§1437z–10 Small Public Housing Agencies

Summary

The law sets rules for small public housing agencies about inspections, fixing problems, and environmental reviews. Key words: housing voucher program = tenant-based rental help; small public housing agency = one that runs 550 or fewer public housing units and vouchers and mostly works in a rural area; troubled small public housing agency = a small agency the Secretary calls “troubled.” Small agencies must follow the same rules as other public housing agencies unless the law says otherwise. The federal Secretary will inspect public housing no more than once in any 3-year period unless the agency is marked as troubled for poor conditions. For voucher-assisted homes, the agency must inspect each unit at least once every 3 years. Lead-safety checks still must be done under the separate lead rules. If the Secretary finds serious problems, the agency can be labeled troubled for its public housing program or its voucher work. The agency gets an appeal decided by someone who was not involved in the first decision. Within 60 days of the troubled label, the Secretary and the agency must make a one-year corrective plan (renewable). The plan should include help, yearly reviews, and end when problems are fixed. If the agency fails to follow the plan, the Secretary may hire another manager, hold back money, take over management, ask for a receiver, or use other contract remedies. The law also exempts small agencies from environmental reviews for projects costing $100,000 or less and requires simpler review rules for bigger projects.