Feature

How to Process Households' Requests for Minimum Rent Exemptions

May 10, 2013    
The “sequester,” which has dominated news headlines since the election, is a term used to describe a series of across-the-board federal spending cuts. At the beginning of March, the cuts began to kick in when President Obama and members of Congress were unable to work out a deal. As a...
Crime & Security

Eight Tips to Improve Control over Unit Keys, Reduce Liability

May 10, 2013    
It’s essential to keep keys on hand so that you can enter your site’s units in an emergency. But you’re asking for trouble if you don’t keep careful track of the keys you have for this purpose. An intruder might get hold of a unit key and use it to commit a crime, such as...
Recent Court Rulings

Owner Not Liable for Harassment, Invasion of Privacy

May 10, 2013    
Facts: A former resident sued the owner of a site for seniors for invasion of privacy and harassment. The resident’s unit was subsidized by HUD and the San Diego Housing Commission, and the resident claimed that he was told that he could stay at site indefinitely as long as he obeyed the...
Recent Court Rulings

Owner Not Liable for Mold Contamination

May 10, 2013    
Facts: After living in a unit for almost 14 years, the residents notified the owner of the presence of mold in the unit. Within the month, the owner hired an inspection and testing company, which evaluated the conditions of the residents’ unit.
Recent Court Rulings

Resident Didn't Exclude Drug-Dealing Son from Unit

May 10, 2013    
Facts: A PHA charged a resident with nondesirability based on her son’s possession of marijuana in the unit. The resident had leased the unit as the only named tenant. The charges were settled pursuant to an agreement in which the resident agreed to exclude her son from the unit. Under the...
The Trainer

The Trainer — June 2013

May 10, 2013    
PROCESSING REQUESTS FOR MINIMUM RENT EXEMPTIONS; CONTROLLING ACCESS TO KEYS In this month’s feature, we discussed how HUD occupancy regulations require all households living at Section 8 sites to pay a monthly rent of at least $25. But households that can’t afford to pay the $25-per-...
In the News

HUD's FY2014 Budget Doesn’t Reflect Sequestration Cuts

May 9, 2013    
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan recently released details of the Obama administration’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 HUD budget. HUD’s proposed 2014 budget provides $47.6 billion, an increase of $4.2 billion or 9.7 percent above the 2012 enacted level, and a 6.7 percent increase over 2013...
Feature

Gather Key Information from Site Applicants

April 12, 2013    
When applicants apply to your assisted site, you must give them a written application to fill out, which asks for certain required eligibility and income information. If you don’t get this information, you could end up admitting an ineligible or inappropriate household. And that could mean...
Certification

Five Dos & Don'ts for Handling Alimony and Child Support

April 12, 2013    
When certifying or recertifying households, you may encounter household members who get alimony or child support from ex-spouses or their children’s parents, or household members who pay alimony or child support to someone else. You need to know how to handle these payments correctly to...
In the News

New Policy for Social Security Payments and Direct Express Cards

April 12, 2013    
If you have residents who still receive a paper check for Social Security or other federal benefit payments, they were required by law to switch to an electronic payment method by March 1, 2013. In order to remain consistent with HUD regulations, benefits received through direct deposit or the...