HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) has held two phone calls for public housing agencies (PHAs) organized by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the Council of Large Public Housing Agencies (CLAPHA), and the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). NLIHC and four other organizations have also been invited to listen. NAHRO made available a recording of the April 3 call.
The call begins with introductory remarks and programmatic requests to HUD by PHADA, NAHRO, and CLAPHA executive directors. HUD staff then provided updates. PIH Assistant Secretary Hunter Kurtz provided opening remarks and noted that many questions and concerns might be addressed in broad waivers that would be published very soon (perhaps as soon as April 10). Career HUD staff said PHAs would not have to seek HUD approval for waivers specifically indicated in the forthcoming notice.
PIH career staff then elaborated on specific topics. In addition to the notice detailing those broad waivers, future notices will be issued with a goal of May 1 pertaining to how CARES Act funds can be used, including: $850 million for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program Administrative Fees, $400 million for HCV Housing Assistance Payments (HAP), and $685 million in Public Housing Capital Funds. A notice will provide guidance regarding the ability of PHAs to mix their Capital Funds and Public Housing Operating Funds (“fungibility”), including remaining FY20 amounts. The augmented Administrative Fee money can help cover the added costs created by the coronavirus pandemic, such deep cleaning, staff overtime, and hiring temporary staff. The augmented HAP funds can help compensate owners of HCV units for reduced tenant rent payments as a result of reductions in tenant income due to decreased or lost wages. The CARES Act allows public housing money to be used for residents’ child care and education services.
PIH will also issue guidance regarding the evictions moratorium, waivers addressing the community service obligation, and the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) and Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP).
PIH staff indicated that the goal is to get HCV Administrative Fees and Public Housing Operating Funds out by May 1. This is estimated to cover costs for two months. The intent of the CARES Act funds is to keep people housed who are already in the HCV and public housing programs.
The recording from NAHRO is at: https://bit.ly/2Xqu4ue
More about public housing is on page 4-30 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide.
More about Housing Choice Vouchers is on page 4-1 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide.