HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmended HCV Waiting List InformationC
Approved by the Housing Administrator
December 23rd, 2020
For Action
To, review and approve for posting on our website to Inform the community that on January 2, 2021,
the OHCD will reopen the Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list to merge the active
applicants from the HOME Tenant Based Rentail Assistance (HOME TBRA) progiram waiting list
only.
Facts
A. The HCV Waiting list has been closed since July 2015. The list currently has 120 applicants
B. HUD's Two -Year Tool data projects the following: with the program's success rate of 50
percent and an attrition rate of 7 percent or 143 participants for calendar year 2021. The
projected per unit cost (PUC) is currently $832, OHCD will need an estimated 300 issued
vouchers for to achieve full leasing and use of budget authority.
C. Current HOME TBRA Administrative Rules states that all families selected for the TBRA
program list must submit an applicationt to the Housing Choice Voucher program.
D. Active applicants on the HOME TBRA waiting list applied for rental assistance on March 1,
2018 through September 18, 2019. During this time teh HCV waiting list was closed.
E. Federal regulations 24 CFR 982.204 and 205, allows PHA discretion to organize the HCV
waiting list to accuraitely identify and select families for assistance in the proper order,
according to the admissions policies described in the administrative plan, Currently, the
policy states that, "The PHA will not merge the HCV waiting list with the waiting list of any
other program the PHA operates."
F. Federal regulation 24 CFR 982.206 requires the PHA to give public, notice by publishing the
reopening of the waiting list prior to it being reopened. If the list is only being reopened for
certain categories of families, this information must be contained in the notice.
G. PHA Policy "Applicants will be placed on the waiting list using a lottery system, Once each
application has been randomly assigined a nuimber, the applications will be placed on the
waiting list in order of the assigned numbers and according to, PHA preference(s).
H. PIH Notice 2020-33 (HA), REV -2 issued on November 30, 2020, COVID-19 Statutory and
Regulatory Waivers and Alternative Requirements for the Public Housing, Housing Choice
Voucher (including Mainstream arid Mod Rehab), Indian Housing Block Grant and Indian
Community Development Block Grant progirams, Suspension of Public Housing Assessment
System and Section Eight Management Assessment Program, Revision 2, In this notice,
HUD exercised its authority under the CARES Act to establish waivers and administrative
flexibilities to provide relief to PHA's in response to the COVID-19 pandernic. The period of
availability ends on June 30, 2021.
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For Action Reopening HCV Waiting Last December 21, 2020
Discussion
A. On December 10 2020, EHD requested to reopen the HCV Waitlist via public notice to
accept 400 applicants beginning February 1, 2021. The EHD wishes to postpone this action.
B. After further consideration and review of HOME TBRA Administrative Rules, the EHD has
reconsidered its decision and instead will postpone reopening the waiting list to the general
public. The EHD believes that to be fair and in compliance with federal regulations
governing HOME programs, the waiting list should be reopened specifically for the applicants
who applied for the HOME TBRA program since teh HCV program waiting list was closed.
There are currently 292 applicants. Merged with the current 120 HCV applicants, the total
will be 412, which is a sufficient amount to process in the next 24 months.
C. CARES Act provides PHA's to implement statutory and regulatory waivers to respond to the
pandemic. The pandemic has impacted the entire community. The OHCD should also
temporarily suspend its local preferences, with the exception of the homeless preference in
order provide services expeditiously. Managing and verifying the waitin list preferences is
and administrativeburden and prolongs the application process.
The PHA will continue to accept referrals as agreed by the Memorandum of Understanding
Homeless Assistance.
D. OHCD will exercise it authority under HUD to waive regulatory authority 982.206 and sub-
regulatory guidance Notice PIH 2012-34. The alternative requirement allows teh PHA to
provide public notice through its website.
Recommendation
Pursuant to Section B General Applicability of Rule 1. Rules relating to Administrative Procedure of
the Office of Housing and Community Development's Administrative Rules, that the Housing
Administrator review and approve the public notice to reopen the housing choice voucher program
waiting list to the active applicants on the HOME TBRA waiting list on January 2, 2021.
By approval of this action, this document will serve as teh public notice and be posted to:
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/office-of-housing
Prepared by Desiree Moore, Division Manager
Approved by the Housing Administrator
On the date set forth above
[X] As Proposed [ ] As Amended
Susan Kunz
Housing Administrator
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For Action Reopening HCV Waiting List - December 21, 2020