In the News

House Bill Would Further Expand Moving to Work

May 19, 2016    
Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5137, “The Moving to Work Reformation and Expansion Act of 2016.” Thirty-nine public housing agencies (PHAs) currently participate in the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration. Their MTW agreements were recently extended until...
In the News

Bill Introduced to Provide Access to Housing for Applicants with Criminal Records

May 19, 2016    
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, recently introduced the “Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2016” (H.R. 5085) that would take significant steps towards ensuring people with criminal records have meaningful access to housing. The...
In the News

Bill Proposes Plan for Addressing Lead Poisoning

May 19, 2016    
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and 28 of his Democratic colleagues recently introduced the “True LEADership Act” (S. 2821) a comprehensive plan to address lead poisoning, including several proposals related to housing. The bill would overhaul the way HUD deals with lead in homes by amending...
Recent Court Rulings

Owner Can Let Section 8 HAP Contract Expire, Not Liable for Discrimination

May 19, 2016    
Facts: Residents sued a Section 8 project owner in state court for discrimination under the theory of disparate impact liability. The owner decided not to renew participation in the project-based Section 8 subsidy program when it expired. Instead of continuing the project-based subsidy, the owner...
Recent Court Rulings

PHA Didn't Have Duty to Maintain Fire Extinguisher

May 19, 2016    
Facts: A resident sued the local PHA for injuries she suffered while preparing a meal in her kitchen. At the time, a grease fire started. While the fire was shooting up to the hood of the stove, the resident grabbed the fire extinguisher that was on the floor of her kitchen, pumped it twice, and...
Recent Court Rulings

Resident Violated Section 8 Rules with Unauthorized Tenants and Improper Owner

May 19, 2016    
Facts: A resident sued a local PHA for allegedly improperly terminating his Section 8 housing benefits. The resident was authorized to rent a two-bedroom unit, with one bedroom for himself and one bedroom for his adult daughter who was his authorized in-home services aide.
The Trainer

The Trainer — June 2016

May 19, 2016    
Avoiding Household File Mistakes In this month’s feature, we discussed how HUD is in the process of reinstating the practice of conducting management and occupancy reviews (MORs). As a result, now is a good time to review your household files and fix any mistakes before your next MOR. We...
Feature

Q&A Regarding Possible FHA Violations from Criminal Screening Policies

April 15, 2016    
HUD’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) recently issued guidance addressing how refusing to rent or renew a lease based on an individual’s criminal history could violate the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Last year, in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities...
Dealing with Households

How to Comply with Updated Tenant Participation Requirements

April 15, 2016    
Tenant participation has the potential to improve the overall management of a site in both quality and cost effectiveness, to protect resident interests, to create community and a social support system on-site, to empower residents as a group and individually, and to give to individual residents...
In the News

HUD Releases Fiscal Year 2016 Income Limits

April 15, 2016    
On March 28, 2016, HUD released Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 income limits. Owners of sites participating in HUD’s Multifamily Housing Programs must utilize these limits when processing move-ins and initial certifications effective March 28, 2016, or later.