NAHMA HUD Update: RAD Video for Residents; Expedited Waiver for Public Housing and Voucher Programs; Foster Youth to Independence

December 17, 2021

Dear NAHMA Members,

Please find below several updates from HUD, including:

  • New Video for Public Housing Residents on the RAD Process
  • Expedited Waiver Notice for Public Housing and Voucher Programs
  • Foster Youth to Independence

Please see the announcements below for more information.

 

RADBlast Banner Picture Large1

 

In this Issue:

  • New Educational Video for Public Housing Residents
  • A Public Housing Transformation in Rock Island, IL

 

New Educational Video for Public Housing Residents on the RAD Process. We are excited to announce the launch of a new video directed primarily towards public housing residents or those new to the RAD program! The video is designed to provide an overall understanding of the program in an accessible, engaging way. Public housing authorities and property owners are encouraged to show the video at resident meetings, share with resident associations, and upload it to websites as a resource. It can also be found on the RAD website under the “Resident Information" tab.


A Public Housing Transformation in Rock Island, IL - An Interview with Executive Director Susan Anderson. In an ongoing effort to share stories of housing authorities that have used RAD to improve the quality of their housing stock, we sat down with Susan Anderson from the Rock Island Housing Authority (RIHA). Through its non-profit Community Home Partners, RIHA has become a catalyst for preservation of affordable housing and neighborhood redevelopment, positioning itself to take advantage of resources and opportunities as they arise. Read here to see why and how the agency used RAD to renovate the 1960s era Sunset Heights development and ensure that it remains permanently affordable to low-income families, hear about residents’ reactions before and after conversion, and learn about the housing authority’s plans for their remaining public housing stock.

 

-  The RAD Team


 

On December 9, HUD published a notice titled “Expedited Regulatory Waivers for the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (including Mainstream and Mod Rehab) Programs” (Notice PIH 2021-34). This notice (also attached) provides information on flexibilities that HUD will continue to provide for the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs, even though most regulatory and statutory waivers related to the COVID-19 pandemic will expire at the end of the year. Click here to view the notice.

 


 

 

 

HUD Announces Additional Assistance to Keep Foster Youth Housed

26 Public Housing Agencies are receiving over $1 million total to prevent homelessness faced by youth involved in the child welfare system

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday announced that over $1 million has been awarded to public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country to provide housing assistance to youth who are aging out of foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Twenty-six PHAs in 20 states will receive this funding to continue HUD’s efforts to assist young people transitioning out of foster care. In September, through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Competitive Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), HUD awarded over $14 million to 18 PHAs to prevent homelessness among young adults who have aged out, or are close to aging out, of the foster care system.

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to live with housing stability,” said Danielle Bastarache, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs. “HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence Initiative has made that a reality for hundreds of youth by helping to provide access to housing for those who are aging out of foster care. Our Department is pleased to provide additional funding to public housing agencies across the country so they can support more individuals as they lay the foundation for their future success.”

HUD's Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative provides housing assistance and supportive services to young people with a child welfare history who are at-risk-of or experiencing homelessness.

To be eligible for FYI funding, public housing authorities must:

  • Administer a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program;
  • Enter into a partnership agreement with a Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA);
  • Accept young people referred by their partnering PCWA; and
  • Determine that the referred youth are eligible for HCV assistance.

The following states were awarded funding:

State

Recipient

City

Amount

AR

Housing Authority of the City of Little Rock

Little Rock

$            24,162

AZ

Flagstaff Housing Authority

Flagstaff

$            10,318

CA

Housing Authority of the City of San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

$            74,865

FL

Housing Authority of Brevard County

Melbourne

$              9,565

FL

Hialeah Housing Authority

Hialeah

$          250,226

IN

Noblesville Housing Authority

Noblesville

$            14,332

MA

Boston Housing Authority

Boston

$            37,886

ME

Portland Housing Authority

Portland

$            35,393

MO

Lincoln County Public Housing Agency

Bowling Green

$            18,202

MO

Howell County Public Housing Agency

West Plains

$            11,073

MS

Tennessee Valley Regional Housing Authority

Corinth

$              5,190

MT

Housing Authority of Butte

Butte

$            10,480

NC

Orange County Housing Authority

Hillsborough

$            39,053

NH

Keene Housing

Keene

$            52,318

NM

Housing Authority of the County of San Juan

Farmington

$              4,782

NM

Northern Regional Housing Authority

Taos

$              5,862

NY

Town of Brookhaven, Dept. Of Housing & Human

Farmingville

$            17,718

NY

City of Buffalo

Buffalo

$              6,422

NY

NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation

New York

$            11,761

OH

Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority

Sandusky

$              6,683

OH

Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority

Ravenna

$              7,314

PA

Housing Authority of the County of Beaver

Beaver

$              5,256

TX

Pharr Housing Authority

Pharr

$            14,879

VA

Va. Beach Dept. Of Hsg & Neighborhood Pres.

Virginia Beach

$            27,242

VT

Burlington Housing Authority

Burlington

$            71,716

WA

Seattle Housing Authority

Seattle

$          251,346