Public Housing

Advocate Details Mounting PHA Woes
   A survey of 300 public housing authorities by the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association shows the national spending sequestration is beginning to strike deeply into the ability of PHAs to maintain operations. A common refrain among PHA administrators pegs the cuts in housing programs as a precursor to increased homelessness, which they
posted 5/17/13 09:42 AM  read complete story

PHAs Get Either-Or HUD Directive
   If the nation’s more than 3,200 public housing authorities want to have enough money from HUD’s special Section 8 housing voucher fund to prevent voucher terminations, they must adhere to the department’s five money-saving steps to be eligible.
posted 5/9/13 3:26 PM  read complete story

PHAs To Get More April Funds
   Public housing authorities are receiving operating subsidies for April -- but not in amounts anticipated. HUD says it will make up the difference during the month in a second distribution. The glitch occurs after HUD calculated the month’s distribution based on data
posted 4/1/13 5:30 PM  read complete story

HUD Grants For Public Housing Security
   Eighteen public housing authorities hard hit by criminal activities share $3.9 million in grants to help enhance security precautions.
posted 3/29/13 10:05 AM  read complete story

Temporary Public Rent Rules Issued
   HUD will allow public housing authorities temporary flexibility to use household income from the previous year rather than project income to qualify tenants and applicants for housing assistance, and the department will allow the agencies to use a payment standard of up to 120% of fair market rent without prior approval as a reasonable
posted 1/24/13 6:42 PM  read complete story

MA Public Housing Plan Slammed
   Reaction to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s (D) public housing authority consolidation plan HAL reported in the Jan. 11, 2013 issue has been swift and largely negative. The across-the housing spectrum criticism indicates that the Patrick plan will be quashed in a legislature closely attuned to the wishes of local politics in the state and local officials
posted 1/18/13 09:25 AM  read complete story

Massachusetts PHAs On Chopping Block
   A public housing overhaul blueprint unveiled by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) would eliminate the 240 public housing authorities in the state and replace them with six regional agencies and a central management office. A disclosure of inflated PHA salaries prompted Patrick to seek legislation providing greater central oversight of the state’s
posted 1/11/13 09:24 AM  read complete story

HUD Launches Pilot Rental Program
   Surrounded by housing leaders in Savannah, GA, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan on Jan. 10, unveiled the initial step of the department’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program designed as a long-term solution to the preservation of public housing properties.
posted 1/11/13 09:22 AM  read complete story

Four PHAs Given Moving-To-Work Nod
   HUD chooses four new public housing authorities to participate in the department’s Moving-to-Work program, a controversial effort to help public housing tenants wean themselves from government subsidies by providing employment and educational assistance and financial counseling.
posted 12/21/12 09:26 AM  read complete story

HUD Shifts On Voucher Portability
   HUD gives new guidelines to public housing authorities (PHA) regarding a family’s desire to move to another PHA jurisdiction with a Section 8 voucher, known as portability. The new notice amending PIH 2011-3 also explains what a PHA must do to accommodate a disabled person in such a move.
posted 10/12/12 12:47 PM  read complete story