Dos & Don'ts, Q & A, Recent Court Rulings, HUD Audits, In the News

Owner Can't Sue HUD for Cancellation of Rent Subsidies

August 31, 2011    

Facts: An owner financed the construction of an apartment building in 1968 with a mortgage insured under the National Housing Act. In 1992, the owner and the United States, acting through HUD, entered into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract. Under the contract, in exchange for...

PHA Can Impose Written Reporting Deadlines for Income Changes

August 31, 2011    

Facts: A resident had been receiving rent subsidies under HUD's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for eight years when she failed to provide the local public housing authority (PHA) with timely change-of-income information required by local rules.

White House Seeks to Streamline Affordable Rental Housing Policy

August 31, 2011    

On July 27, the White House's Domestic Policy Council (DPC) announced the launch of two federal “alignment pilot” programs in a total of 10 states to better serve low-income families who rent, while reducing the regulatory burden on affordable housing owners.

Background...

Administration: Convert Foreclosures to Affordable Rental Housing

August 31, 2011    

 

On Aug. 10, the Obama administration announced that it's seeking input on a new initiative to stabilize neighborhoods by facilitating the disposition of single-...

Owner Didn't Provide Timely Notice of Nonrenewal

June 30, 2011    

Facts: A resident signed a one-year Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher lease with an owner. The owner claimed that she served a “Notice of Landlord's Intention not to Renew Section 8 Lease upon Expiration of Lease Term” on both the resident and the office that managed the...

Owners Must Accept Residents' Section 8 Vouchers

June 30, 2011    

Facts: Residents sued owners for refusing to accept their Section 8 vouchers. The antidiscrimination clauses in New York City's Local Law 10 prohibit owners from refusing to accept these vouchers. The owners argued that one resident's household composition made her ineligible to...

HUD: Use of CHA Credit Cards Didn't Violate Policies

June 30, 2011    

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Lewis Jordan, recently resigned in the wake of scrutinized credit card expenditures. However, HUD, which oversees the CHA, didn't see any red flags in the spending.

According to reports, thousands of dollars have been...

Senator Targets Sexual Harassment at Sites Receiving HUD Funds

May 25, 2011    

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), who is on a mission to eliminate sexual harassment at organizations receiving federal funds, including public housing authorities, has introduced the Public Agency Accountability for Sexual Harassment Act. The proposed legislation would prohibit anyone who works...

HUD Can Apply REAC Standards to Section 8 Project-Based Program

May 25, 2011    

Facts: Owners of two multifamily housing sites had entered into 30-year housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts with HUD in the late 1970s. Under the HAP contracts, the owners were required to maintain and operate their units and related facilities so as to provide decent, safe, and...

PHA May Be Liable for Owner's Alleged Discrimination Against Disabled Resident

May 25, 2011    

Facts: In August 2007, a resident fell asleep after taking prescribed medication for depression. He fell asleep while cooking a pork chop in a frying pan. While he was asleep, the pork chop burned and the microwave above the stove was damaged. The site owner later served him with a notice...

HUD's Share of Stimulus Funds: Where Did the Money Go?

May 12, 2011    

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. The Recovery Act included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD. Nearly 75 percent of those funds were allocated to state and local recipients within days of the act...

HUD Aims to Maintain Funding for Essential Programs

May 12, 2011    

The budget by which the federal government operates is being carefully dissected and scrutinized as Congressional members of both parties look for ways to cut spending and reduce the deficit.

Mindful of this environment, HUD, in its fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget, proposed a plan of some...