HUD recently issued PIH Notice 2023-23 on Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) service fees, which makes changes to add two new eligible activities that may be funded with the EHV service fees. The CLPHA EHV Working Group recommended HUD provide additional uses for the special fees, and this revision expands the descriptions of several of the existing activities.
Prior regulations allowed PHAs to use EHV service fees for housing search assistance, moving fees like security and utility deposits, owner-related uses, and other eligible uses. PHAs may now provide applicants with rental arrear assistance for some or all of the applicant’s rental arrears to a private landlord but only if the rental arrear is a barrier to leasing the EHV unit. The PHA may also use the service fee funding to mitigate barriers that individual families may face in maintaining occupancy of a unit with an EHV, such as providing access to case management, wrap-around services, life skills training (e.g., balancing a budget, paying bills on time, opening a savings account, maintaining a living space, securing a credit card, paying off debt, etc.), financial stability training, mental health care (e.g., travel costs to counseling, and co-pay charge, etc.), and/or a stability coordinator. Additionally, PHAs may provide a pre-paid gift card directly to a family that verifies and documents purchases of essential household items.