Guidance from HUD: Hardship Exemptions

HUD has released updated information on HOTMA's Financial Hardship Exemption (General Relief) and Childcare Hardship Exemptions. As a reminder, both exemptions are required to be offered by Property Owners by December 31, 2024.

Tenant Selection plans should be clearly laid out and in line with all requirements:

• Owners must offer a deduction for any childcare related expenses for children under 14 years old that are necessary to enable a family member to be employed or to further their education and the expense is not reimbursed by an agency or individual outside of the household. Owners should create policies requiring families to report on circumstances that made them eligible that are no longer applicable. Owners may extend the exemption for additional 90-day periods based on family circumstances in accordance to their written policies.
  
  
• For General Relief, Tenant Selection Plans should include policies to determine eligibility for general hardship.

For more information:

• Click here to read a notice on Child-Care Expense Deductions outlined in C.5.
• Click here to read HUD's original notice.

HUD Revises HAP Assignment Form

The Office of Multifamily Housing Programs has released a standard form for the assignment, assumption, and amendment of Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Contracts.

This form, which went through a public comment process prior to being finalized, has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

Use of this form is now required for any assignment of a Section 8 project-based rental assistance (PBRA) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract.

Update: Replacement Reserve Requests

Submitting a request for replacement reserves for appliances? Please note that new appliances must be Energy Star rated.

Reminders:

• Federal Home Program: Sign up for the HUD Exchange Mailing List.
  
  
• For more information on HOTMA, please visit the HUD website or email mfh_hotma@hud.gov.
  
  
• Have you had staffing changes? Please ensure your property’s contact information remains current and accurate with this easy to use form.

We'd love to hear from you!

To provide suggestions for information you would like to see in future Property Matters E-News, please email Kathy Millerick at kmillerick@rihousing.com.