HUD Launches Three Webpages on the Preservation of Multifamily Housing

HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH) announced the launch of three webpages to support owners of private, HUD-assisted multifamily housing and related stakeholders (e.g., residents). The webpages have resources to help address preservation-related issues and to meet compliance requirements for serving people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. While primarily oriented to private property owners, the resources may also be of interest to residents and advocates.

Housing Linked with Services for People with Disabilities

MFH manages the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program that provides funding to develop and subsidize rental housing with supportive services for very low- and extremely low-income adults with disabilities. By law, individuals with disabilities must have choices in the housing, health care, and related support services they receive. The materials on this webpage address updating or reconfiguring properties, identifying new service providers, and learning more about community integration. Specific topics include: accessibility, community integration, resources for making capital improvements, and information about supportive services partners.

The “Housing Linked with Service for Persons with Disabilities” webpage is at: https://bit.ly/31nCSiJ

Multifamily Housing Programs for Vulnerable Populations

MFHP administers a number of programs that provide housing linked with onsite and/or community-based supports, including housing for low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children. This page provides information, tools, and resources for these multifamily projects. For example, the page includes an online learning tool about the Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing (SCMF) program, as well as a written Resource Guide with information about all aspects of the SCMF program.

The “Multifamily Housing Programs for Vulnerable Populations” webpage is at: https://bit.ly/32tJgWY

210 Transfer Authority

The little-known 210 Transfer Authority allows HUD to approve an owner's request to transfer project-based rental assistance (PBRA), along with existing debt held or insured by HUD and affordability restrictions, from one multifamily housing project to another. This webpage provides detailed official HUD guidance for making a 210 property transfer, a short video, and examples of successful transfers.

The “210 Transfer Authority” webpage is at: https://bit.ly/35HWgKH

Section 8(bb)

Although there is not a new webpage highlighting Section 8(bb), residents and advocates might also be interested in learning about the Section (8bb) transfer authority preservation tool. Section 8(bb) of the Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(bb)) provides HUD with a tool for preserving budget authority for project-based rental assistance (PBRA). Under Section 8(bb), if a PBRA Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract is terminated or expires and is not renewed, HUD is authorized to transfer any remaining budget authority to either a new or an existing PBRA HAP contract to assist eligible families, including those receiving project-based assistance at the time a contract terminates, under terms and conditions prescribed by HUD.

Information about MFH’s Section 8(bb) transfer authority is at: https://bit.ly/35M6xp1

More about the Project-Based Rental Assistance program is on page 4-46 of NLIHC’s 2019 Advocates’ Guide.

More about the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program is on page 4-56 of NLIHC’s 2019 Advocates’ Guide.

More about the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program is on page 4-52 of NLIHC’s 2019 Advocates’ Guide.