Along with researchers, PHA staff, mobility practitioners, and HUD officials, CLPHA staff attended a convening at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on March 14 to discuss the recently passed mobility demonstration. During the meeting, the group discussed eligibility requirements, plans for the demonstration’s research component, and how the demonstration’s service component may be informed by early results from the Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) project in Seattle/King County.
The demonstration was funded by Congress in FY2019 appropriations for $28 million, which allocates $5 million for new vouchers, $20 million for mobility services, and $3 million for evaluation. Service dollars can be used for a variety of mobility-related activities, including pre- and post-move counseling, security deposits, and landlord outreach.
In order to apply, PHAs will need to meet one of the following criteria:
- PHAs that together serve areas with high concentrations of voucher holders in low-opportunity areas and have an adequate number of moderately priced in units in high-opportunity areas
- A consortia of PHAs that include at least one agency with a high-performing FSS program that will enable families to relocate within the consortia’s jurisdiction
- A partial consortia of PHAs whose jurisdiction is within a single region, includes one or more small agencies, and has consolidated mobility operations
- Other criteria as determined by the Secretary.
Applicants will also be required to submit a Regional Housing Mobility Plan, which will contain details regarding service partners, requested waivers, and the process for identifying opportunity areas and establishing preferences for families with young children. Among other decisions, HUD will need to determine eligibility criteria and define terms above like “high concentrations of voucher holders,” all selection criteria, the number of awards, and requirements for the Regional Plan. HUD will also determine whether to hold a two-step NOFA process in which they first solicit letters of interest.
If you have questions about the convening or the demonstration, please contact Senior Research & Policy Analyst Emily Warren at ewarren@clpha.org.