Housing Choice Vouchers

On January 29, HUD hosted a webinar that provided updates on its recent activities to gather information and provide recommendations on improving landlord participation. Due to technical difficulties, the webinar was not available live, but slides and a recording from the webinar are now available on HUD’s website.

During the webinar, the first in a three-part series, HUD staff discussed what the Department has learned from the listening sessions held in five cities with landlords in 2019 as well as in focus groups with PHAs. During the landlord listening sessions, participants heard about landlord concerns about the voucher program, primarily inadequate payment standards and long inspection wait times. In the PHA focus group, staff expressed similar concerns about FMRs that do not reflect market conditions and discussed efforts they have made to engage landlords, such as hiring staff who specifically serve as points of contact for landlords.

HUD’s landlord website also includes a link to register for the next landlord symposium, to be held on March 26 in Denver. This symposium will follow a similar event held in December 2019 in Indianapolis, in which HUD and local PHA staff met with landlords to discuss ways to increase landlord recruitment and retention. 

Today, HUD released a notice entitled “Revised Policies and Procedures for the Mainstream Voucher Program.” The notice includes new guidance on several aspects of Mainstream management, particularly admissions preference and waitlist administration.

Mainstream Vouchers provide vital housing assistance to non-elderly persons living with physical, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. In November, HUD awarded $131 million for more than 15,000 new Mainstream Vouchers to 325 public housing authorities across the country, including $25.9 million to 26 CLPHA members for more than 2,400 vouchers. This is a second tranche of funding awarded for the Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, with another expected in FY 2020.

On February 25 at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT, CLPHA will co-host a webinar with CSH to explore promising and best practices PHAs employ to achieve success in leasing up and supporting residents long-term in partnership with disability service providers. Click here to register for the webinar.