§1437z–10 Small public housing agencies

Summary

Requires rules for small public housing agencies and how they are checked and helped. A "housing voucher program" is tenant-based rental help. A "small public housing agency" is one that runs 550 or fewer combined public housing units and vouchers and mainly works in rural areas. A "troubled small public housing agency" is one that the federal housing official labels as troubled. Keeps most rules the same as for larger agencies, but sets these special rules: the federal housing official will inspect public housing and voucher units no more often than every 3 years unless the agency is found to have poor physical conditions or missed required inspections. Lead safety checks are still required under federal lead rules. If an agency is designated troubled for bad housing conditions or inspection failures, the agency can appeal to an official who was not involved in the original decision. Within 60 days of the designation, the agency and the federal official must make a corrective action agreement for 1 year (renewable). The agreement must offer technical help, require at least yearly review of the troubled label, and end when problems are fixed. If the agency still fails, the federal official may hire another manager, withhold funds, take over management, seek a receiver, or use other legal remedies. Emergency steps to protect money or residents are allowed. Projects costing $100,000 or less are exempt from environmental review. For projects over $100,000, the federal housing official must create faster, simpler review rules.