Office of Public Housing
Region VIII Newsletters
March 2007

Director's message
It is a New Year and we have a new look and new format to our newsletter. We hope you like it and find it useful. As I am writing we are still awaiting word as to how 2007 funding will shake out. It looks like there will be some increased funding for both the operating fund program as well as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. At the same time HUD recently announced its proposed budget for 2008. Undoubtedly there will be considerable discussion regarding funding levels as well as the program reforms HUD has put forth. We will continue to share information as we learn more.

Ann Roman
Director, Office of Public Housing
Region VIII

New Email Address?
If you have changed email providers, and your email address has changed, please make sure you update PIC.

2007 Super NOFA
On January 18, 2007 HUD published a notice in the Federal Register regarding the 2007 SuperNOFA. This notice allows prospective applicants for HUD competitive funding the opportunity to become familiar with the General Section of HUD's 2007 SuperNOFA.
News Flash - 2007 SuperNOFA announced March 13, 2007, visit the Funds available page.

HUD will continue to require that applicants submit their applications electronically via Grants.gov. To submit an application via Grants.gov, new users will be required to complete a five-step registration process, which can take 2-4 weeks to complete. Early registration by new applicants is encouraged. Applicants that are already registered have to update the information previously provided in the Central Contractor Registration. Helpful links:

• HUD's Grants page (http://www.hud.gov/grants/)
• Funds available
• Desktop User Guide

HUD has developed a Desktop User Guide for Submitting Electronic Grant Applications.
HUD also has a Customer Support center that can be reached at (800) 518-GRANTS or by sending an email to support@grants.gov.

We will keep you posted as to when the 2007 SuperNOFA is posted as well as to the Webcast schedule that provides useful application information for a variety of HUD programs.

Operating Fund Program
The Operating Fund web page contains important information related to the Operating Fund program, including, but not limited to, subsidy processing instructions, historical funding levels, training, and related information. Find out about the Joint Resolution introduced by House appropriators that increases the Public Housing Operating Fund by $300 million for a total of $3.864 billion. This would increase the current 76% proration factor to an 82.9% factor. This higher proration level would be incorporated in the second round of funding to be processed in March 2007. The Department would adjust each PHA's subsidy amount to reflect the higher level of proration, retroactive to the beginning on the year. PHAs would receive the increase in subsidy amounts due to higher proration for the months of January through March with the second round of funding. Go to the Operating Fund web page to learn more about:

• January 2007 Funding
• Operating Fund Program Explanation of Proration Percentage for CY 2007
• Estimated Operating Fund Proration at $3.864 billion
• Calculation and Submission of Operating Subsidy Training information

2007 Housing Choice Voucher Program

2007 Funding: The House resolution (H.J.Res.20) proposes $15.920 billion for Section 8 tenant-based vouchers.

• This is $502 million more than what was appropriated in 2006.
• PHA funding would be based on the most recent 12 months of cost and leasing data, adjusted by the 2007 Annual Adjustment Factors (AAF)
• The 2007 AAF scheduled was published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2007.

Financial Statement Submission and Review: On February 16, 2007 the Financial Management Center notified PHAs that HUD is now in the process of fully integrating the financial submission with its monitoring and oversight activities of the HCV program.

• Beginning with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, and forward, HUD will begin an extensive review of all financial submissions for Section 8 only PHAs.
• Submissions are made to and the review will be conducted by the Real Estate Assessment Center.

Did you notice? HUD has posted a new version of the HAP contract (form HUD-52641). This latest version is dated January 2007, a change on page 8, section 8e, addresses Protections for Victims of Abuse. This text is in accordance with the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act. The Tenancy Addendum (form HUD-52641A) has also been revised.

• HUDCLIPS
• HAP contract (form HUD-52641)
• Tenancy Addendum (form HUD-52641A)

Stop Loss Submissions
Under the Final Operating Fund Program rule, transition funding for decliner PHAs would be 24% this year. HUD recently published a proposed rule indicating its intent to cap the transition funding for decliner PHAs at 5% this year. We are still waiting for a revised Final Rule to be published.

Decliner PHAs can apply for stop loss protection at any time during the 5-year transition period. For 2007, stop loss applications are due by April 15, 2007. Please see PIH Notices 2006-14 and 2006-35 for more guidance about stop loss submission requirements.

Limited English Proficiency
On January 22, 2007, HUD published a Final Rule on Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements. This rule is effective starting March 7, 2007. The Final Rule contains an analysis and response of comments submitted; the regulatory requirements; Appendix A which provides guidance on the "Four Factor" analysis; and Appendix B which has Questions & Answers. PHA's are encouraged to conduct an individualized assessment of LEP needs. The cornerstone of the 4-factor analysis is reasonableness based upon:

• The specific needs & capabilities of the LEP population among the beneficiaries of HUD's programs
• The program purposes & capabilities of the entity providing the services to the LEP population; and
• Local housing, demographics, and other community conditions & needs.
• Resources available and costs involved.

The Final Rule also provides guidance on what PHAs can consider a "safe harbor" for demonstrating compliance with written translation requirements.
Please note: If you provide copies of your lease in other languages the Final Rule recommends that participants sign the English version. The translated lease should be provided to the tenant but marked "For Information Only".

• Limited English Proficiency web page

Reminder - EIV Recertification- April 29
PHA Users must be recertified by PHA User Administrator by midnight 4/29/07. HUD Field EIV Coordinator will recertify PHA User Administrators.

2008 HUD Budget
During February 2007, HUD unveiled its proposed budget for 2008. This budget included the following proposed funding (in millions of dollars) for key public housing programs:

• $16,000 for Tenant Base Rental Assistance;
• $4,000 for the Operating Fund Programs; and
• $2,024 for the Capital Fund Program.

The 2008 budget also contained reform proposal for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. There are four key reforms that are proposed:

• Eliminating the cap on the number of families a PHA can serve;
• Redistributing funds to PHAs based on a PHA's leasing and spending performance for the most recent year;
• Identifying and adjusting for unspent prior year balances from PHAs after providing PHAs the opportunity to spend down their balances in fiscal year 2008; and
• Encouraging consolidation of small PHAs by offering a bonus administrative fee to PHAs that voluntarily consolidate.

We will keep you posted as this reform proposal is further developed.

Recently Published Federal Register and Public Housing Notices
For a complete list of Federal Register and Notices published, please visit HUDClips

Federal Register Issuances - Funding Opportunities:

1/8/07: Announcement of Funding Awards for the Housing Choice Voucher Family Self Sufficiency Program for Fiscal Year 2005; Notice

1/18/07: Notice of HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA); Public Requirements and General Section to the FY2007 SuperNOFA for HUD's Discretionary Programs; Notice

3/13/07: Fiscal Year2007 SuperNOFA for HUD's Discretionary Programs; Notice;

Federal Register Issuances - Rules and Program Changes:

1/22/07: Final Guidance on Federal Financial Assistance Requirements Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons; Notice: Effective date is 2/21/07.

1/25/07: Final Guidance on Federal Financial Assistance Requirements Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons: Announcement of Meeting: Meeting to be held in HUD Headquarters on 2/13/07.

2/16/07: Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons: Change in Effective Date of Final Guidance: New effective date is 3/7/07.

2/16/07: Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons: Announcement of Rescheduled Meeting: Meeting rescheduled for 2/28/07.

Federal Register Issuances - Information Collection:

1/10/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Implementation of the Violence Against Women (VAWA) and Justice Department Reauthorization Act of 2005: Comment due date is 3/12/07.

1/18/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Public Housing, Contracting with Resident-Owned Businesses: Comment due date is 2/20/07.

1/18/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Section 32 and Section 5(h) Public Housing Homeownership Program Evaluation: Comment due date is 2/20/07.

1/18/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Family Report, MTW Family Report: Comment due date is 2/20/07.

1/29/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; HUD Initiative for the Removal of Regulatory Barriers: Comment due date is 2/28/07.

1/30/07: Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned or Leased Projects-Audits, Utility Allowances: Comment due date is 3/1/07.

1/30/07: Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: Restrictions on Assistance to Noncitizens: Comment due date is 4/12/07.

PIH Notices:

PIH 2007-1 (HA): Reinstatement - Notice PIH 2006-1 Requirements for Designation of Public Housing Projects, issued 1/3/07.

PIH 2007-3: Reoccupancy Policies for Pre-Disaster HUD Assisted and Special Needs Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, issued 1/23/07

PIH 2007-4: Disaster Voucher program (DVP) Operating Requirements - Rental Assistance for HUD-Assisted Families and Special Needs Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, issued 2/4/07.

PIH 2007-5 (HA): Revised Voucher Housing Assistance Payments Contract (Form HUD 52641A); Housing Choice Voucher Program Administration and the Violence Against Women and Justice Department Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2006), issued 2/16/07.

Important Upcoming Dates for the Next 4 Months

Please Note: All dates subject to change. Refer to 2007 Reports Calendar for the most current information and a complete list of forms due.

FYE 3/31 PHAs

3/22 - 5/23/07 Residents surveyed for RASS.

5/30/07 Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) certifications due for all 12/31/07 PHAs

5/31/07 MASS certifications due

5/31/07 Year-end financial statements due

FYE 6/30 PHAs

3/31/07 Audit reports due. (Electronic submission to REAC and a hard copy submitted to field Office.)

FYE 9/30 PHAs

FYE 12/31 PHAs

2/28/07 MASS Certifications and year-end financial statements due

3/1/07 Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) certifications due for all 12/31/06 PHAs

3/22 - 5/23/07 Residents surveyed for RASS.

All PHAs

2/9/07 Due date for submitting to HUD HQs documentation for any discrepancies for 2007 HCV funding

4/29/07 Quarterly Recertification of EIV Users