HUD PIH Rescinds Payment Standard Flexibilities for Emergency Housing Voucher and Stability Voucher Programs

By Alayna Calabro, NLIHC Senior Policy Analyst

HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) issued Notice PIH 2026-20, “Revision to Emergency Housing Voucher and Stability Voucher Program Requirements Related to Payment Standards,” on August 10. The notice removes language from Notice PIH 2021-15 and Notice PIH 2022-24 that allowed public housing agencies (PHAs) to establish a payment standard of up to 120% of the Fair Market Rent (FMR)—rather than 110%—without HUD approval for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) and Stability Voucher (SV) programs. 

HUD used authority granted through the “American Rescue Plan Act” and the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022” to issue a discretionary waiver and alternative requirement that allowed PHAS to establish an EHV/SV payment standard between 90-120% of the published FMR without seeking HUD approval. 

The Notice states that PHAs must follow the regulations at 24 CFR 982.503(c) regarding the payment standard basic range of 90-110% FMR and 24 CFR 982.503(d) for any exception payment standard amounts above 110% FMR. 

Within 60 days of the notice issue date, PHAs must be in compliance with payment standard requirements for new SV admissions and current EHV and SV families moving to a new unit. Exception payment standards that PHAs have adopted for their HCV program pursuant to existing regulations are not impacted by the waiver rescission. 

Read the PIH notice.