New HUD Proposals Are A Threat To All Subsidized Renters

From: Lynda Carson
510/763-1085

HUD Proposals Are Big Threat To All Subsidized Renters

June 25, 2007

HUD proposes some big changes to the way it's public
housing and Section 8 tenants are being scrutinized,
and wants the tenants in both programs to be able to
prove their citizenship or provide Social Security
cards at any given notice no matter what their age, or
face termination or funding cuts from the programs.

This includes everyone in private multifamily housing
and HOME programs administered through nonprofit
housing organizations and cities across the nation...

One Time Verification Policy

Currently housing authorities are restricted and can
only demand that it's tenants (U.S. citizens) in
public housing and the Section 8 program verify their
Social Security numbers and citizenship one time only,
whlie residing at the same residence, or before moving
in.

HUD wants to end the ONE TIME VERIFICATION POLICY, and
wants to demand papers at any given notice.

Now HUD wants to end the ONE TIME POLICY, which would
catch tenants off guard, and end the 60 day provision
that allows tenants time to have the Social Security
Administration send them a social security card.

The following is from the latest NLIHC Memo to Members
http://www.nlihc.org/ , which describes some new proposals
that are designed to catch existing renters in public
housing & Section 8 off guard, and force them out of
the nations housing assistance programs.

Lynda Carson
510/763-1085

The following is from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition:

HUD Proposes Changes to Housing Beneficiaries’
Social Security and Citizenship Documentation


On June 19, HUD proposed several changes relating to
the processes for people applying for or continuing to
participate in the public housing, voucher, private
multifamily housing and HOME programs.


Currently, HUD requires applicants and participants in
these HUD programs to provide Employer Identification
Numbers, citizenship or eligible immigration status,
and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for all those over
6 years of age. HUD proposes eliminating the SSN age
threshold and requiring a SSN as well as an actual
Social Security card or other form of documentation
for all ages, including those under 6.


HUD also proposes to eliminate the current 60-day
period for people to obtain a Social Security card or
other documentation when they have a SSN but can’t
prove it. In addition, HUD proposes to prorate
assistance to a household, reducing assistance in
proportion to the number of household members unable
to provide a SSN and documentation.


Existing regulations require citizens to simply sign a
declaration that they are citizens. HUD proposes that
all applicants provide documentation such as passport,
birth certificate, Social Security card, Alien
Registration card, Employment Authorization card or
Temporary Resident card.


HUD proposes to eliminate the “temporary deferral of
termination of assistance” for families that have
members who are not citizens. However, families that
were covered on June 19, 1995, and have a member
formally recognized by the government as a refugee or
asylum seeker may continue to be eligible.


HUD proposes to change the definition of annual income
from anticipated future income to actual income
received during the 12-month period prior to admission
to housing or prior to the effective date of an annual
income re-examination.


HUD proposes that public housing agencies (PHAs) be
required to use the new upfront income verification
(UIV) process. HUD explains that UIV is the use of
independent sources to verify a family’s income before
application for housing assistance and during annual
re-examination. Currently PHAs have to contact
individual employers and review handwritten documents.
UIV will use HUD’s existing Enterprise Income
Verification (EIV) system or computer matching
agreements with a federal, state or local government
agency or with private entities. The obligations of
private multifamily owners is cloudy due to the
limited availability of EIV to them and due to the
difficulty they might have in securing computer
matching arrangements with other government entities.


Comments are due August 20.


The proposed changes to the regulations are in the
Federal Register (72 FR 33843) at;

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11531.pdf.