Volume 27, Issue 6

June 2020

NEWS AND NEIGHBORS

Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Mitch’s Safety Manager’s Corner 9 Food Bank Distribution Sites 10 Safety Corner 11 Rehabilitation Assistance 12 Corner 9 Energy 12

H O L I D A Y S O B S E R V E D

D U R I N G T H E M O N T H O F

J U N E

June 21

Father’s Day

June 20 Summer Begins

Inside this issue:

Symptoms of Covid-19 2

Addressing Tenant Non Payment of Rent

3

Inquilina No Pago Alquiler

4

Coravirus Update 5

Covid –19 Waivers 6

Covid-19 Waivers 7

Covid-19 Waivers 8

Covid-19 Waivers 9

Covid-19 Waivers 10

Covid-19 Waivers 11

Social Security Economic Impact

12

PART II

Coping with the Coronavirus The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

What is it? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can infect humans or ani-mals. Most people become infected with the coronavirus that causes the common cold at some point during their lives. However, three types – Se-vere Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS), Middle East Respir-atory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS), and the new SARS-CoV-2 (also known as COVID-19) – can cause severe respiratory infections.

What’s the risk? The immediate risk is low for the general U.S. population. Most U.S. cases have involved people who had been traveling; however, there have been person-to-person cases spread abroad and in the United States. Officials from the city, the schools, and the public health department are meeting regularly to monitor the spread of the disease and to prepare for the potential of a pandemic. How it spreads? Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected per-son when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.

World Central Kitchen Project

13

Manager’s Corner 14

Rehabilitation Assistance 15

Safety Corner 16

The waiting list for housing assistance at the War-wick SRO is open for single room occupancy only. Please call (757) 928-6060, Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

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Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority

P. O. Box 797

Newport News, VA 23607 757.928.6063

This newsletter is published by the Newport News Redevelopment and

Housing Authority. News Coordinator and Layout: Lisa Artis

RISK CONTROL STATEMENT The safety and well being of the residents and employees of the Newport News Re-development & Housing Authority (NNRHA) are of the utmost importance. Risk Man-agement procedures have been established and maintained to ensure that the high-est level of safety is provided for all. It is the intention of the NNRHA to abide by applicable laws and regulations which govern the health and safety of residents, visitors, and property. Risk control tech-niques and methods are employed to prevent and control losses which may threaten the health and well being of those the NNRHA serves. Risk control is the responsibility of all levels of the Authority. Management and staff shall make all efforts feasible to ensure that the optimal level of safety is provided. Through the cooperation and support of staff and residents, the NNRHA will continue to make risk control a priority. Should you have any safety and security questions or concerns, contact Safety and Security at 757-928-2660.

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REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE

We all know the heartache and devastation that drugs can bring

to our families.

If you or anyone you know and love is affected by substance abuse help

is available.

Program Name

Services Payment

Tidewater Area

Hot Line 459-8467

Narcotics Anonymous

No fees

Narcotics Anonymous

VA Regional Hot

Line 1-800-777-

1515

Support group for recovering sub-stance abusers.

No fees

Hampton Roads Clinic Reflections

827-8430

Outpatient Counsel-ing I.V. Methadone

Maintenance 30-45 day Residen-

tial Facility

Sliding fee Scale Medicaid

Project Link 245-0217

Case management and coordination

services for prenatal abuser

Sliding fee Scale Medicaid

Al Anon/Alateen

1-888-425-2666

AA Hotline 595-1212

Support group Alco-holism-friends/

relatives and teens.

12 Step Program

No fees

No fees

Peninsula Area

Help Line 875-9314

Narcotics Anonymous

No fees

A T E N AN T H O T L I N E I S A F R E E S E R V I C E F O R T E N AN T S L I V I N G I N P R O P E R T I E S O W N E D AN D M AN AG E D B Y T H E N E W -P O R T N EW S R E D E V E L O P M E N T AN D H O U SI N G AU T H O R I T Y . W H EN F I L I N G A C O M PL AI N T , Y O U M U ST S T AT E Y O U R F U L L N AM E, AD D R E S S , AN D T E L E P H O N E N U M B E R AN D S P E AK AS S L O W L Y AN D C L E AR L Y AS P O S S I B L E . W E W I L L C AL L Y O U B AC K W I T H I N 4 8 H O U R S R EG AR D I N G Y O U R C O N C E R N S . THANK YOU

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Comprehensive Outpatient Services Partners in Recovery

400 Medical Drive-Suite A, Hampton, VA 23666 Telephone: 757-788-0400

Fax: 757-788-0957 Website: hnncsb.org

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Maintenance staff will respond to the following calls: 1. Gas Leaks; 2. Electrical Problems; 3. Smoke Detector; 4. Power Outages (only at Pinecroft, Ashe Manor,

Spratley House, Ridley and Marshall); 5. No Heat between 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 am

on Sunday or holidays if the next day is a working day. If the next day is not a working day, accepts calls until 6:00 p.m.

6. Floods and Sewer Problems; 7. Broken Windows; 8. Collapsed ceiling or damaged roofs; 9. Commode stopped up (if two in apartment hold to

next day if that is a normal business day); 10. Lock Out/Lock Change; 11. Damaged Exterior Doors; 12. Fire. Note to Residents: If you believe the situation can wait until the next day, call first thing in the morning.

Marshall 928-6154 Ridley 928-6154 Spratley House 928-6187 Ashe Manor 928-6187 Aqueduct 833-5700 Pinecroft 269-4300 Orcutt Townhomes 928-6187

Please use this number ONLY after 5:00 p.m.

(757) 247-0484 • Marshall 928-6181 • Ridley 928-2690

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All Tenants should contact their rental office about proper instal-lation of cable and satellite tv before being installed by the company.

MISSION

STATEMENT

The mission of the Newport News Redevelop-ment and Housing Authority (NNRHA) is to cre-ate affordable housing, viable neighborhoods, and opportunities for self-sufficiency that en-hance the quality of life for all citizens of New-port News.

Be Counted in the

2020 Census!

Census Day: April 1, 2020

www.nnva.gov/census

757-933-2311

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World Central Kitchen Project

Food during the coronavirus: World Central Kitchen continues to partner with schools and restaurants on the Peninsula. Cozzy’s Restaurant prepared meals for some of our seniors and various senior communities. They included Pinecroft, Ashe Manor, Spratley House and Great Oak communities.

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During times of crisis, the Foodbank plays an important role in meeting community needs. In response to the coronavirus, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been working to provide food to people who might otherwise go hungry. The Foodbank’s Mobile Food Pantry Program is distributing food in high-traffic spots across the peninsula and they are working with partner agencies to ensure people receive the food they desperately need. The team from the Foodbank's Culinary Training Program is preparing breakfast and lunch grab-and-go bags for children throughout our local area. The Foodbank has also hosted several large-scale public food distribution events to help individuals and fami-lies struggling to locate healthy meals. During a distribution event in Newport News last week, they provided food to support 500 households. If you are struggling to get the food you and your family need, please visit the Get Help page on the Foodbank’s website to locate a mobile food pantry or partner agency that can help. Please call prior to visiting to confirm hours of operation, as distribution plans change quickly and without much notice.

Due to the increased demand for food in grocery stores, the Foodbank has seen a significant decrease in food pick-ups and store donations, which means personal donations are even more important. You can still drop food donations off at their Hampton headquarters at 2401 Aluminum Avenue. All donations are quarantined for 72 hours before they are available to be distributed. You can make a monetary donation to help purchase truckloads of supplies, donate through YouGiveGoods or purchase through online retailers to ship items directly to the Food-bank’s doors. For additional information on any of these options, you can contact Tracy Hans-brough at thansbrough@hrfoodbank.org.

NEWPORT NEWS HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Call center is open 8 AM - 6 PM

Please call 757•594•7069

If you have questions about where to

get tested if you are experiencing

COVID-19 symptoms.

We encourage you to self-report illness or quarantine if you are not feeling well. This

will prevent spreading the COVID 19 to your loved ones and friends.

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News Release SOCIAL SECURITY

Information Regarding Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries with Representative Payees, and People Living in

U.S. Territories

The Social Security Administration issued an update today about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to certain groups of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. Benefi-ciaries who have their regular monthly payments managed for them by another person, called a repre-sentative payee, will begin receiving their EIPs from the IRS in late May.

Special rules apply to beneficiaries living in the U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In general, the tax authority in each territory, not the IRS, will pay the EIP to eligible residents based on information the IRS will provide to the territories. It is anticipated that beneficiaries in the territories could begin receiving their EIP in early June.

“The Social Security Administration has been working with the IRS to provide the necessary information about Social Security and SSI beneficiaries in order to automate and expedite their Economic Impact Pay-ments,” said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security. “While millions of our beneficiaries have al-ready received their EIPs from the IRS, we continue to work hard for those beneficiaries who are awaiting their payment from the IRS.”

For additional information about payments to beneficiaries with representative payees, please refer to www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/#reppayee.

For the territories, people should contact their local tax authority with questions about these payments. Please note their website may use the term “Economic Impact Payment” or “stimulus payment.”

American Samoa Guam Puerto Rico Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Virgin Islands

The eligibility requirements and other information about the Economic Impact Payments can be found here: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center. In addition, please continue to visit the IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information.

Social Security will continue to update the agency’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ with additional information.

To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.

This press release was produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.

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Department of Housing and Urban Development-COVID 19 Waivers/ Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) provided the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with broad statutory and regulatory waivers to assist local Housing Authorities to better operate and provide housing services to our clients given the constraints of quarantine and stay at home orders. The notice establishes waivers for the operation of Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. If you have any questions, please contact your property manager, Section 8 coordinator or send an email to webmaster.nnrha.org.

1. PHA 5-Year and Annual Plan Submission Dates, Significant Amendment Requirements HUD is establishing an alternative requirement for which PHAs with 6/30/20 or 9/30/20 fiscal year-end (FYE) dates

must submit their 5-Year and annual plans or civil rights certification for qualified PHAs no later than 10/18/20 (75 days before 1/1/21).

HUD is also waiving the requirement that PHAs cannot adopt significant amendments or modifications to the annual plan without receiving Board approval and providing an open meeting for the public. PHAs must still notify public housing residents and HCV families of any impacts that the significant amendment may have on them as soon as practicable. This can be done by placing information on the PHA’s website, leaving voice-mail messages for residents and additional follow-up communication.

The significant amendment process waiver will remain available through July 31, 2020. 2. Family Income and Composition; Delayed Annual Examinations HUD will allow PHAs to delay annual reexaminations of HCV and public housing families. All annual recertifications

due in CY 2020 must be completed by December 31, 2020 and PHAs must comply with the alternative require-ment regarding increases in payment standards under HAP contract terms (see HCV waivers below).

3. Family Income and Composition; Annual Examination – Income Verification Requirements HUD will allow PHAs to forgo third-party income verification requirements for annual reexaminations, including the

use of EIV, if a PHA opts to conduct annual recertifications rather than delaying them. PHAs may consider self-certification as the highest form of income verification to process annual reexaminations. This may occur over the telephone (but must be documented for the written record by PHA staff), through an email or postal mail with a self-certification form by the tenant, or through other electronic communication. Income and family composition examinations and recertifications do not have to conducted in-person.

This waiver will be made available through July 31, 2020.

4. Family Income and Composition; Interim Examinations HUD is waiving the requirements to use the income hierarchy described by PIH Notice 2018-18 and will allow PHAs

to forgo third-party income verifications, including EIV. PHAs may consider self-certification as the highest form of income verification for interim reexaminations. Interim reexaminations are not required to be held in-person.

This waiver is available through July 31, 2020.

5. Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) Monitoring HUD is waiving mandatory EIV monitoring requirements found in PIH Notice 2018-18 through July 31, 2020.

6. Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Contract of Participation; Contract Extension HUD will consider the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 to qualify as “good cause” to extend a family’s

contract of participation in the FSS program through July 31, 2020.

38. PHAS (Public Housing Assessment System) HUD is waiving the inspection of PHAS and postponing physical inspections (except for threat to life or Property inspection) for all PHAS until further notice.

HUD will not issue PHAS scores that are pending or for fiscal years ending in 2020 unless a PHA requests a PHAS score. HUD will carry forward the PHAs most recent PHAS score on record.

New PHAS scores will issued by HUD beginning with PHAs that have a fiscal year end date of March 31, 2021.

39. SEMAP (Section Eight Management Assessment Program) HUD will not issue SEMAP scores that are pending or for fiscal years ending in 2020 unless a PHA requests a

SEMAP score. HUD will carry forward the PHAs most recent SEMAP score on record.

New SEMAP scores will issued by HUD beginning with PHAs that have a fiscal year end date of March 31, 2021.

40. Uniform Financial Reporting Standards; Filing of Financial Reports; Reporting Compliance Dates Unaudited Financials: Submission of unaudited financials have been extended for six (6) months for PHAs with fis-

cal year ends of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020. December 31, 2019 fiscal year end PHAs now must submit their unaudited financials by August 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 fiscal year end PHAs now must sub-mit their unaudited financials by November 30, 2020.

Audited Financials: Submission of audited financials have been extended for six (6) months for PHAs with fiscal year ends of June 30, 2019; September 30, 2019; December 31, 2019; and March 31, 2020. June 30, 2019 fis-cal year end PHAs now must submit their audited financials by September 30, 2020; September 30, 2019 fiscal year end PHAs now must submit their audited financials by December 31, 2020; December 31, 2019 fiscal year end PHAs now must submit their audited financials by March 31, 2021; and March 31, 2020 fiscal year end PHAs now must submit their audited financials by June 30, 2021.

41. PHA Reporting Requirements on HUD Form 50058 HUD is waiving the requirement that PHAs must submit form HUD-50058 60 calendar days after any action record-

ed on line 2b for transactions impacted by implemented waivers and alternative requirements. Through Decem-ber 31, 2020, PHAs will have 90 days to submit their form HUD-50058 after the effective date of action to HUD. Although the waiver provides up to 90 days to submit form HUD-50058, HUD encourages PHAs that have oper-ational capacity to continue submitting form HUD-50058 within the normal 60-day timeframe.

HUD will issue guidance in the near future that will provide PHAs with workarounds to ensure that the delayed sub-mission of form HUD-50058 does not cause any fatal errors in the IMS-PIC system.

42. Designated Housing Plans – HUD 60-Day Notification HUD is waiving the statutory requirement that HUD must respond to Designated Housing Plans that demonstrate

project compliance with requirements to establish occupancy by elderly and/or disabled families no later than 60 days after receiving the plan. Currently, if HUD does not respond within 60 days, the plan is considered accept-ed.

This waiver would allow HUD more than 60 days to review Designated Housing Plans through July 31, 2020.

43. Extension of Deadline for Programmatic Obligation and Expenditure of Capital Funds HUD is extending both the Capital Fund obligation end date and the Capital Fund expenditure date for all open Cap-

ital Fund grants by one year from the current obligation and expenditure end date. No programmatic expendi-ture end date shall be extended beyond one month prior to the closure of the relevant appropriation account.

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7. Waiting List: Opening and Closing; Public Notice HUD is waiving the requirement that PHA’s must give public notice of opening a wait list by publication in a local

newspaper and by minority media and other suitable means through July 31, 2020. PHAs may provide public notice of an open waitlist in a voicemail message on its main or general information telephone number and through its website. These messages must meet applicable fair housing requirements.

8. Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Pre-HAP Contract Inspections, PHA Acceptance of Complete Units A PHA may rely on the owner’s certification that the owner that has no reasonable basis to have knowledge that life-

threatening conditions exist in the unit. A PHA may add other requirements. The PHA must conduct an HQS inspection no later than October 31, 2020 but must do so as soon as reasonably possible. If there’s a require-ment under the Agreement to enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) contract for newly constructed or rehabilitated projects, the PHA may choose to allow the owner to certify that the PHA requirement has been met. The waiver may also apply to PHA-owned units, if the independent entity is unable to perform the inspec-tion.

9. A PHA may accept a self-certification until July 31, 2020 and must complete all delayed inspections by October 31, 2020.

Initial Inspection: Non-Life-Threatening Deficiencies (NLT) Option

A PHA has the option to approve an assisted tenancy for units that fail HQS with non-life-threatening conditions, as long as PHAs withhold housing assistance payments from the owner if the non-life-threatening failing conditions are not corrected within 30 days. A PHA may now provide 60 days to correct non-life-threatening failing condi-tions. This option is available for both tenant-based, project-based units, and PHA-owned units.

PHA may approve an extension up to July 31, 2020.

10. HQS Initial Inspection Requirement – Alternative Inspection Option

A PHA may allow the occupancy of a unit prior to an initial inspection if the unit has passed an alternative inspection in the past 24 months. The PHA may then make assistance payments retroactive to the beginning of the lease term once the unit meets HQS. The PHA must also inspect the unit within 15 days of the request for tenancy approval.

The initial inspection option is available to the PHA for both tenant-based and project-based units. The waiver and alternative requirement may also be applied to PHA-owned units if the independent entity is unable to perform the inspection.

A PHA may use this waiver until July 31, 2020 and has until October 31, 2020 to inspect a unit that utilizes this waiver.

11. Biennial Inspections The Department is waiving the requirement that PHAs inspect the unit not less than biennially. All delayed biennial

inspections must be completed as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than October 31, 2020. This waiv-er may be applied to PHA-owned units if the independent entity is unable to perform the inspection.

12. Interim Inspections This waiver states that if an HQS reported deficiency is life-threatening, the PHA must notify the owner of the report-

ed life-threatening deficiency and the owner must correct it within 24 hours of the PHA notification or provide documentation that the deficiency does not exist. For non-life-threatening deficiencies, the PHA must notify the owner within 30 days and the owner must either make the repair or document that the deficiency does not exist within 30 days of the PHA notification. The PHA may add other requirements. The PHA is not required to con-duct an on-site inspection to verify the repairs have been made, but may rely on alternative verification methods (photos, tenant certification, etc.). This waiver may apply to PHA-owned units where the independent entity is unable to perform the inspection.

This waiver extends until July 31, 2020.

28. Fiscal Closeout of Capital Grant Funds HUD is waiving the requirement that PHAs submit Actual Development Cost Certificates (ADCC) and Actual Mod-

ernization Cost Certifications (AMCC) that fall between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 by six months.

29. Total Development Costs HUD is waiving the Total Development Cost (TDC) and Housing Construction Cost (HCC) limits to allow the amount

of Public Housing funds committed to development of a project to exceed the applicable limits by 25 percent without a waiver from HUD. Amounts in excess of 25 percent and up to 50 percent may be approved on a case-by-case basis. This waiver is applied to public housing development, Mixed-Finance development, and Choice Neighborhoods development.

Any Development Proposals submitted to HUD before December 31, 2021 are eligible for this waiver.

30. Costs and Other Limitations; Types of Labor HUD will allow non-high performer PHAs to use force account labor for modernization activities even if the use of

such activities is not included in the Capital Fund 5-Year Action Plan through December 31, 2020.

31. ACOP; Adoption of Tenant Selection Policies HUD is waiving the requirement that PHA policies in the ACOP must be duly adopted and implemented with formal

board approval. However, any informally adopted revisions under this waiver authority must be formally adopted as soon as practicable after June 30, 2020 but not later than July 31, 2020.

32. Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirements (CSSR) HUD is waiving and suspending the CSSR requirement. If a PHA adopts this waiver, a family will remain exempt

from the CSSR until their first reexamination after March 31, 2021.

33. Energy Audits HUD is waiving and suspending the requirement to complete energy audits for PHA projects if the audit is due to

HUD before December 31, 2020.

34. Over-Income Families HUD is waiving the requirement that PHAs terminate rental assistance or charge an alternative rent to families

whose income exceeds the program maximum over two consecutive reexamination cycles through December 31, 2020. Through this waiver PHAs would be allowed to permit over-income families to remain in their units and pay the same rental amount until that PHA conducts the family’s next annual income recertification.

35. Resident Council Elections HUD will allow PHAs to delay resident council elections beyond the three-year limit, if necessary, through July 31,

2020. Delayed elections must be rescheduled and held as soon as reasonably possible after July 31, 2020.

36. Review and Revision of Utility Allowance HUD is allowing PHAs to delay the review and update of utility allowances. Any review and update of utility allow-

ances that were due at some point in time in CY 2020 must be completed by the end of 2020.

37. Tenant Notifications for Changes to Project Rules and Regulations HUD is waiving the requirement to provide 30-day notices to impacted families for changes to policies, rules, and

special charges to families, except for notices related to tenant charges, through July 31, 2020.

Although HUD is waiving the advanced notice, PHAs must still provide adequate notification to families within 30 days of making such changes.

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13. PBV Turnover Unit Inspections The Department is waiving the regulation that requires a PBV unit inspection before the unit is leased to a new fami-

ly. The PHA may rely on the owner’s certification that the owner has no reasonable basis to have knowledge that life-threatening conditions exist in the unit. The waiver may be applied to PHA-owned units if the independ-ent entity is unable to complete inspections.

This waiver may be used until July 31, 2020 and units with delayed inspections must be inspected by Octo-ber 31, 2020.

14. PBV HAP Contract – HQS Inspections to Add or Substitute Units The Department is waiving the HQS inspection requirement when substituting or adding a new unit to a PBV HAP

contract. The PHA may rely on the owner’s certification that the owner has no reasonable basis to have knowledge that life-threatening conditions exist in the unit. The waiver may also be applied to PHA-owned units.

A PHA may accept the owner’s self-certification until July 31, 2020 and has until October 31, 2020 to inspect the units to which this waiver applies.

15. HQS Quality Control Inspections The Department is waiving its supervisory quality control inspections until October 31, 2020.

16. HQS Space and Security The Department is waiving the regulation requiring one bedroom for every two people where the PHA wishes to as-

sist a current participant that needs to add a member or members to the assisted household as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. This waiver does not apply to an initial or new lease.

The waiver will be in effect for the duration of the current lease term or one year from the date of this notice, which-ever period of time is longer.

17. Homeownership Option – Initial HQS Inspection The Department is waiving the requirement for an initial HQS inspection before commencing monthly homeowner-

ship assistance payments. The family is still required to obtain an independent professional inspector and the PHA is still required to review the independent inspection and has discretion to disapprove the unit because of the contents of the inspection report. The waiver ends on July 31, 2020.

18. HCVP Administrative Plan The Department is waiving the requirement that a PHA’s administrative plan must be formally adopted by a PHA’s

board.

A PHA may revise an administrative plan without board approval though any revisions must be formerly adopted as practicable following June 30, 2020, but no later than July 31, 2020.

19. Information When Family is Selected – PHA Oral Briefing The Department is waiving the requirement that the PHA must give an oral briefing to families in the HCV and PBV

programs. The PHA must instead conduct the briefing by other means such as webcast, video call, ex expanded information packet. The PHA must ensure that the method of communication for the briefing effectively com-municates with each family member, including those with vision, hearing, and other communication-related disa-bilities and those with persons with limited English proficiency.

This waiver ends on July 31, 2020.

20. Term of Voucher – Extensions of Term The Department is waiving the requirement the voucher term extensions must be in accordance with the PHA ad-

ministrative plan.

The waiver is available until July 31, 2020.

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21. PHA Approval of Assisted Tenancy – When HAP Contract is Executed The Department is waiving the requirement that the HAP contract may not be executed 60 days after the lease term

begins. A PHA may now execute a HAP contract after 60 days after the beginning of a lease and make HAP back to the beginning of the lease term. The HAP contract must be executed no later than 120 days from the beginning of the lease term.

The period of availability to execute the HAP contract after the 60-day term ends on July 31, 2020.

22. Absence from Unit The Department is waiving the requirement that a voucher family may not be absent from a unit for a period of more

than 180 consecutive calendar days. The PHA has discretion whether to continue the HAP contract in this situa-tion and not terminate due to extenuating circumstances (e.g., hospitalization, extended stays at nursing homes, or caring for family members).

The period of availability to continue making these HAP payments despite the family’s absence ends on December 31, 2020. The PHA may not make payments after this date if the family is absent and the HAP contract will ter-minate.

23. Automatic Termination of HAP Contract The Department is waiving the requirement to terminate a HAP contract 180 days after a housing assistance pay-

ment is reduced to $0. This is in recognition that the COVID-19 emergency may cause the temporary addition of household members which causes the calculation of HAP to reach $0. As an alternative requirement, the PHA, following a written notice to the owner and family, may extend the period of time following the last payment to the owner that triggers the automatic termination.

The extension beyond the 180 days may not extend beyond December 31, 2020.

24. Increase in Payment Standard under HAP Contract Term The Department is waiving the requirement that if a payment standard is increased during the term of a HAP con-

tract, the increased payment standard shall not be effective until the family’s first regular reexamination. Instead, the increased payment standard may be effective at any time (e.g., interim reexamination, owner rent increase) after the effective date as long as it is not later than then family’s first regular reexamination.

This waiver is ends on December 31, 2020.

25. Utility Allowance Schedule – Required Review and Revision The Department is waiving the requirement to review the schedule of utility allowances and revise the allowance if

there has been a change of 10 percent or more in the utility rate since the last time the utility allowance schedule was revised. PHAs may delay the review and update of utility allowances.

Any review must be completed by no later than December 31, 2020.

26. Homeownership Option – Homeownership Counseling The Department is waiving briefing and counseling sessions to permit families to purchase a home without fulfilling

the normally applicable pre-assistance homeownership counseling requirements, though HUD encourages fami-lies to continue the sessions that can be accomplished in accordance with social distancing directives.

This waiver ends on July 31, 2020.

27. Family Unification Program (FUP) Youth Age Eligibility to Enter HAP Contract The Department is waiving the requirement that FUP youth must be not more than 24 years of age (not yet reached

their 25th birthday) and is replacing it with the requirement that FUP youth be not more than 25 years of age (not yet reached their 26th birthday).

This waiver ends on December 31, 2020.

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