To: Contra Costa County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
From: Joseph Villarreal, Executive Director
Report Title: ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO THE ADMISSIONS AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY POLICY (ACOP) FOR THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM IN RESPONSE TO HUD'S UPDATES OF SECTIONS 102 AND 104 OF THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2016 (HOTMA) AND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT amendments to the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) for the Public Housing Program in response to HUD's updates of Sections 102 and 104 of the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) and the Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA).
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Initial Guidance in the Federal Register on October 24, 2016 announcing sweeping changes in the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. At that time, only a fraction of the changes announced by HUD were implemented. Many changes were not implemented pending further legislative review and policy development. Since then, HUD has been slowly releasing parts of the changes as they became ready. On July 18, 2023, this Board approved the changes to Section 103 of HOTMA that made significant changes regarding income limits for the Public Housing program and policies for families who exceed the "over-income" limit after the 24-month grace period.
The changes being implemented in Section 102 and 104 of HOTMA are some of the most extensive changes made to the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing programs in over 10 years. These changes are being implemented to modernize the rental assistance programs and bring them in line with societal norms of today. Moreover, HUD is making changes to the deductions permitted in the calculation of rent and implementing restrictions on participation in the program for households with excessive w...
Click here for full text