensions; however, in no circumstances may such extensions exceed 20 years, cumulatively. Extensions after the initial extension are allowed at the end of any extension term, provided that not more than 24 months prior to the expiration of the previous extension contract the PHA agrees to extend the term, and that such extension is appropriate to continue providing affordable housing for low-income families or to expand housing opportunities. Extensions after the initial extension term shall not begin prior to the expiration date of the previous extension term. Subsequent extensions are subject to the same limitations. All extensions must be on the form and subject to the conditions prescribed by HUD at the time of the extension. In the case of PHA-owned units, any extension of the term of the HAP contract must be agreed upon by the PHA and the independent entity approved by HUD [24 CFR 983.59(b)(2)].
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-25 Revised 10/31/2024 PHA Policy
When determining whether or not to extend an expiring PBV contract, the PHA will consider several factors including, but not limited to:
The cost of extending the contract and the amount of available budget authority; The condition of the contract units;
The owner’s record of compliance with obligations under the HAP contract and lease(s); Whether the location of the units continues to support the goals of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing opportunities; and
Whether the funding could be used more appropriately for tenant-based assistance.
Termination by PHA [24 CFR 983.205(c) and FR Notice 1/18/17] The HAP contract must provide that the term of the PHA’s contractual commitment is subject to the availability of sufficient appropriated funding as determined by HUD or by the PHA in accordance with HUD instructions. For these purposes, sufficient funding means the availability of appropriations, and of funding under the ACC from such appropriations, to make full payment of housing assistance payments payable to the owner for any contract year in accordance with the terms of the HAP contract.
In times of insufficient funding, HUD requires that PHAs first take all cost-saving measures prior to failing to make payments under existing PBV HAP contracts.
If it is determined that there may not be sufficient funding to continue housing assistance payments for all contract units and for the full term of the HAP contract, the PHA may terminate the HAP contract by notice to the owner. The termination must be implemented in accordance with HUD instructions.
Termination by Owner [24 CFR 983.205(d)]
If in accordance with program requirements the amount of rent to an owner for any contract unit is reduced below the amount of the rent to owner at the beginning of the HAP contract term, the owner may terminate the HAP contract by giving notice to the PHA. In this case, families living in the contract units must be offered tenant-based assistance. Page 538 of 977 HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-26 Revised 10/31/2024 Statutory Notice Requirements: Contract Termination or Expiration [24 CFR 983.206, FR Notice 1/18/17, and Notice PIH 2017-21]
Not less than one year before the HAP contract terminates, or if the owner refuses to renew the HAP contract, the owner must notify the PHA and assisted tenants of the termination. The notice must be provided in the form prescribed by HUD. If the owner does not give timely notice, the owner must permit the tenants in assisted units to remain in their units for the required notice period with no increase in the tenant portion of their rent, and with no eviction as a result of the owner's inability to collect an increased tenant portion of rent. An owner may renew the terminating contract for a period of time sufficient to give tenants one-year advance notice under such terms as HUD may require.
Upon termination or expiration of the contract, a family living at the property is entitled to receive a tenant-based voucher. Tenant-based assistance would not begin until the owner’s required notice period ends. The PHA must provide the family with a voucher and the family must also be given the option by the PHA and owner to remain in their unit with HCV tenant-based assistance as long as the unit complies with inspection and rent reasonableness requirements. The family must pay their total tenant payment (TTP) and any additional amount if the gross rent exceeds the applicable payment standard. The family has the right to remain in the project as long as the units are used for rental housing and are otherwise eligible for HCV assistance. The owner may not terminate the tenancy of a family that exercises its right to remain except for serious or repeated lease violations or other good cause. Families that receive a tenant-based voucher at the expiration or termination of the PBV HAP contract are not new admissions to the PHA HCV tenant-based program and are not subject to income eligibility requirements or any other admission requirements. If the family chooses to remain in their unit with tenant-based assistance, the family may do so regardless of whether the family share would initially exceed 40 percent of the family’s adjusted monthly income.
Remedies for HQS Violations [24 CFR 983.208(b)]
The PHA may not make any HAP payment to the owner for a contract unit during any period in which the unit does not comply with HQS. If the PHA determines that a contract does not comply with HQS, the PHA may exercise any of its remedies under the HAP contract, for any or all of the contract units.
Available remedies include termination of housing assistance payments, abatement or reduction of housing assistance payments, reduction of contract units, and termination of the HAP contract.
PHA Policy
The PHA will abate and terminate PBV HAP contracts for non-compliance with HQS in accordance with the policies used in the tenant-based voucher program. These policies are contained in Section 8-II.G., Enforcing Owner Compliance.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-27 Revised 10/31/2024 17-V.C. AMENDMENTS TO THE HAP CONTRACT
Substitution of Contract Units [24 CFR 983.207(a)]
At the PHA’s discretion and subject to all PBV requirements, the HAP contract may be amended to substitute a different unit with the same number of bedrooms in the same project for a previously covered contract unit. Before any such substitution can take place, the PHA must inspect the proposed unit and determine the reasonable rent for the unit.
Addition of Contract Units [FR Notice 1/18/17 and Notice PIH 2017-21] The PHA and owner may amend the HAP contract to add additional PBV contract units in projects that already have a HAP contract without having to fulfill the selection requirements found at 24 CFR 983.51(b) for those additional PBV units, regardless of when the HAP contract was signed. The additional PBV units, however, are still subject to the PBV program cap and individual project caps. Prior to attaching additional units without competition, the PHA must submit to the local field office information outlined in FR Notice 1/18/17. The PHA must also detail in the administrative plan their intent to add PBV units and the rationale for adding units to the specific PBV project.
PHA Policy
The PHA will add units to the contract on a case-by-case basis to ensure the availability of affordable housing as long as the addition of units does not exceed allowable project caps. 17-V.D. HAP CONTRACT YEAR, ANNIVERSARY AND EXPIRATION DATES [24 CFR 983.207(b) and 983.302(e)]
The HAP contract year is the period of 12 calendar months preceding each annual anniversary of the HAP contract during the HAP contract term. The initial contract year is calculated from the first day of the first calendar month of the HAP contract term.
The annual anniversary of the HAP contract is the first day of the first calendar month after the end of the preceding contract year.
There is a single annual anniversary and expiration date for all units under a particular HAP contract, even in cases where contract units are placed under the HAP contract in stages (on different dates) or units are added by amendment. The anniversary and expiration dates for all units coincide with the dates for the contract units that were originally placed under contract.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-28 Revised 10/31/2024 17-V.E. OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE HAP CONTRACT [24 CFR 983.210] When the owner executes the HAP contract s/he certifies that at such execution and at all times during the term of the HAP contract:
• All contract units are in good condition and the owner is maintaining the premises and contract units in accordance with HQS;
• The owner is providing all services, maintenance, equipment and utilities as agreed to under the HAP contract and the leases;
• Each contract unit for which the owner is receiving HAP, is leased to an eligible family referred by the PHA, and the lease is in accordance with the HAP contract and HUD requirements; • To the best of the owner’s knowledge the family resides in the contract unit for which the owner is receiving HAP, and the unit is the family’s only residence; • The owner (including a principal or other interested party) is not the spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother of any member of a family residing in a contract unit; • The amount of the HAP the owner is receiving is correct under the HAP contract; • The rent for contract units does not exceed rents charged by the owner for comparable unassisted units;
• Except for HAP and tenant rent, the owner has not received and will not receive any other payment or consideration for rental of the contract unit;
• The family does not own or have any interest in the contract unit (does not apply to family's membership in a cooperative); and
• Repair work on the project selected as an existing project that is performed after HAP execution within such post-execution period as specified by HUD may constitute development activity, and if determined to be development activity, the repair work undertaken shall be in compliance with Davis- Bacon wage requirements.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-29 Revised 10/31/2024 17-V.F. ADDITIONAL HAP REQUIREMENTS
Housing Quality and Design Requirements [24 CFR 983.101(e) and 983.208(a)] The owner is required to maintain and operate the contract units and premises in accordance with HQS, including performance of ordinary and extraordinary maintenance. The owner must provide all the services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities specified in the HAP contract with the PHA and in the lease with each assisted family. In addition, maintenance, replacement, and redecoration must be in accordance with the standard practice for the building as established by the owner.
The PHA may elect to establish additional requirements for quality, architecture, or design of PBV housing. Any such additional requirements must be specified in the Agreement to enter into a HAP contract and the HAP contract. These requirements must be in addition to, not in place of, compliance with HQS.
PHA Policy
The PHA will identify the need for any special features on a case-by-case basis depending on the intended occupancy of the PBV project. The PHA will specify any special design standards or additional requirements in the invitation for PBV proposals, the agreement to enter into HAP contract, and the HAP contract.
Vacancy Payments [24 CFR 983.352(b)]
At the discretion of the PHA, the HAP contract may provide for vacancy payments to the owner for a PHA-determined period of vacancy extending from the beginning of the first calendar month after the move-out month for a period not exceeding two full months following the move-out month. The amount of the vacancy payment will be determined by the PHA and cannot exceed the monthly rent to owner under the assisted lease, minus any portion of the rental payment received by the owner (including amounts available from the tenant’s security deposit
The PHA may make vacancy payments to the owner only if:
• The owner gives the PHA prompt written notice certifying that the family has vacated the unit.
The date the family moved out (to the best of the owner’s knowledge and belief) must be included in the notice.
• The owner certifies that the vacancy is not the fault of the owner and that the unit was vacant during the period for which payment is claimed
• The owner certifies that it has taken every reasonable action to minimize the likelihood and length of vacancy
• The owner provides any additional information required and requested by the PHA to verify that the owner is entitled to the vacancy payment
• The owner must submit a request for vacancy payment in the form and manner required by the PHA and must provide any information or substantiation required by the PHA to determine the amount of any vacancy payment.
PHA Policy
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-30 Revised 10/31/2024 If an assisted family moves out of the unit, the owner may keep the housing assistance payment payable for the calendar month when the family moves out (“move-out month”). However, the owner may not keep the payment if the PHA determines that the vacancy is the owner's fault.
When a family vacates its unit, the owner is eligible for a vacancy loss payment if:
• The owner requests in writing for the vacancy loss within 90 days of the unit rent ready date.
The PHA will decide on a case-by-case basis if the PHA will provide vacancy payments to the owner. The HAP contract with the owner will contain any such agreement, including the amount of the vacancy payment and the period for which the owner will qualify for these payments.
The PHA will calculate vacancy loss based on the following, but not limited to:
• Any rental payment received by the owner from the tenant (including amounts available from the tenant’s security deposit) will be deducted from the Vacancy Loss amount • Vacancy loss extends from the beginning of the first calendar month after the move-out month for a period not exceeding two full months following the move-out month. • Vacancy loss calculation will be based on actual calendar days per month Vacancy loss begins the latter of:
• the unit is rent ready
• the day after the lease end date for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was paid to the Owner
Vacancy payments may cover only the period the unit remains vacant and is in rent-ready condition.
The PHA will compare when the unit was rent ready, date unit passed inspection and date family review was forwarded to complex to verify the vacancy loss amount.
The PHA will not pay a vacancy loss for a unit that remains vacant when the wait list for that complex is open and does not have any applicants of that bedroom size for the PHA to select from. This shows that the owner has not taken every reasonable action to minimize the length of unit vacancy.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-31 Revised 10/31/2024 PART VI: SELECTION OF PBV PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
17-VI.A. OVERVIEW
Many of the provisions of the tenant-based voucher regulations [24 CFR 982] also apply to the PBV program. This includes requirements related to determining eligibility and selecting applicants from the waiting list. Even with these similarities, there are requirements that are unique to the PBV program. This part describes the requirements and policies related to eligibility and admission to the PBV program. 17-VI.B. ELIGIBILITY FOR PBV ASSISTANCE [24 CFR 983.251(a) and (b)] The PHA may select families for the PBV program from those who are participants in the PHA’s tenant- based voucher program and from those who have applied for admission to the voucher program. For voucher participants, eligibility was determined at original admission to the voucher program and does not need to be redetermined at the commencement of PBV assistance. For all others, eligibility for admission must be determined at the commencement of PBV assistance.
Applicants for PBV assistance must meet the same eligibility requirements as applicants for the tenant- based voucher program. Applicants must qualify as a family as defined by HUD and the PHA, have income at or below HUD-specified income limits, and qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible immigration status of family members [24 CFR 982.201(a) and 24 CFR 983.2(a)]. In addition, an applicant family must provide social security information for family members [24 CFR 5.216 and 5.218] and consent to the PHA’s collection and use of family information regarding income, expenses, and family composition [24 CFR 5.230]. The PHA may also not approve a tenancy if the owner (including a principal or other interested party) of the unit is the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother of any member of the family, unless needed as a reasonable accommodation. An applicant family must also meet HUD requirements related to current or past criminal activity.
PHA Policy
The PHA will determine an applicant family’s eligibility for the PBV program in accordance with the policies in Chapter 3.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-32 Revised 10/31/2024 In-Place Families [24 CFR 983.251(b)]
An eligible family residing in a proposed PBV contract unit on the date the proposal is selected by the PHA is considered an “in-place family.” These families are afforded protection from displacement under the PBV rule. If a unit to be placed under contract (either an existing unit or a unit requiring rehabilitation) is occupied by an eligible family on the date the proposal is selected, the in-place family must be placed on the PHA’s waiting list. Once the family’s continued eligibility is determined (the PHA may deny assistance to an in-place family for the grounds specified in 24 CFR 982.552 and 982.553), the family must be given an absolute selection preference and the PHA must refer these families to the project owner for an appropriately sized PBV unit in the project. Admission of eligible in-place families is not subject to income targeting requirements.
This regulatory protection from displacement does not apply to families that are not eligible to participate in the program on the proposal selection date.
17-VI.C. ORGANIZATION OF THE WAITING LIST [24 CFR 983.251(c)] The PHA may establish a separate waiting list for PBV units or it may use the same waiting list for both tenant-based and project-based assistance. The PHA may also merge the PBV waiting list with a waiting list for other assisted housing programs offered by the PHA. If the PHA chooses to offer a separate waiting list for PBV assistance, the PHA must offer to place applicants who are listed on the tenant-based waiting list on the waiting list for PBV assistance.
If a PHA decides to establish a separate PBV waiting list, the PHA may use a single waiting list for the PHA’s whole PBV program, or it may establish separate waiting lists for PBV units in particular projects or buildings or for sets of such units.
PHA Policy
The PHA will establish and manage waiting lists for individual projects or buildings that are receiving PBV assistance. The PHA may choose to use an existing list to serve another site using the same preferences or it may choose to create a new site-based wait list as the need arises. The PHA may also receive referrals from homeless service providers whether the wait list is open or closed, in order to house homeless families.
Wait lists may be site-based or the waitlists for different sites may be consolidated if the preferences and/or eligible population are the same.
Sites with Wait Lists Filled Via Referrals
The PHA has issued and expects to periodically issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for project-based vouchers to serve homeless families where supportive services are provided at/in close proximity to the site to support the families in their efforts to become stably housed. Because homeless families/individuals are not easily served with a wait list open to the public, the site awarded PBV for this purpose can request that families filling vacant units come via referral from a partnering service agency. Wait lists for these properties are not open to the public but are open to receiving referrals from partnering service agencies
When considering the utilization of this methodology to fill vacant units, the PBV Site Owner/Developer will submit to the PHA:
A. A letter on letterhead
1. requesting to fill vacant units via referrals from the service provider to the wait list;
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-33 Revised 10/31/2024
2. committing to notify the PHA when/if there is a new service provider;
B. A copy of the contract between the service provider and the site owner/developer;
C. A certification from the service provider that they will not deny services to a member of any federally protected class under fair housing laws, i.e., race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.
D. Signed copy of FHA’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) document.
The wait list will be open for these sites to receive referrals of homeless individuals/families from the service providers to the wait list only.
Local Preferences:
• Homeless individuals/families referred by Service Provider (100 points) Fair Haven Commons
Fair Haven Commons was awarded project-based units. Most units are restricted to housing homeless families/individuals needing supportive services/whole person care. Only a few of these units can be filled with no restrictions except for the residency preference required by FHA.
For the restricted units, FHA will receive referrals to fill a vacancy from a third-party vendor identified by Fair Haven Commons that will send referrals from the Coordinated Entry System (CES). These families are homeless or chronically homeless and require supportive services.
Supportive Services for Homeless Families
Supportive services will be provided by the owner/manager or their contractor. Services will be available either on site or in close proximity to the site so that services are accessible to families lacking transportation. Wait lists or referrals will be utilized to fill vacancies in a property where supportive services are provided for families transitioning from homelessness. Supportive services may include, but not be limited to:
• How to be a good neighbor;
• Bill paying / financial counseling;
• Household maintenance;
• Cooking economically;
• Establishing income;
• Substance abuse counseling;
• Parenting;
• Credit counseling;
• Behavioral health interventions;
• Job training and education; and
• Developing an Individualized Annual Service Plan.
The PHA currently has waiting lists for the following PBV projects:
Sunset Creek Apartments-840 East Travis Blvd Fairfield, CA 94533 This property has no property restrictions.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-34 Revised 10/31/2024 Laurel Gardens Apartments-201 E Alaska Ave, Fairfield, CA 94533 This property is restricted to homeless and disabled individuals and families only.
Gateway Village-2000 Pennsylvania Fairfield, CA 94533
This property is family housing. Some units are restricted to veterans only. The PHA may choose to use this waiting list for additional sites with the same preferences or choose to separate this list to create new separate site-based wait lists to serve a specific site. 17-VI.D. SELECTION FROM THE WAITING LIST [24 CFR 983.251(c)] Applicants who will occupy units with PBV assistance must be selected from the PHA’s waiting list. The PHA may establish selection criteria or preferences for occupancy of particular PBV units. The PHA may place families referred by the PBV owner on its PBV waiting list.
PHA Policy
The owner must promptly notify the PHA of any vacancy or expected vacancy in a contract unit. After receiving the owner notice, the PHA will make every reasonable effort to promptly refer a sufficient number of families to the owner in order to fill such vacancies. Vacant units will be filled by families on the current Project-Based wait list, in order of preference, and then by date and time the pre-application was received where preferences are the same or via approved referring agency.
Applicants who will occupy PBV units must be selected by the PHA from a wait list that is maintained by the PHA. They may either apply when the wait list is open, or they will be referred to the wait list by an agency serving homeless families. FHA will accept referrals for restricted units backfilled by a third-party vendor (see Section 17-VI.C),
For non-restricted units, when a site-based PBV wait list has been exhausted, the PHA will fill vacant units with families referred to FHA by the site’s owner/property management team or pull from another FHA wait list.
Income Targeting [24 CFR 983.251(c)(6)]
At least 75 percent of the families admitted to the PHA’s tenant-based and project-based voucher programs during the PHA fiscal year from the waiting list must be extremely low-income families. The income targeting requirement applies to the total of admissions to both programs.
Units with Accessibility Features [24 CFR 983.251(c)(7)] When selecting families to occupy PBV units that have special accessibility features for persons with disabilities, the PHA must first refer families who require such features to the owner.
Preferences [24 CFR 983.251(d), FR Notice 11/24/08]
The PHA may use the same selection preferences that are used for the tenant-based voucher program, establish selection criteria or preferences for the PBV program as a whole, or for occupancy of particular PBV developments or units. The PHA must provide an absolute selection preference for eligible in-place families as described in Section 17-VI.B. above.
The PHA may establish a selection preference for families who qualify for voluntary services, including disability-specific services, offered in conjunction with assisted units, provided that preference is
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-35 Revised 10/31/2024 consistent with the PHA plan. The PHA may not, however, grant a preference to a person with a specific disability [FR Notice 1/18/17].
In advertising such a project, the owner may advertise the project as offering services for a particular type of disability; however, the project must be open to all otherwise eligible disabled persons who may benefit from services provided in the project. In these projects, disabled residents may not be required to accept the particular services offered as a condition of occupancy.
If the PHA has projects with “excepted units” for elderly families or supportive services, the PHA must give preference to such families when referring families to these units [24 CFR 983.261(b); FR Notice 1/18/17].
PHA Policy
The PHA will provide a selection preference when required by the regulation (e.g., eligible in- place families, elderly families or units with supportive services, or mobility impaired persons for accessible units). In the event an owner is obligated to house specific populations in conformance with Federal, State or Local funding regulatory agreements, The PHA shall review the preferences for the designated site-based wait list and determine on a case by case basis whether a modification is required and will be adopted in this administrative plan. The following preferences have been adopted by the PHA for each of the PBV Site-Based Waiting Lists:
Sunset Creek Apartments-840 East Travis Blvd Fairfield, CA 94533 This property has no property restrictions. The waiting list preferences will be as follows:
1. The PHA will offer a preference to any family that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding.
This preference will be worth 30 points.
2. The PHA will offer a preference for applicant families who live within the city limits of Fairfield, or whose head, spouse, or co-head of household works (verifiable, paid employment) or have been notified that they are hired to work within the city limits of Fairfield. (The use of a residency preference will not have the purpose or effect of delaying or otherwise denying admission to the program based on the race, color, ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, or age of any member of an applicant family) This preference will be worth 25 points.
3. The PHA will offer a preference for families whose head of household, co-head of household, or spouse is a veteran.
This preference will be worth 20 points.
4. The PHA will offer a preference for families/individuals who are homelessor at risk of homelessness
This preference will be worth 12 points.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-36 Revised 10/31/2024
5. The PHA will offer a preference for families whose head of household, co-head of household, or spouse is elderly or disabled.
This preference will be worth 8 points.
6. The PHA will offer a preference to families that include victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who have either been referred by a partnering service agency or consortia. The applicant must certify that the abuser will not reside with the applicant unless the PHA gives prior written approval.
This preference will be worth 5 points.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-37 Revised 10/31/2024 Laurel Gardens Apartments-201 E Alaska Ave, Fairfield, CA 94533 This property is restricted to homeless and disabled individuals and families only. Only those who are currently homeless with a disability or At-risk of Homelessness with a disability will be allowed to be on this waiting list. The waiting preferences will be as follows:
1. Disability: Families/individuals whose head of household, co-head of household, or spouse is disabled; AND is homeless or at risk of being homeless This preference will be worth 60 points
2. Residency: Families/individuals who live within the city limits of Fairfield, or whose head, spouse, or co-head of household works (verifiable, paid employment) or have been notified that they are hired to work within the city limits of Fairfield; applicants must meet preference 1 for this wait list.
This preference will be worth 20 points
3. Elderly: Families/ individuals whose head of household, co-head of household, or spouse is elderly.
This preference will be worth 15 points
4. Insufficient Funding: Any family/individual that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding; applicants must meet preference 1 for this wait list
This preference will be worth 5 points
Gateway Village-2000 Pennsylvania Fairfield, CA 94533
This property is family housing. Some units are restricted to veterans only. The waiting list preferences for this property will be as follows:
For Veterans Restricted Units only
1. Families whose head of household, cohead or spouse is a veteran and is participating in VA supporting services (for units with Veteran restrictions only). These applicants will be referred by the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department.
These are referrals only
For non restricted units only
1. Families whose head of household, cohead or spouse is a veteran.
This preference will be worth 20 points
2. The PHA will offer a preference for applicant families who live within the city limits of Fairfield, or whose head, spouse, or co-head of household works (verifiable, paid employment) or have been notified that they are hired to work within the city limits of Fairfield.
This preference will be worth 10 points
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-38 Revised 10/31/2024
3. The PHA will offer a preference to any family that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding.
This preference will be worth 7 points
Applicants with more preference points will be ranked ahead of applicants with fewer preference points.
Among applicants with the same number of preference points, families will be selected according to the date and time of application to that site-based wait list. A family who applied ahead of another family with the same preference points will have preference over that family.
17-VI.E. OFFER OF PBV ASSISTANCE
Refusal of Offer [24 CFR 983.251(e)(3)]
The PHA is prohibited from taking any of the following actions against a family who has applied for, received, or refused an offer of PBV assistance:
• Refuse to list the applicant on the waiting list for tenant-based voucher assistance; • Deny any admission preference for which the applicant qualifies; • Change the applicant’s place on the waiting list based on preference, date, and time of application, or other factors affecting selection under the PHA’s selection policy; • Remove the applicant from the tenant-based voucher waiting list.
Disapproval by Landlord [24 CFR 983.251(e)(2)]
If a PBV owner rejects a family for admission to the owner’s units, such rejection may not affect the family’s position on the tenant-based voucher waiting list.
Acceptance of Offer [24 CFR 983.252]
Family Briefing
When a family accepts an offer for PBV assistance, the PHA must give the family an oral briefing. The briefing must include information on how the program works and the responsibilities of the family and owner. In addition to the oral briefing, the PHA must provide a briefing packet that explains how the PHA determines the total tenant payment for a family, the family obligations under the program, and applicable fair housing information.
Persons with Disabilities
If an applicant family’s head or spouse is disabled, the PHA must assure effective communication, in accordance with 24 CFR 8.6, in conducting the oral briefing and in providing the written information packet. This may include making alternative formats available (see Chapter 2). In addition, the PHA must have a mechanism for referring a family that includes a member with a mobility impairment to an appropriate accessible PBV unit.
Persons with Limited English Proficiency
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-39 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA should take reasonable steps to assure meaningful access by persons with limited English proficiency in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166 (see Chapter 2).
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-40 Revised 10/31/2024 17-VI.F. OWNER SELECTION OF TENANTS
The owner is responsible for developing written tenant selection procedures that are consistent with the purpose of improving housing opportunities for very low-income families and reasonably related to program eligibility and an applicant’s ability to fulfill their obligations under the lease. An owner must promptly notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for any rejection [24 CFR 983.253(a)(2) and (a)(3)].
Leasing [24 CFR 983.253(a)]
During the term of the HAP contract, the owner must lease contract units to eligible families that are selected and referred by the PHA from the PHA’s waiting list. The contract unit leased to the family must be the appropriate size unit for the size of the family, based on the PHA’s subsidy standards.
Filling Vacancies [24 CFR 983.254(a)]
The owner must promptly notify the PHA of any vacancy or expected vacancy in a contract unit. After receiving such notice, the PHA must make every reasonable effort to promptly refer a sufficient number of families for the owner to fill such vacancies. The PHA and the owner must make reasonable efforts to minimize the likelihood and length of any vacancy.
PHA Policy
The owner must notify the PHA in writing (mail, fax, or email) within five business days of learning about any vacancy or expected vacancy.
The PHA will make every reasonable effort to refer families to the owner within 30 days of receiving such notice from the owner whenever possible.
Reduction in HAP Contract Units Due to Vacancies [24 CFR 983.254(b)] If any contract units have been vacant for 120 or more days since owner notice of the vacancy, the PHA may give notice to the owner amending the HAP contract to reduce the number of contract units by subtracting the number of contract units (according to the bedroom size) that have been vacant for this period.
PHA Policy
If any contract units have been vacant for 120 days, the PHA reserves the right to give notice to the owner that the HAP contract will be amended to reduce the number of contract units that have been vacant for this period. The PHA will provide the notice to the owner within 10 business days of the 120th day of the vacancy. The amendment to the HAP contract will be effective the 1st day of the month following the date of the PHA’s notice.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-41 Revised 10/31/2024 17-VI.G. TENANT SCREENING [24 CFR 983.255]
PHA Responsibility
The PHA is not responsible or liable to the owner or any other person for the family’s behavior or suitability for tenancy. However, the PHA may opt to screen applicants for family behavior or suitability for tenancy and may deny applicants based on such screening.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not conduct screening to determine a PBV applicant family’s suitability for tenancy.
The PHA must provide the owner with an applicant family’s current and prior address (as shown in PHA records) and the name and address (if known by the PHA) of the family’s current landlord and any prior landlords.
In addition, the PHA may offer the owner other information the PHA may have about a family, including information about the tenancy history of family members or about drug trafficking and criminal activity by family members. The PHA must provide applicant families a description of the PHA policy on providing information to owners, and the PHA must give the same types of information to all owners.
The PHA may not disclose to the owner any confidential information provided in response to a request for documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking except at the written request or with the written consent of the individual providing the documentation [24 CFR
5.2007(a)(4)].
PHA Policy
The PHA will inform owners of their responsibility to screen prospective tenants and will provide owners with the required known name and address information, at the time of the turnover HQS inspection or before. The PHA will not provide any additional information to the owner, such as tenancy history, criminal history, etc.
Owner Responsibility
The owner is responsible for screening and selection of the family to occupy the owner’s unit. When screening families the owner may consider a family’s background with respect to the following factors:
• Payment of rent and utility bills;
• Caring for a unit and premises;
• Respecting the rights of other residents to the peaceful enjoyment of their housing; • Drug-related criminal activity or other criminal activity that is a threat to the health, safety, or property of others; and
• Compliance with other essential conditions of tenancy.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-42 Revised 10/31/2024 PART VII: OCCUPANCY
17-VII.A. OVERVIEW
After an applicant has been selected from the waiting list, determined eligible by the PHA, referred to an owner and determined suitable by the owner, the family will sign the lease and occupancy of the unit will begin.
17-VII.B. LEASE [24 CFR 983.256]
The tenant must have legal capacity to enter a lease under state and local law. Legal capacity means that the tenant is bound by the terms of the lease and may enforce the terms of the lease against the owner.
Form of Lease [24 CFR 983.256(b)]
The tenant and the owner must enter into a written lease agreement that is signed by both parties. If an owner uses a standard lease form for rental units to unassisted tenants in the locality or premises, the same lease must be used for assisted tenants, except that the lease must include a HUD-required tenancy addendum. The tenancy addendum must include, word-for-word, all provisions required by HUD.
If the owner does not use a standard lease form for rental to unassisted tenants, the owner may use another form of lease, such as a PHA model lease.
The PHA may review the owner’s lease form to determine if the lease complies with state and local law. If the PHA determines that the lease does not comply with state or local law, the PHA may decline to approve the tenancy.
PHA Policy
The PHA will not review the owner’s lease for compliance with state or local law.
Lease Requirements [24 CFR 983.256(c)]
The lease for a PBV unit must specify all of the following information:
• The names of the owner and the tenant;
• The unit rented (address, apartment number, if any, and any other information needed to identify the leased contract unit);
• The term of the lease (initial term and any provision for renewal); • The amount of the tenant rent to owner, which is subject to change during the term of the lease in accordance with HUD requirements;
• A specification of the services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities that will be provide by the owner; and
• The amount of any charges for food, furniture, or supportive services.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-43 Revised 10/31/2024 Tenancy Addendum [24 CFR 983.256(d)]
The tenancy addendum in the lease must state:
• The program tenancy requirements;
• The composition of the household as approved by the PHA (the names of family members and any PHA-approved live-in aide);
• All provisions in the HUD-required tenancy addendum must be included in the lease. The terms of the tenancy addendum prevail over other provisions of the lease.
Initial Term and Lease Renewal [24 CFR 983.256(f)]
The initial lease term must be for at least one year. The lease must provide for automatic renewal after the initial term of the lease in either successive definitive terms (e.g. month-to-month or year-to-year) or an automatic indefinite extension of the lease term. For automatic indefinite extension of the lease term, the lease terminates if any of the following occur:
• The owner terminates the lease for good cause
• The tenant terminates the lease
• The owner and tenant agree to terminate the lease
• The PHA terminates the HAP contract
• The PHA terminates assistance for the family
Changes in the Lease [24 CFR 983.256(e)]
If the tenant and owner agree to any change in the lease, the change must be in writing, and the owner must immediately give the PHA a copy of all changes.
The owner must notify the PHA in advance of any proposed change in the lease regarding the allocation of tenant and owner responsibilities for utilities. Such changes may only be made if approved by the PHA and in accordance with the terms of the lease relating to its amendment. The PHA must redetermine reasonable rent, in accordance with program requirements, based on any change in the allocation of the responsibility for utilities between the owner and the tenant. The redetermined reasonable rent will be used in calculation of the rent to owner from the effective date of the change.
Owner Termination of Tenancy [24 CFR 983.257]
With two exceptions, the owner of a PBV unit may terminate tenancy for the same reasons an owner may in the tenant-based voucher program (see Section 12-III.B. and 24 CFR 982.310). In the PBV program, terminating tenancy for “good cause” does not include doing so for a business or economic reason, or a desire to use the unit for personal or family use or other non-residential purpose.
Tenant Absence from the Unit [24 CFR 983.256(g) and 982.312(a)] The lease may specify a maximum period of family absence from the unit that may be shorter than the maximum period permitted by PHA policy. According to program requirements, the family’s assistance must be terminated if they are absent from the unit for more than 180 consecutive days. PHA termination of assistance actions due to family absence from the unit are subject to 24 CFR 981.312, except that the
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-44 Revised 10/31/2024 unit is not terminated from the HAP contract if the family is absent for longer than the maximum period permitted.
Continuation of Housing Assistance Payments [24 CFR 982.258] Housing assistance payments shall continue until the tenant rent equals the rent to owner. The cessation of housing assistance payments at such point will not affect the family's other rights under its lease, nor will such cessation preclude the resumption of payments as a result of later changes in income, rents, or other relevant circumstances if such changes occur within 180 days following the date of the last housing assistance payment by the PHA. After the 180-day period, the unit shall be removed from the HAP contract pursuant to 24 CFR 983.211.
PHA Policy
If a participating family receiving zero assistance experiences a change in circumstances that would result in a HAP payment to the owner, the family must notify the PHA of the change and request an interim reexamination before the expiration of the 180-day period.
Security Deposits [24 CFR 983.259]
The owner may collect a security deposit from the tenant. The PHA may prohibit security deposits in excess of private market practice, or in excess of amounts charged by the owner to unassisted tenants.
PHA Policy
The PHA will allow the owner to collect a security deposit amount the owner determines is appropriate in accordance with state and local law.
When the tenant moves out of a contract unit, the owner, subject to state and local law, may use the security deposit, including any interest on the deposit, in accordance with the lease, as reimbursement for any unpaid tenant rent, damages to the unit, or other amounts owed by the tenant under the lease.
The owner must give the tenant a written list of all items charged against the security deposit and the amount of each item. After deducting the amount used to reimburse the owner, the owner must promptly refund the full amount of the balance to the tenant.
If the security deposit does not cover the amount owed by the tenant under the lease, the owner may seek to collect the balance from the tenant. The PHA has no liability or responsibility for payment of any amount owed by the family to the owner.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-45 Revised 10/31/2024 17-VII.C. MOVES
Overcrowded, Under-Occupied, and Accessible Units [24 CFR 983.260] If the PHA determines that a family is occupying a wrong size unit, based on the PHA’s subsidy standards, or a unit with accessibility features that the family does not require, and the unit is needed by a family that does require the features, the PHA must promptly notify the family and the owner of this determination, and the PHA must offer the family the opportunity to receive continued housing assistance in another unit.
PHA Policy
The PHA will notify the family and the owner of the family’s need to move based on the occupancy of a wrong-size or accessible unit within 10 business days of the PHA’s determination.
The PHA will offer the family the following types of continued assistance in the following order, based on the availability of assistance:
PBV assistance in the same building or project;
PBV assistance in another project; and
Tenant-based voucher assistance.
If the PHA offers the family a tenant-based voucher, the PHA must terminate the housing assistance payments for a wrong-sized or accessible unit at the earlier of the expiration of the term of the family’s voucher (including any extension granted by the PHA) or the date upon which the family vacates the unit.
If the family does not move out of the wrong-sized unit or accessible unit by the expiration of the term of the family's voucher, the PHA must remove the unit from the HAP contract.
If the PHA offers the family another form of assistance that is not a tenant-based voucher, and the family does not accept the offer, does not move out of the PBV unit within a reasonable time as determined by the PHA, or both, the PHA must terminate the housing assistance payments for the unit at the expiration of a reasonable period as determined by the PHA and remove the unit from the HAP contract.
PHA Policy
When the PHA offers a family another form of assistance that is not a tenant-based voucher, the family will be given 30 days from the date of the offer to accept the offer and move out of the PBV unit. If the family does not move out within this 30-day time frame, the PHA will terminate the housing assistance payments at the expiration of this 30-day period.
The PHA may make exceptions to this 30-day period if needed for reasons beyond the family’s control such as death, serious illness, or other medical emergency of a family member.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-46 Revised 10/31/2024 Family Right to Move [24 CFR 983.261]
The family may terminate the lease at any time after the first year of occupancy. The family must give advance written notice to the owner in accordance with the lease and provide a copy of such notice to the PHA. If the family wishes to move with continued tenant-based assistance, the family must contact the PHA to request the rental assistance prior to providing notice to terminate the lease.
If the family terminates the lease in accordance with these requirements, the PHA is required to offer the family the opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance, in the form of a voucher or other comparable tenant-based rental assistance. If voucher or other comparable tenant-based assistance is not immediately available upon termination of the family’s lease in the PBV unit, the PHA must give the family priority to receive the next available opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance.
If the family terminates the assisted lease before the end of the first year, the family relinquishes the opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance.
Emergency Transfers under VAWA [Notice PIH 2017-08]
Except where special consideration is needed for the project-based voucher program, the PHA will follow VAWA policies as outlined in Chapter 16 Part IX of this administrative plan, including using the Emergency Transfer Plan as the basis for PBV transfers under VAWA (Exhibit 16-4).
HUD requires that the PHA include policies that address when a victim has been living in a unit for less than a year or when a victim seeks to move sooner than a tenant-based voucher is available.
PHA Policy
When the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking has lived in the unit for less than one year, the PHA will provide several options for continued assistance.
The PHA will first try to transfer the participant to another PBV unit in the same development or transfer to a different development where the PHA has PBV units. The PHA will expedite the administrative processes in this case in an effort to conduct the transfer as quickly as possible.
If no units are available for an internal transfer, or if there is reasonable cause to believe that such a transfer would put the victim in jeopardy, the participant may receive continued assistance through an external transfer to tenant-based rental assistance (HCV). Such a decision will be made by the PHA based on the availability of tenant-based vouchers. Such families must be selected from the waiting list for the applicable program. The PHA has adopted a waiting list preference for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in both its HCV program in order to expedite this process. See Section 4-III.C. of this administrative plan.
If a victim wishes to move after a year of occupancy in the unit, but no tenant-based vouchers are available, the PHA will offer the participant an internal transfer to another PBV unit in the same development. The PHA will expedite the administrative processes in this case in an effort to conduct the transfer as quickly as possible.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-47 Revised 10/31/2024 17-VII.D. EXCEPTIONS TO THE OCCUPANCY CAP [24 CFR 983.262] As of April 17, 2018, the PHA may not pay housing assistance under a PBV HAP contract for more than the greater of 25 units or 25 percent of the number of dwelling units in a project unless:
• The units are exclusively for elderly families
• The units are for households eligible for supportive services available to all families receiving PBV assistance in the project
If the project is located in a census tract with a poverty rate of 20 percent or less, as determined in the most recent American Community Survey Five-Year estimates, the project cap is the greater of 25 units or 40 percent (instead of 25 percent) of the units in the project [FR Notice 7/14/17].
If a family at the time of initial tenancy is receiving and while the resident of an excepted unit has received Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) supportive services or any other service as defined by the PHA and successfully completes the FSS contract of participation or the supportive services requirement, the unit continues to count as an excepted unit for as long as the family resides in the unit. However, if the FSS family fails to successfully complete the FSS contract of participation or supportive services objective and consequently is no longer eligible for the supportive services, the family must vacate the unit within a reasonable period of time established by the PHA, and the PHA shall cease paying HAP on behalf of the family.
Further, when a family (or remaining members of a family) residing in an excepted unit no longer meets the criteria for a “qualifying family” because the family is no longer an elderly family due to a change in family composition, the PHA has the discretion to allow the family to remain in the excepted unit. If the PHA does not exercise this discretion, the family must vacate the unit within a reasonable period of time established by the PHA, and the PHA must cease paying housing assistance payments on behalf of the non-qualifying family.
Individuals in units with supportive services who choose to no longer participate in a service or who no longer qualify for services they qualified for at the time of initial occupancy cannot subsequently be denied continued housing opportunity because of this changed circumstance. A PHA or owner cannot determine that a participant’s needs exceed the level of care offered by qualifying services or require that individuals be transitioned to different projects based on service needs.
If the family fails to vacate the unit within the established time, the unit must be removed from the HAP contract unless the project is partially assisted, and it is possible for the HAP contract to be amended to substitute a different unit in the building in accordance with program requirements; or the owner terminates the lease and evicts the family. The housing assistance payments for a family residing in an excepted unit that is not in compliance with its family obligations to comply with supportive services requirements must be terminated by the PHA.
HCV Administrative Plan
Administrative Plan-HCV Program 17-48 Revised 10/31/2024 The PHA may allow a family that initially qualified for occupancy of an excepted unit based on elderly family status to continue to reside in a unit, where through circumstances beyond the control of the family (e.g., death of the elderly family member or long-term or permanent hospitalization or nursing care), the elderly family member no longer resides in the unit. In this case, the unit may continue to be counted as an excepted unit for as long as the family resides in that unit. Once the family vacates the unit, in order to continue as an excepted unit under the HAP contract, the unit must be made available to and occupied by a qualified family.
PHA Policy
The PHA will allow families who initially qualified to live in an excepted unit to remain when circumstances change due to circumstances beyond the remaining family members’ control.
In all other cases, the PHA will provide written notice to the family and owner within 10 business days of making the determination. The family will be given 30 days from the date of the notice to move out of the PBV unit. If the family does not move out within this 30-day time frame, the PHA will terminate the housing assistance payments at the expiration of this 30-day period.
The PHA may make exceptions to this 30-day period if needed for reasons beyond the family’s control such as death, serious illness, or other medical emergency of a family member.