Title
Resolution to Approve Amendment to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan Regarding Deferral of Repayment Agreements Payments
Memorandum
HUD provides the primary source of Housing Authority policy through federal regulations, HUD Notices and Handbooks. Compliance with federal regulations, current HUD Notices and HUD Handbooks is mandatory and HUD also allows local programs the flexibility to adopt policies in specified areas. HUD requires all Housing Authorities to adopt an Administrative Plan for the Voucher Program which includes all of the required and optional program policies.
The AAHC allows tenants to sign a repayment agreement if they owe the AAHC money. Typically in the voucher program, money is owed when there is unreported income that is discovered during an annual income certification. When income is unreported, the AAHC must adjust retroactively the amount of rent the tenant should have paid. Sometimes, this is a large amount that the tenant is unable to pay in a lump sum and so they request to pay it over time, through a repayment agreement.
AAHC staff recommend adding a section to the Administrative Plan allowing the tenant to request a short-term (up to 90 days) payment deferral to their repayment agreement by adding the following language to Section 16.IV.B:
The Voucher Program Manager may approve a temporary (up to 3 months) deferral of the monthly payment for participants who experience a hardship (such as loss of income or a medical situation), provided that the participant requests a hardship in writing, at least 10 days prior to their payment due date, provides verification of the hardship, and has been in compliance with the terms of the agreement up until the hardship. The change in monthly payment shall be made an attachment to the payment agreement and shall be signed by the Voucher Program Manager and the participant(s). The term of the payment agreement shall be lengthened accordingly.
Staff
Prepared by Weneshia...
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