HUD Refines Rules for Who Gets Public Housing Spots
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Notice
Summary
HUD is updating how public housing programs collect info about who can move in and stay. These changes affect residents, housing managers, and anyone applying for public housing, aiming to make the process smoother and fairer. Comments on these updates are open until April 20, 2026, with no immediate cost changes but a focus on better rules and paperwork.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
PHAs Must Post Admission Rules
If you apply for or live in public housing, the public housing agency (PHA) must keep and provide written admission and continued-occupancy policies on request. These policies must cover eligibility, local preferences, and rent determination and must be available for tenants, legal-aid organizations, HUD, and others to inspect.
Paperwork Burden: 2,667 PHAs, 24 Hours Each
HUD estimates 2,667 public housing agencies (PHAs) will respond once to this collection, with an average of 24 hours per response, totaling 64,008 burden hours and an annual labor cost of $1,388,333.52. HUD is asking for OMB approval of this revised information collection and inviting comments by April 20, 2026.
HOTMA Over-Income Policy & Reporting
The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) requires PHAs to one-time update written policies to address "over-income families," defined as households with annual incomes at least 120% of area median income for two consecutive years. HOTMA also established annual reporting on the number of over-income families in public housing and the number of families on public housing waiting lists.
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