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There are a number of HUD programs and policies that help support the participation of all public housing residents. Annual Plan Process and Formation of Resident Advisory Boards. Opportunity for resident participation can be found in the annual Planning Process that most PHAs are required to engage in. In 1998, Congress passed the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act (QHWRA). Under this law, most of the nation’s housing agencies must develop annual and five-year management plans, collectively referred to as the Public Housing Authority Plan (PHA Plan). The annual PHA Plan is designed to govern how public housing agencies operate in a given fiscal year by spelling out what the agency’s policies will be in specific areas (i.e., rent, pet policy, admissions and occupancy). The five-year PHA Plan describes the agency’s overall mission in addressing the housing needs of low income families in its jurisdiction. As part of this Planning Process, housing agencies are required to appoint Resident Advisory Boards (RABs) to assist in the development of these PHA Plans. RABs consist of residents who are elected to represent the population served by the housing agency. By law, housing agencies must provide RABs with “reasonable resources” to enable them to function effectively and independently of the housing agency. In some parts of the country, as a way of increasing their organizing power, site-based resident councils have come together to form citywide and even statewide resident councils. Right to Organize Regulations. The Code of Federal Regulations guarantees residents the right to organize a resident council to represent their interests and defines what constitutes a duly-elected (or democratically established) resident organization, and defines HUD’s obligation, along with housing agencies, to support resident participation activities through training and other activities. Resident Commissioners. The law also mandates that every public housing authority (PHA), with a few exceptions, have at least one person (either a public housing resident or voucher holder) assisted by the agency on its governing board. HUD’s rule governing the appointment of resident commissioners states that residents on housing agency boards should be treated no differently than non-residents. Funding for Resident Participation. Most agencies are required to include in their annual operating budget an amount totaling $25 per occupied unit per year to fund resident participation. The funding may be used to support training, resident organizing and other activities. Housing agencies are required to pass these funds through to resident councils to enable them to design site-based programs and activities. Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Program. The Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program (ROSS) is a program designed to link public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities and other assistance in becoming self-sufficient. Grants under the ROSS program can be made to PHAs, resident management associations, resident councils, resident organizations, intermediary resident organizations and other nonprofit entities operating as associations or networks that administer programs that benefit resident organizations. A multitude of initiatives for residents can be part of such grants. |
