NAHMA HUD Update: HUD Releases State-by-State RAD Fact Sheets; New Webinars available

July 23, 2019

HUD Announces the Release of State-by-State RAD Fact Sheets

In an ongoing effort to make information available on the impacts of RAD in communities around the country, HUD has published new state-by-state RAD fact sheets that provide summary information on the RAD activity in each state. The data is “live” and updates real-time as properties complete the conversion process. This fact sheet provides data on how many RAD projects and units have been closed in a particular state, an estimate of how many jobs have been created due to RAD, an estimate of how many people have been helped through the Demonstration, and more. The fact sheets are located at the link below and supplements already available data on each property that is participating in RAD.

RAD State Fact Sheets: http://www.radresource.net/pha_data.cfm

New Study Finds High Levels of Tenant Satisfaction and Improved Well-being  In Central Valley RAD Conversions

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health recently published a study examining the experience of families with children living in three sites in the Central Valley of California that had converted under RAD that underwent major renovations and involved the temporary relocation of residents. Their study – “The ‘Projects’ are Nice Now”: Residents Perspectives on the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) – is based on in-depth interviews with 30 families and found notable and mostly positive results where residents experienced significant improvements including upgraded heating/cooling systems and appliances; improved unit layout and conditions; perceived safety and connectedness; and enhanced resident resources and pride of place.

New Webinars Now Available: Completion Certification and the RAD Inventory Assessment Tool

Completion Certification Webinar: HUD has posted a webinar training on the RAD Completion Certification, which is a RAD Resource Desk module where PHAs/owners of public housing conversions submit information on final sources and uses, confirmation of initial deposit to replacement reserve, resident right-to-return information, and Section 3 low-income hiring data, among other items after completing project rehabilitation or construction. The webinar describes submission requirements for the certification that is required for all RAD Transactions with a scope of work (though a simpler submission may soon be required for other transactions as well).  It includes a walk-through of the RAD Resource Desk module from the PHA’s perspective and outlines why this information is required. 

RAD inventory Assessment Tool Webinar: HUD has posted a webinar that walks users through the functionality of the updated RAD Inventory Assessment Tool, which helps public housing agencies (PHAs) to make a first-level assessment of properties in their inventory for potential conversion of assistance to long-term Section 8 contracts. The tool is designed for PHAs that are newly considering or re-considering RAD at RAD rents based on the FY 18 Appropriation levels. (Please note that since the original publication of the tool, HUD has debugged some issues and posted a corrected version to the web. Please upload the latest version.)