MTW: Activities that affect HCV Participants

Moving to Work (MTW) is a demonstration program that allows housing authorities to design and test ways to: 1) promote self-sufficiency among assisted families; 2) achieve programmatic efficiency and reduce costs; and 3) increase housing choices for low-income households. As an MTW agency, HACSB will have the opportunity to implement new policies outside the usual scope of HUD policies and regulations.

The following are approved changes that will directly apply to HCV participants:

Activity: Controlled Program Moves

Voluntary moves changed from unlimited to limited moves with exceptions.

New Policy: HACSB will limit voluntary program moves for HCV participants to once every two years, only at the time of annual recertification and upon verification from their current landlord that they are a tenant in good standing. This policy limits the number of times a program participant can move and when the participant can move. There are certain exceptions, including but not limited to: a unit is in foreclosure, a participant has a job or attends school more than 20 miles from their current unit.

Previous policy: Pursuant to HUD regulations, HCV participants can move at any time after the initial term of the lease and under certain circumstances during the initial term of the lease.

Activity: Local Policies for Portability

Portability is now subject to MTW policies and requirements.

New Policy: All individuals moving into and out of HACSB’s jurisdiction (the County of San Bernardino) will have to comply with the MTW policies and requirements. Some examples of current policies that apply are minimum rent, biennial recertifications, controlled program moves, and work requirement.

Previous policy: HACSB voucher participants could move to any geographical jurisdiction where there is a Housing Agency that administers a Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Activity: Elimination of mandatory Earned Income Disallowance

Eliminated the mandatory EID from the calculation of total tenant payment.

New Policy: HACSB will eliminate the HUD Mandatory Earned Income Disallowance (EID) from the calculation of total tenant payment and replace it with the rent reform activities authorized under the MTW agreement. No additional families will be processed under the HUD EID requirements. Families currently receiving an earned income disregard will continue to receive such benefit as follows: 1) Until the naturally occurring expiration date under the EID provisions if such date is prior to September 1, 2011; or 2) For a maximum period of 24 months from August 31, 2009 if the current scheduled expiration date is later than September 1, 2011.

Previous Policy: In the previous policy, earned income may be disregarded in calculation of tenant rent for two 12 month exclusion periods with a lifetime limit of 48 months.

Activity: Minimum Rent

The minimum rent increased from $50.00 to $125.00 for all households in PH and HCV.

New Policy: HACSB has adopted a new minimum rent amount of $125.00. Pursuant to HUD regulations, if 30% of the monthly adjusted household income is less than the established minimum rent, the total tenant payment towards rent and utilities will be increased to $125.00. A temporary waiver policy has been established for families who demonstrate a hardship in paying the increased required minimum amount. In order to qualify for a temporary waiver, the families income must have decreased due to a no fault loss of employment or the death of a household member.

Previous policy: The previous minimum rent amount was $50.00.

Activity: Biennial Recertifications

Recertifications for certain elderly and disabled households on fixed income will be done every two years.

New Policy: HACSB has implemented biennial recertifications for elderly and disabled households on fixed incomes. Any other adult family member of these households must either be disabled or elderly and there must only have fixed income.

Old Policy: Recertifications for all families were conducted annually.

Activity: Local Verification Policies

HACSB will implement local verification policies to verify all factors of program eligibility and that impact the calculation of tenant rent.

New Policy: HACSB has implemented local verification policies for the Housing Choice Voucher program. This policy amends the HUD requirements and sets provisions under which HACSB has will establish administrative procedures and management practices for verifications.

Old Policy: Verifications were done pursuant to HUD rules, using the verification hierarchy established by HUD.

Activity: Elimination of Assets

Elimination of the inclusion of income from assets in the calculation of tenant rent.

New Policy: HACSB has eliminated the inclusion of income from assets in the calculation of tenant rent and the asset information reported by families is not being verified or used for rent calculations.

Old Policy: Income from real or personal property was considered an annual income and used to determine tenant rent and housing assistance payment.

Activity: Local Income Inclusion

Include income from sources like foster care and sanctioned TANF in the rent calculation.

New Policy: HACSB will implement policies to include income from sources like foster care and sanctioned TANF in the rent calculation that are currently excluded. This activity will promote self sufficiency by helping families budget and manage their available financial resources.

Previous Policy: In the previous policy, income from sources like foster care and sanctioned TANF were disregarded in calculation of tenant rent.

Activity: Pilot Local FSS Program

Develop and implement a pilot local FSS program.

New Policy: HACSB will develop and implement a pilot local Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program to help families in their self sufficiency efforts. HACSB proposes to replace the escrow account with an interest bearing “savings” account. Participants will have access to the funds during their FSS contract term as long as the funds are used for self sufficiency activities.

Previous Policy: In the previous policy, participants did not have access to their funds until they completed their contract of participation.

Activity: Term Limits (Five Year Lease Assistance Program)

Housing assistance for applicants (non elderly and non disabled) pulled from the waiting list after January 1, 2012 will be limited to five years and will have a flat subsidy based on 50% of the payment standard (for the approved bedroom size and corresponding submarket).

New Policy: The new Five Year Lease Assistance Program will have a five year term limit and a flat subsidy component. The goal of this new program is to assist our families to achieve economic independence by assisting them with their housing needs for a specific term.

Previous Policy: In the previous policy, there was no term limit on housing assistance provided to families.

For a complete list of MTW activities click here.