Title 24—Housing and Urban Development--Volume 1
PART 964—TENANT PARTICIPATION AND TENANT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING
§ 964.1   Purpose.
The purpose of this part is to recognize the importance of resident involvement in creating a positive living environment and in actively participating in the overall mission of public housing.
§ 964.3   Applicability and scope.
(a) The policies and procedures contained in this part apply to any PHA that has a Public Housing Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with HUD. This part, except for subpart E, does not apply to PHAs with housing assistance payments contracts with HUD under section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937.
(b) Subpart B of this part contains HUD policies, procedures, and requirements for the participation of residents in public housing operations. These policies, procedures, and requirements apply to all residents participating under this part.
(c)(1) Subpart C of this part contains HUD policies, procedures, and requirements for residents participating in the Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP) (replaces the Resident Management Program under Section 20 of the United States Housing Act of 1937). Resident management in public housing is viable and remains an option under TOP.
(2) Subpart C of this part is not intended to negate any pre-existing arrangements for resident management in public housing between a PHA and a resident management corporation. On or after September 23, 1994, any new, renewed or renegotiated contracts must meet the requirements of this part, the ACC and all applicable laws and regulations.
(d) Subpart D of this part includes requirements for the Family Investment Centers (FIC) Program which was established by Section 22 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437t) to provide families living in public housing and Indian housing with better access to educational and employment opportunities.
(e) Subpart E of this part implements section 2(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437), which provides for resident membership on the board of directors or similar governing body of a PHA. Subpart E applies to any public housing agency that has a public housing annual contributions contract with HUD or administers tenant-based rental under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
(f) The term “resident,” as used throughout this part, is interchangeable with the term “tenant,” to reflect the fact that local resident organizations have differing preferences for the terms. Terms such as “resident council” and “tenant council” and “resident management” and “tenant management” are interchangeable. Hereafter, for ease of discussion, the rule will use the terms resident, resident council and resident management corporation, as appropriate.
§ 964.7   Definitions.
Annual Contributions Contract (ACC). A contract (in the form prescribed by HUD) under which HUD agrees to provide financial assistance, and the HA agrees to comply with HUD requirements for the development and operation of the public housing project.
Eligible residents for FIC. A participating resident of a participating HA. If the HA is combining FIC with the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, the term also means Public Housing FSS and Section 8 families participating in the FSS program. Although Section 8 FSS families are eligible residents for FIC, they do not qualify for income exclusions that are provided for public housing residents participating in employment and supportive service programs.
Family Investment Centers (FIC). A facility on or near public housing which provides families living in public housing with better access to educational and employment opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.
FIC service coordinator. Any person who is responsible for:
(1) Determining the eligibility and assessing needs of families to be served by the FIC;
(2) Assessing training and service needs of eligible residents;
(3) Working with service providers to coordinate the provision of services on a HA-wide or less than HA-wide basis, and to tailor the services to the needs and characteristics of eligible residents;
(4) Mobilizing public and private resources to ensure that the supportive services identified can be funded over the five-year period, at least, following the initial receipt of funding.
(5) Monitoring and evaluating the delivery, impact, and effectiveness of any supportive service funded with capital or operating assistance under the FIC program;
(6) Coordinating the development and implementation of the FIC program with other self-sufficiency programs, and other education and employment programs; and
(7) Performing other duties and functions that are appropriate for providing eligible residents with better access to educational and employment opportunities.
HA means the same as Public Housing Agency (PHA).
Management. All activities for which the HA is responsible to HUD under the ACC, within the definition of “operation” under the Act and the ACC, including the development of resident programs and services.
Management contract. A written agreement between a resident management corporation and a HA, as provided by subpart C.
Public Housing Agency (PHA) is defined in 24 CFR part 5.
Public housing development (Development). The term “development” has the same meaning as that provided for “low-income housing project” as that term is defined Section 3(b)(1) of the Act.
Resident management. The performance of one or more management activities for one or more projects by a resident management corporation under a management contract with the HA.
Resident management corporation. An entity that proposes to enter into, or enters into, a contract to manage one or more management activities of a HA.
Resident-owned business. Any business concern which is owned and controlled by public housing residents. (The term “resident-owned business” includes sole proprietorships.) For purposes of this part, “owned and controlled” means a business:
(1) Which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more public housing residents; and
(2) Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals.
Supportive services for FIC. New or significantly expanded services that are essential to providing families living with children in public housing with better access to educational and employment opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.
Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP). The TOP program is designed to prepare residents to experience the dignity of meaningful work, to own and operate resident businesses, to move toward financial independence, and to enable them to choose where they want to live and engage in meaningful participation in the management of housing developments in which they live. Financial assistance in the form of technical assistance grants is available to RCs/RMCs to prepare to manage activities in their public housing developments.
Vacant unit under FIC. A dwelling unit that is not under an effective lease to an eligible family. An effective lease is a lease under which an eligible family has a right to possession of the unit and is being charged rent, even if the amount of any utility allowance equals or exceeds the amount of a total resident payment that is based on income and, as a result, the amount paid by the family to the HA is zero.
§ 964.11   HUD policy on tenant participation.
HUD promotes resident participation and the active involvement of residents in all aspects of a HA's overall mission and operation. Residents have a right to organize and elect a resident council to represent their interests. As long as proper procedures are followed, the HA shall recognize the duly elected resident council to participate fully through a working relationship with the HA. HUD encourages HAs and residents to work together to determine the most appropriate ways to foster constructive relationships, particularly through duly-elected resident councils.
§ 964.12   HUD policy on the Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP).
HUD promotes TOP programs to support activities that enable residents to improve the quality of life and resident satisfaction, and obtain other social and economic benefits for residents and their families. Tenant opportunity programs are proven to be effective in facilitating economic uplift, as well as in improving the overall conditions of the public housing communities.
§ 964.14   HUD policy on partnerships.
HUD promotes partnerships between residents and HAs which are an essential component to building, strengthening and improving public housing. Strong partnerships are critical for creating positive changes in lifestyles thus improving the quality of life for public housing residents, and the surrounding community.
§ 964.15   HUD policy on resident management.
It is HUD's policy to encourage resident management. HUD encourages HAs, resident councils and resident management corporations to explore the various functions involved in management to identify appropriate opportunities for contracting with a resident management corporation. Potential benefits of resident-managed entities include improved quality of life, experiencing the dignity of meaningful work, enabling residents to choose where they want to live, and meaningful participation in the management of the housing development.
§ 964.16   HUD role in activities under this part.
(a) General. Subject to the requirements of this part and other requirements imposed on HAs by the ACC, statute or regulation, the form and extent of resident participation including resident management are local decisions to be made jointly by resident councils/resident management corporations and their HAs. HUD will promote tenant participation and tenant opportunities programs, and will provide additional guidance, as necessary and appropriate. In addition, HUD will endeavor to provide technical assistance in connection with these initiatives.
(b) Monitoring. HUD shall ensure that the requirements under this part are operating efficiently and effectively.
§ 964.18   HA role in activities under subparts B & C.
(a) HAs with 250 units or more. (1) A HA shall officially recognize a duly elected resident council as the sole representative of the residents it purports to represent, and support its tenant participation activities.
(2) When requested by residents, a HA shall provide appropriate guidance to residents to assist them in establishing and maintaining a resident council.
(3) A HA may consult with residents, or resident councils (if they exist), to determine the extent to which residents desire to participate in activities involving their community, including the management of specific functions of a public housing development that may be mutually agreeable to the HA and the resident council/resident management corporation.
(4) A HA shall provide the residents or any resident council with current information concerning the HA's policies on tenant participation in management.
(5) If requested, a HA should provide a duly recognized resident council office space and meeting facilities, free of charge, preferably within the development it represents. If there is no community or rental space available, a request to approve a vacant unit for this non-dwelling use will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
(6) If requested, a HA shall negotiate with the duly elected resident council on all uses of community space for meetings, recreation and social services and other resident participation activities pursuant to HUD guidelines. Such agreements shall be put into a written document to be signed by the HA and the resident council. If a HA fails to negotiate with a resident council in good faith or, after negotiations, refuses to permit such usage of community space, the resident council may file an informal appeal with HUD, setting out the circumstances and providing copies of relevant materials evidencing the resident council's efforts to negotiate a written agreement. HUD shall require the HA to respond with a report stating the HA's reasons for rejecting the request or for refusing to negotiate. HUD shall require the parties (with or without direct HUD participation) to undertake or to resume negotiations on an agreement. If no resolution is achieved within 90 days from the date HUD required the parties to undertake or resume such negotiations, HUD shall serve notice on both parties that administrative remedies have been exhausted (except that, pursuant to mutual agreement of the parties, the time for negotiations may be extended by no more than an additional 30 days).
(7) In no event shall HUD or a HA recognize a competing resident council once a duly elected resident council has been established. Any funding of resident activities and resident input into decisions concerning public housing operations shall be made only through the officially recognized resident council.
(8) The HA shall ensure open communication and frequent meetings between HA management and resident councils and shall encourage the formation of joint HA management-resident committees to work on issues and planning.
(9) The resident council shall hold frequent meetings with the residents to ensure that residents have input, and are aware and actively involved in HA management-resident council decisions and activities.
(10) The HA and resident council shall put in writing in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding the elements of their partnership agreement and it shall be updated at least once every three (3) years.
(11) The HA, in collaboration with the resident councils, shall assume the lead role for assuring maximum opportunities for skills training for public housing residents. To the extent possible, the training resources should be local to ensure maximum benefit and on-going access.
(b) HAs with fewer than 250 units. (1) HAs with fewer than 250 units of public housing have the option of participating in programs under this part.
(2) HAs shall not deny residents the opportunity to organize. If the residents decide to organize and form a resident council, the HA shall comply with the following:
(i) A HA shall officially recognize a duly elected resident council as the sole representative of the residents it purports to represent, and support its tenant participation activities.
(ii) When requested by residents, a HA shall provide appropriate guidance to residents to assist them in establishing and maintaining a resident council.
(iii) A HA shall provide the residents or any resident council with current information concerning the HA's policies on tenant participation in management.
(iv) In no event shall HUD or a HA officially recognize a competing resident council once a duly elected resident council has been established. If a duly elected resident council has been formed, any input into changes concerning public housing operations shall be made only through the officially recognized resident council.
§ 964.24   HUD policy on FIC Program.
HUD promotes Family Investment Centers which provide better access to educational and employment opportunities for residents living in public housing. HUD encourages resident involvement in the FIC Program and promotes resident-HA partnerships to achieve mutual goals.
§ 964.30   Other Program requirements.
In addition to the requirements set forth in 24 CFR part 5, the following Federal requirements apply to this program:
(a) Affirmative Outreach. (1) The Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Program requirements of 24 CFR part 200, subpart M and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 108; and
(2) The fair housing advertising and poster guidelines at 24 CFR parts 109 and 110.
(b) Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131) and implementing regulations at 28 CFR part 35.
§ 964.100   Role of resident council.
The role of a resident council is to improve the quality of life and resident satisfaction and participate in self-help initiatives to enable residents to create a positive living environment for families living in public housing. Resident councils may actively participate through a working partnership with the HA to advise and assist in all aspects of public housing operations.
§ 964.105   Role of the jurisdiction-wide resident council.
(a) Jurisdiction-wide resident council. Resident councils may come together to form an organization which can represent the interest of residents residing in units under a HA's jurisdiction. This can be accomplished by the presidents of duly elected resident councils forming an organization, by resident councils electing a representative to the organization, or through jurisdiction-wide elections. If duly elected resident councils form such an organization, the HA shall recognize it as the voice of authority-wide residents for input into housing authority policy making.
(b) Function. The jurisdiction-wide council may advise the Board of Commissioners and executive director in all areas of HA operations, including but not limited to occupancy, general management, maintenance, security, resident training, resident employment, social services and modernization priorities.
(c) Cooperation with other groups. There shall be regularly scheduled meetings between the HA and the local duly elected resident council, and the jurisdiction-wide resident council to discuss problems, plan activities and review progress.
§ 964.115   Resident council requirements.
A resident council shall consist of persons residing in public housing and must meet each of the following requirements in order to receive official recognition from the HA/HUD, and be eligible to receive funds for resident council activities, and stipends for officers for their related costs for volunteer work in public housing:
(a) It may represent residents residing:
(1) In scattered site buildings;
(2) In areas of contiguous row houses; or
(3) In one or more contiguous buildings;
(4) In a development; or
(5) In a combination of these buildings or developments;
(b) It must adopt written procedures such as by-laws, or a constitution which provides for the election of residents to the governing board by the voting membership of the residents residing in public housing, described in paragraph (b) of this section, on a regular basis but at least once every three (3) years. The written procedures must provide for the recall of the resident board by the voting membership. These provisions shall allow for a petition or other expression of the voting membership's desire for a recall election, and set the number of percentage of voting membership (“threshold”) who must be in agreement in order to hold a recall election. This threshold shall not be less than 10 percent of the voting membership.
(c) It must have a democratically elected governing board that is elected by the voting membership. At a minimum, the governing board should consist of five (5) elected board members.
The voting membership must consist of heads of households (any age) and other residents at least 18 years of age or older and whose name appears on a lease for the unit in the public housing that the resident council represents.
§ 964.117   Resident council partnerships.
A resident council may form partnerships with outside organizations, provided that such relationships are complementary to the resident council in its duty to represent the residents, and provided that such outside organizations do not become the governing entity of the resident council.
§ 964.120   Resident management corporation requirements.
A resident management corporation must consist of residents residing in public housing and have each of the following characteristics in order to receive official recognition by the HA and HUD:
(a) It shall be a non-profit organization that is validly incorporated under the laws of the State in which it is located;
(b) It may be established by more than one resident council, so long as each such council:
(1) Approves the establishment of the corporation; and
(2) Has representation on the Board of Directors of the corporation;
(c) It shall have an elected Board of Directors, and elections must be held at least once every three (3) years;
(d) Its by-laws shall require the Board of Directors to include resident representatives of each resident council involved in establishing the corporation; include qualifications to run for office, frequency of elections, procedures for recall, and term limits if desired.
(e) Its voting members shall be heads of households (any age) and other residents at least 18 years of age and whose name appears on the lease of a unit in the public housing represented by the resident management corporation;
(f) Where a resident council already exists for the development, or a portion of the development, the resident management corporation shall be approved by the resident council board and a majority of the residents. If there is no resident council, a majority of the residents of the public housing development it will represent must approve the establishment of such a corporation for the purposes of managing the project; and
(g) It may serve as both the resident management corporation and the resident council, so long as the corporation meets the requirements of this part for a resident council.
§ 964.125   Eligibility for resident council membership.
(a) Any member of a public housing household, not including members of a non-public housing over-income family as defined in § 960.102 of this chapter, whose name is on the lease of a unit in the public housing development and meets the requirements of the by-laws is eligible to be a member of a resident council. The resident council may establish additional criteria that are non-discriminatory and do not infringe on rights of other residents in the development. Such criteria must be stated in the by-laws or constitution as appropriate.
(b) The right to vote for resident council board shall be limited to designated heads of households (any age) and other members of the household who are 18 years or older whose name appears on the lease of a unit in the public housing development represented by the resident council.
(c) Any qualified voting member of a resident council who meets the requirements described in the by-laws and is in compliance with the lease may seek office and serve on the resident council governing board.
§ 964.130   Election procedures and standards.
At a minimum, a resident council may use local election boards/commissions. The resident council shall use an independent third-party to oversee elections and recall procedures.
(a) Resident councils shall adhere to the following minimum standards regarding election procedures:
(1) All procedures must assure fair and frequent elections of resident council members—at least once every three years for each member.
(2) Staggered terms for resident council governing board members and term limits shall be discretionary with the resident council.
(3) Each resident council shall adopt and issue election and recall procedures in their by-laws.
(4) The election procedures shall include qualifications to run for office, frequency of elections, procedures for recall, and term limits if desired.
(5) All voting members of the resident community must be given sufficient notice (at least 30 days) for nomination and election. The notice should include a description of election procedures, eligibility requirements, and dates of nominations and elections.
(b) If a resident council fails to satisfy HUD minimum standards for fair and frequent elections, or fails to follow its own election procedures as adopted, HUD shall require the HA to withdraw recognition of the resident council and to withhold resident services funds as well as funds provided in conjunction with services rendered for resident participation in public housing.
(c) HAs shall monitor the resident council election process and shall establish a procedure to appeal any adverse decision relating to failure to satisfy HUD minimum standards. Such appeal shall be submitted to a jointly selected third-party arbitrator at the local level. If costs are incurred by using a third-party arbitrator, then such costs should be paid from the HAs resident services funds pursuant to § 964.150.
§ 964.135   Resident involvement in HA management operations.
Residents shall be involved and participate in the overall policy development and direction of Public Housing operations.
(a) Resident management corporations (RMCs) may contract with HAs to perform one or more management functions provided the resident entity has received sufficient training and/or has staff with the necessary expertise to perform the management functions and provided the RMC meets bonding and licensing requirements.
(b) Residents shall be actively involved in a HA's decision-making process and give advice on matters such as modernization, security, maintenance, resident screening and selection, and recreation.
(c) While a HA has responsibility for management operations, it shall ensure strong resident participation in all issues and facets of its operations through the duly elected resident councils at public housing developments, and with jurisdiction-wide resident councils.
(d) A HA shall work in partnership with the duly elected resident councils.
(e) HAs, upon request from the duly elected resident council, shall ensure that the duly elected resident council officers as defined in subpart B of this part, and other residents in the development are fully trained and involved in developing and implementing Federal programs including but not limited to Comprehensive Improvement Assistance Program (CIAP), Comprehensive Grant Program, Urban Revitalization Demonstration, Drug Elimination, and FIC.
(f) HAs shall involve resident council officers and other interested residents at the development through education and direct participation in all phases of the budgetary process.
(g) Resident council officers shall be encouraged to become involved in the resident screening and selection process for prospective residents at the development. Those selected to perform resident screening and selection functions must be trained by the HA in resident screening and selection and must sign a legal document committing to confidentiality.
§ 964.140   Resident training.
(a) Resident training opportunities. HUD encourages a partnership between the residents, the HA and HUD, as well as with the public and non-profit sectors to provide training opportunities for public housing residents. The categories in which training could occur include, but are not limited to:
(1) Community organization and leadership training;
(2) Organizational development training for Resident Management Corporations and duly elected Resident Councils;
(3) Public housing policies, programs, rights and responsibilities training; and
(4) Business entrepreneurial training, planning and job skills.
(b) Local training resources. HUD encourages the use of local training resources to ensure the ongoing accessibility and availability of persons to provide training and technical assistance. Possible training resources may include:
(1) Resident organizations;
(2) Housing authorities;
(3) Local community colleges, vocational schools; and
(4) HUD and other Federal agencies and other local public, private and non-profit organizations.
§ 964.145   Conflict of interest.
Resident council officers can not serve as contractors or employees if they are in policy making or supervisory positions at the HA.
§ 964.150   Funding tenant participation.
(a) Funding duly elected resident councils and jurisdiction wide resident councils. (1) The HA shall provide funds it receives for this purpose to the duly elected resident council at each development and/or those jurisdiction-wide councils eligible to receive the resident portion of the tenant services account to use for resident participation activities. This shall be an addition to the Performance Funding System (PFS), as provided by 24 CFR part 990, to permit HAs to fund $25 per unit per year for units represented by duly elected resident councils for resident services, subject to the availability of appropriations. Of this amount, $15 per unit per year would be provided to fund tenant participation activities under subpart B of this part for duly elected resident councils and/or jurisdiction-wide councils and $10 per unit per year would be used by the HA to pay for costs incurred in carrying out tenant participation activities under subpart B of this part, including the expenses for conducting elections, recalls or arbitration required under § 964.130 in subpart B. This will guarantee the resources necessary to create a bona fide partnership among the duly elected resident councils, the HA and HUD. Where both local and jurisdiction-wide councils exist, the distribution will be agreed upon by the HA and the respective councils.
(2) If funds are available through appropriations, the HA must provide tenant services funding to the duly elected resident councils regardless of the HA's financial status. The resident council funds shall not be impacted or restricted by the HA financial status and all said funds must be used for the purpose set forth in subparts B and C of this part.
(3) The HA and the duly elected resident council at each development and/or those jurisdiction-wide councils shall collaborate on how the funds will be distributed for tenant participation activities. If disputes regarding funding decisions arise between the parties, the matter shall be referred to the Field Office for intervention. HUD Field Office shall require the parties to undertake further negotiations to resolve the dispute. If no resolution is achieved within 90 days from the date of the Field Office intervention, the Field Office shall refer the matter to HUD Headquarters for final resolution.
(b) Stipends. (1) HUD encourages HAs to provide stipends to resident council officers who serve as volunteers in their public housing developments. The amount of the stipend, up to $200 per month/per officer, shall be decided locally by the resident council and the HA. Subject to appropriations, the stipends will be funded from the resident council's portion of the operating subsidy funding for resident council expenses ($15.00 per unit per year).
(2) Pursuant to § 913.106, stipends are not to be construed as salaries and should not be included as income for calculation of rents, and are not subject to conflict of interest requirements.
(3) Funding provided by a HA to a duly elected resident council may be made only under a written agreement between the HA and a resident council, which includes a resident council budget and assurance that all resident council expenditures will not contravene provisions of law and will promote serviceability, efficiency, economy and stability in the operation of the local development. The agreement must require the local resident council to account to the HA for the use of the funds and permit the HA to inspect and audit the resident council's financial records related to the agreement.
§ 964.200   General.
(a) The Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP) provides technical assistance for various activities, including but not limited to resident management, for resident councils/resident management corporations as authorized by Section 20 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The TOP provides opportunities for resident organizations to improve living conditions and resident satisfaction in public housing communities.
(b) This subpart establishes the policies, procedures and requirements for participating in the TOP with respect to applications for funding for programs identified in this subpart.
(c) This subpart contains the policies, procedures and requirements for the resident management program as authorized by section 20 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937.
§ 964.205   Eligibility.
(a) Resident councils/resident management corporations. Any eligible resident council/resident management corporation as defined in subpart B of this part is eligible to participate in a program administered under this subpart.
(b) Activities. Activities to be funded and carried out by an eligible resident council or resident management corporation, as defined in subpart B of this part, must improve the living conditions and public housing operations and may include any combination of, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Resident capacity building. (i) Training Board members in community organizing, Board development, and leadership training;
(ii) Determining the feasibility of resident management enablement for a specific project or projects; and
(iii) Assisting in the actual creation of an RMC, such as consulting and legal assistance to incorporate, preparing by-laws and drafting a corporate charter.
(2) Resident management. (i) Training residents, as potential employees of an RMC, in skills directly related to the operation, management, maintenance and financial systems of a project;
(ii) Training of residents with respect to fair housing requirements; and
(iii) Gaining assistance in negotiating management contracts, and designing a long-range planning system.
(3) Resident management business development. (i) Training related to resident-owned business development and technical assistance for job training and placement in RMC developments;
(ii) Technical assistance and training in resident managed business development through:
(A) Feasibility and market studies;
(B) Development of business plans;
(C) Outreach activities; and
(D) Innovative financing methods including revolving loan funds; and
(iii) Legal advice in establishing a resident managed business entity.
(4) Social support needs (such as self-sufficiency and youth initiatives). (i) Feasibility studies to determine training and social services needs;
(ii) Training in management-related trade skills, computer skills, etc;
(iii) Management-related employment training and counseling;
(iv) Coordination of support services;
(v) Training for programs such as child care, early childhood development, parent involvement, volunteer services, parenting skills, before and after school programs;
(vi) Training programs on health, nutrition and safety;
(vii) Workshops for youth services, child abuse and neglect prevention, tutorial services, in partnership with community-based organizations such as local Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Boy/Girl Scouts, Campfire and Big Brother/Big Sisters, etc. Other HUD programs such as the Youth Sports Program and the Public Housing Drug Elimination Programs also provide funding in these areas;
(viii) Training in the development of strategies to successfully implement a youth program. For example, assessing the needs and problems of the youth, improving youth initiatives that are currently active, and training youth, housing authority staff, resident management corporations and resident councils on youth initiatives and program activities; and
(5) Homeownership Opportunity. Determining feasibility for homeownership by residents, including assessing the feasibility of other housing (including HUD owned or held single or multi-family) affordable for purchase by residents.
(6) General. (i) Required training on HUD regulations and policies governing the operation of low-income public housing including contracting/procurement regulations, financial management, capacity building to develop the necessary skills to assume management responsibilities at the project and property management;
(ii) Purchasing hardware, i.e., computers and software, office furnishings and supplies, in connection with business development. Every effort must be made to acquire donated or discounted hardware;
(iii) Training in accessing other funding sources; and
(iv) Hiring trainers or other experts (RCs/RMCs must ensure that this training is provided by a qualified housing management specialist, a community organizer, the HA, or other sources knowledgeable about the program).
§ 964.210   Notice of funding availability.
A Notice of Funding Availability shall be published periodically in the Federal Register containing the amounts of funds available, funding criteria, where to obtain and submit applications, and the deadline for submissions.
§ 964.215   Grant agreement.
(a) General. HUD shall enter into a grant agreement with the recipient of a technical assistance grant which defines the legal framework for the relationship between HUD and a resident council or resident management corporation for the proposed funding.
(b) Term of grant agreement. A grant shall be for a term of three to five years (3-5 years), and renewable at the expiration of the term.
§ 964.220   Technical assistance.
(a) Financial assistance. HUD will provide financial assistance, to the extent available, to resident councils or resident management corporations for technical assistance and training to further the activities under this subpart.
(b) Requirements for a management specialist. If a resident council or resident management corporation seeks to manage a development, it must select, in consultation with the HA, a qualified housing management specialist to assist in determining the feasibility of, and to help establish, a resident management corporation and to provide training and other duties in connection with the daily operations of the project.
§ 964.225   Resident management requirements.
The following requirements apply when a HA and its residents are interested in providing for resident performance of several management functions in one or more projects.
(a) Resident management corporation responsibilities. Resident councils interested in contracting with a HA must establish a resident management corporation that meets the requirements for such a corporation, as specified in subpart B. The RMC and its employees must demonstrate their ability and skill to perform in the particular areas of management pursuant to the management contract.
(b) HA responsibilities. HAs shall give full and serious consideration to resident management corporations seeking to enter into a management contract with the HA. A HA shall enter into good-faith negotiations with a corporation seeking to contract to provide management services.
(c) Duty to bargain in good faith. If a HA refuses to negotiate with a resident management corporation in good faith or, after negotiations, refuses to enter into a contract, the corporation may file an informal appeal with HUD, setting out the circumstances and providing copies of relevant materials evidencing the corporation's efforts to negotiate a contract. HUD shall require the HA to respond with a report stating the HA's reasons for rejecting the corporation's contract offer or for refusing to negotiate. Thereafter, HUD shall require the parties (with or without direct HUD participation) to undertake or to resume negotiations on a contract providing for resident management, and shall take such other actions as are necessary to resolve the conflicts between the parties. If no resolution is achieved within 90 days from the date HUD required the parties to undertake or resume such negotiations, HUD shall serve notice on both parties that administrative remedies have been exhausted (except that, pursuant to mutual agreement of the parties, the time for negotiations may be extended by no more than an additional 30 days).
(d) Management contract. A management contract between the HA and a resident management corporation is required for property management. The HA and the resident management corporation may agree to the performance by the corporation of any or all management functions for which the HA is responsible to HUD under the ACC and any other functions not inconsistent with the ACC and applicable state and local laws, regulations and licensing requirements.
(e) Procurement requirements. The management contract shall be treated as a contracting out of services, and must be subject to any provision of a collective bargaining agreement regarding the contracting out of services to which the HA is subject. Provisions on competitive bidding and requirements of prior written HUD approval of contracts contained in the ACC do not apply to the decision of a HA to contract with a RMC.
(f) Rights of families; operation of project. If a resident management corporation is approved by the tenant organization representing one or more buildings or an area of row houses that are part of a public housing project for purposes of part 941 of this chapter, the resident management program may not, as determined by the HA, interfere with the rights of other residents of such project or harm the efficient operation of such project.
(g) Comprehensive improvement assistance with RMCs. (1) The HA may enter into a contract with the RMC to provide comprehensive improvement assistance under part 968 of this chapter to modernize a project managed by the RMC.
(2) The HA shall not retain, for any administrative or other reason, any portion of the comprehensive improvement assistance provided, unless the PHA and the RMC provide otherwise by contract.
(3) In assessing the modernization needs of its projects under 24 CFR part 968, or other grant mechanisms established by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, the HAs must consult with the tenant management corporation regarding any project managed by the corporation, in order to determine the modernization needs and preferences of resident-managed projects. Evidence of this required consultation must be included with a HA's initial submission to HUD.
(h) Direct provision of operating and capital assistance to RMC —(1) Direct provision of assistance to RMC. The ACC shall provide for the direct provision of operating and capital assistance by HUD to an RMC if:
(i) The RMC petitions HUD for the release of funds;
(ii) The contract provides for the RMC to assume the primary management responsibilities of the PHA;
(iii) The RMC has been designated as at least a “standard performer” under the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) (see 24 CFR part 902); and
(iv) The RMC is not in violation of any financial, accounting, procurement, civil rights, fair housing or other program requirements that HUD determines call into question the capability of the RMC to effectively discharge its responsibilities under the contract.
(2) Use of assistance. Any direct capital or operating assistance provided to the RMC must be used for purposes of performing eligible activities with respect to public housing as may be provided under the contract.
(3) Responsibilities of PHA. If HUD provides direct funding to a RMC under paragraph (h)(1) of this section, the PHA is not responsible for the actions of the RMC.
(i) Prohibited activities. A HA may not contract for assumption by the resident management corporation of the HA's underlying responsibilities to HUD under the ACC.
(j) Bonding, insurance, and licensing —(1) Bonding and insurance. Before assuming any management responsibility under its contract, the RMC must provide fidelity bonding and insurance, or equivalent protection that is adequate (as determined by HUD and the PHA) to protect HUD and the PHA against loss, theft, embezzlement, or fraudulent acts on the part of the RMC or its employees.
(2) Licensing and other local requirements. An RMC must be in compliance with any local licensing, or other local requirement, governing the qualifications or operations of a property manager.
(k) Waiver of HUD requirements. Upon the joint request of a resident management corporation and the HA, HUD may waive any requirement that HUD has established and that is not required by law, if HUD determines, after consultation with the resident management corporation and the HA, that the requirement unnecessarily increases the costs to the project or restricts the income of the project; and that the waiver would be consistent with the management contract and any applicable collective bargaining agreement. Any waiver granted to a resident management corporation under this section will apply as well to the HA to the extent the waiver affects the HA's remaining responsibilities relating to the resident management corporation's project.
(l) Monitoring of RMC performance. The HA must review periodically (but not less than annually) the management corporation's performance to ensure that it complies with all applicable requirements and meets agreed-upon standards of performance. (The method of review and criteria used to judge performance should be specified in the management contract.)
§ 964.230   Audit and administrative requirements.
(a) TOP grant recipients. The HUD Inspector General, the Comptroller General of the United States, or any duly authorized representative shall have access to all records required to be retained by this subpart or by any agreement with HUD for the purpose of audit or other examinations.
(1) Grant recipients must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR part 200, as applicable.
(2) A final audit shall be required of the financial statements made pursuant to this subpart by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), in accordance with generally accepted government audit standards. A written report of the audit must be forwarded to HUD within 60 days of issuance.
(b) Resident management corporations. Resident management corporations who have entered into a contract with a HA with respect to management of a development(s) must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR part 200, as applicable. Resident management corporations managing a development(s) must be audited annually by a licensed certified public accountant, designated by the corporation, in accordance with generally accepted government audit standards. A written report of each audit must be forwarded to HUD and the HA within 30 days of issuance. These requirements are in addition to any other Federal law or other requirement that would apply to the availability and audit of books and records of resident management corporations under this part.
§ 964.300   General.
The Family Investment Centers Program provides families living in public housing with better access to educational and employment opportunities by:
(a) Developing facilities in or near public housing for training and support services;
(b) Mobilizing public and private resources to expand and improve the delivery of such services;
(c) Providing funding for such essential training and support services that cannot otherwise be funded; and
(d) Improving the capacity of management to assess the training and service needs of families, coordinate the provision of training and services that meet such needs, and ensure the long-term provision of such training and services. FIC provides funding to HAs to access educational, housing, or other social service programs to assist public housing residents toward self-sufficiency.
§ 964.305   Eligibility.
(a) Public Housing Authorities. HAs may apply to establish one or more FICs for more than one public housing development.
(b) FIC Activities. Activities that may be funded and carried out by eligible HAs, as defined in § 964.305(a) and § 964.310(a) may include:
(1) The renovation, conversion, or combination of vacant dwelling units in a HA development to create common areas to accommodate the provision of supportive services;
(2) The renovation of existing common areas in a HA development to accommodate the provision of supportive services;
(3) The acquisition, construction or renovation of facilities located near the premises of one or more HA developments to accommodate the provision of supportive services;
(4) The provision of not more than 15 percent of the total cost of supportive services (which may be provided directly to eligible residents by the HA or by contract or lease through other appropriate agencies or providers), but only if the HA demonstrates that:
(i) The supportive services are appropriate to improve the access of eligible residents to employment and educational opportunities; and
(ii) The HA has made diligent efforts to use or obtain other available resources to fund or provide such services; and
(5) The employment of service coordinators.
(c) Follow up. A HA must demonstrate a firm commitment of assistance from one or more sources ensuring that supportive services will be provided for not less than one year following the completion of activities.
(d) Environmental Review. Any environmental impact regarding eligible activities will be addressed through an environmental review of that activity as required by 24 CFR part 50, including the applicable related laws and authorities under § 50.4, to be completed by HUD, to ensure that any environmental impact will be addressed before assistance is provided to the HA. Grantees will be expected to adhere to all assurances applicable to environmental concerns.
§ 964.308   Supportive services requirements.
HAs shall provide new or significantly expanded services essential to providing families in public housing with better access to educational and employment opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. HAs applying for funds to provide supportive services must demonstrate that the services will be provided at a higher level than currently provided. Supportive services may include:
(a) Child care, of a type that provides sufficient hours of operation and serves appropriate ages as needed to facilitate parental access to education and job opportunities;
(b) Employment training and counseling (e.g., job training, preparation and counseling, job development and placement, and follow-up assistance after job placement);
(c) Computer skills training;
(d) Education (e.g., remedial education, literacy training, completion of secondary or post-secondary education, and assistance in the attainment of certificates of high school equivalency);
(e) Business entrepreneurial training and counseling;
(f) Transportation, as necessary to enable any participating family member to receive available services or to commute to his or her place of employment;
(g) Personal welfare (e.g., substance/alcohol abuse treatment and counseling, self-development counseling, etc.);
(h) Supportive Health Care Services (e.g., outreach and referral services); and
(i) Any other services and resources, including case management, that are determined to be appropriate in assisting eligible residents.
§ 964.310   Audit/compliance requirements.
HAs cannot have serious unaddressed, outstanding Inspector General audit findings or fair housing and equal opportunity monitoring review findings or Field Office management review findings. In addition, the HA must be in compliance with civil rights laws and equal opportunity requirements. A HA will be considered to be in compliance if:
(a) As a result of formal administrative proceedings, there are no outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil rights laws unless the HA is operating in compliance with a HUD-approved compliance agreement designed to correct the area(s) of noncompliance;
(b) There is no adjudication of a civil rights violation in a civil action brought against it by a private individual, unless the HA demonstrates that it is operating in compliance with a court order, or implementing a HUD-approved resident selection and assignment plan or compliance agreement, designed to correct the area(s) of noncompliance;
(c) There is no deferral of Federal funding based upon civil rights violations;
(d) HUD has not deferred application processing by HUD under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Attorney General's Guidelines (28 CFR 50.3) and HUD's Title VI regulations (24 CFR 1.8) and procedures (HUD Handbook 8040.1) [HAs only] or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and HUD regulations (24 CFR 8.57) [HAs and IHAs];
(e) There is no pending civil rights suit brought against the HA by the Department of Justice; and
(f) There is no unresolved charge of discrimination against the HA issued by the Secretary under Section 810(g) of the Fair Housing Act, as implemented by 24 CFR 103.400.
§ 964.315   HAs role in activities under this part.
The HAs shall develop a process that assures that RC/RMC representatives and residents are fully briefed and have an opportunity to comment on the proposed content of the HA's application for funding. The HA shall give full and fair consideration to the comments and concerns of the residents. The process shall include:
(a) Informing residents of the selected developments regarding the preparation of the application, and providing for residents to assist in the development of the application.
(b) Once a draft application has been prepared, the HA shall make a copy available for reading in the management office; provide copies of the draft to any resident organization representing the residents of the development(s) involved; and provide adequate opportunity for comment by the residents of the development and their representative organizations prior to making the application final.
(c) After HUD approval of a grant, notify the duly elected resident organization and if none exists, notify the residents of the development of the approval of the grant; provide notification of the availability of the HUD-approved implementation schedule in the management office for reading; and develop a system to facilitate a regular resident role in all aspects of program implementation.
§ 964.320   HUD Policy on training, employment, contracting and subcontracting of public housing residents.
In accordance with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 75, PHAs, their contractors and subcontractors shall make best efforts, consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, to give low and very low-income persons the training and employment opportunities generated by Section 3 covered assistance (as this term is defined in 24 CFR 75.3) and to give Section 3 business concerns the contracting opportunities generated by Section 3 covered assistance.
§ 964.325   Notice of funding availability.
A Notice of Funding Availability will be published periodically in the Federal Register containing the amounts of funds available, funding criteria, where to obtain and submit applications, the deadline for the submissions, and further explanation of the selection criteria.
§ 964.330   Grant set-aside assistance.
The Department may make available five percent (5%) of any amounts available in each fiscal year (subsequent to the first funding cycle) available to eligible HAs to supplement grants previously awarded under this program. These supplemental grants would be awarded if the HA demonstrates that the funds cannot otherwise be obtained and are needed to maintain adequate levels of services to residents.
§ 964.335   Grant agreement.
(a) General. HUD will enter into a grant agreement with the recipients of a Family Investment Centers grant which defines the legal framework for the relationship between HUD and a HA.
(b) Term of grant agreement. A grant will be for a term of three to five years depending upon the tasks undertaken, as defined under this subpart.
§ 964.340   Resident compensation.
Residents employed to provide services or renovation or conversion work funded under this program shall be paid at a rate not less than the highest of:
(a) The minimum wage that would be applicable to the employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), if section 6(a)(1) of the FLSA applied to the resident and if the resident were not exempt under section 13 of the FLSA;
(b) The State or local minimum wage for the most nearly comparable covered employment; or
(c) The prevailing rate of pay for persons employed in similar public occupations by the same employer.
§ 964.345   Treatment of income.
Program participation shall begin on the first day the resident enters training or begins to receive services. Furthermore, the earnings of and benefits to any HA resident resulting from participation in the FIC program shall not be considered as income in computing the resident's total annual income that is used to determine the resident rental payment during:
(a) The period that the resident participates in the program; and
(b) The period that begins with the commencement of employment of the resident in the first job acquired by the resident after completion of the program that is not funded by assistance under the 1937 Act, and ends on the earlier of:
(1) The date the resident ceases to continue employment without good cause; or
(2) The expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of commencement of employment in the first job not funded by assistance under this program. (See § 913.106, Annual Income.) This provision does not apply to residents participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program who are utilizing the escrow account.
§ 964.350   Administrative requirements.
The HUD Inspector General, the Comptroller General of the United States, or any duly authorized representative shall have access to all records required to be retained by this subpart or by any agreements with HUD for the purpose of audit or other examinations.
(a) Each HA receiving a grant shall submit to HUD an annual progress report, participant evaluation and assessment data and other information, as needed, regarding the effectiveness of FIC in achieving self-sufficiency.
(b) The policies, guidelines, and requirements of 2 CFR part 200 are applicable with respect to the acceptance and use of assistance by private nonprofit organizations.
§ 964.400   Purpose.
The purpose of this subpart is to implement section 2(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437).
§ 964.405   Applicability.
(a) General. Except as described in paragraph (b) of this section, this subpart applies to any public housing agency that has a public housing annual contributions contract with HUD or administers tenant-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
(b) Exceptions. The requirements of this subpart do not apply to a public housing agency that is:
(1) Located in a State that requires the members of a governing board to be salaried and to serve on a full-time basis; or
(2) Not governed by a governing board.
§ 964.410   Additional definitions.
The following additional definitions apply to this subpart only:
Directly assisted. Directly assisted means a public housing resident or a recipient of housing assistance in the tenant-based section 8 program. Direct assistance does not include any State financed housing assistance or Section 8 project-based assistance.
Eligible resident. An eligible resident is a person:
(1) Who is directly assisted by a public housing agency;
(2) Whose name appears on the lease; and
(3) Is eighteen years of age or older.
Governing board. Governing board means the board of directors or similar governing body of a public housing agency.
Resident board member. A resident board member is a member of the governing board who is directly assisted by that public housing agency.
§ 964.415   Resident board members.
(a) General. Except as provided in §§ 964.405(b) and 964.425, the membership of the governing board of each public housing agency must contain not less than one eligible resident board member.
(b) Resident board member no longer directly assisted. (1) A resident board member who ceases to be directly assisted by the public housing agency is no longer an “eligible resident” as defined in § 964.410.
(2) Such a board member may be removed from the PHA board for that cause, where such action is permitted under State or local law.
(3) Alternatively, the board member may be allowed to complete his/her current term as a member of the governing board. However, the board member may not be re-appointed (or re-elected) to the governing board for purposes of serving as the statutorily required resident board member.
(c) Minimum qualifications for board membership. Any generally applicable qualifications for board membership also apply to residents, unless the application of the requirements would result in the governing board not containing at least one eligible resident as a member. Further, PHAs and localities may not establish eligibility requirements for board membership that are solely applicable to residents.
§ 964.420   Resident board member may be elected.
(a) General. Residents directly assisted by a public housing agency may elect a resident board member if provided for in the public housing agency plan, adopted in accordance with 24 CFR part 903.
(b) Notice to residents. The public housing agency must provide residents with at least 30 days advance notice for nominations and elections. The notice should include a description of the election procedures, eligibility requirements, and dates of nominations and elections. Any election procedures devised by the public housing agency must facilitate fair elections.
§ 964.425   Small public housing agencies.
(a) General. The requirements of this subpart do not apply to any public housing agency that:
(1) Has less than 300 public housing units (or has no public housing units):
(2) Has provided reasonable notice to the resident advisory board of the opportunity for residents to serve on the governing board;
(3) Has not been notified of the intention of any resident to participate on the governing board within a reasonable time (which shall not be less than 30 days) of the resident advisory board receiving the notice described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and
(4) Repeats the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section at least once every year.
(b) Public housing agencies that only administer Section 8 assistance. A public housing agency that has no public housing units, but administers Section 8 tenant-based assistance, is eligible for the exception described in paragraph (a) of this section, regardless of the number of Section 8 vouchers it administers.
(c) Failure to meet requirements for exception. A public housing agency that is otherwise eligible for the exception described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, but does not meet the three conditions described in paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(4) of this section, must comply with the requirements of this subpart.
§ 964.430   Nondiscrimination.
(a) Membership status —(1) General. A resident board member is a full member of the governing board.
(2) Resident participation must include matters regarding Federal public housing and Section 8 tenant-based assistance. A resident board member must be allowed to take part in decisions related to the administration, operation, and management of Federal public housing programs and Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance programs. This rule does not extend to matters that:
(i) Exclusively relate to other types of housing assistance (such as State financed housing assistance); or
(ii) Do not involve housing assistance (as may occur where the city or county governing body also serves as the PHA board).
(3) Public housing agency may expand scope of resident participation. A public housing agency may choose to expand the scope of resident member involvement to matters not required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(b) Residence status. A governing board may not prohibit any person from serving on the governing board because that person is a resident of a public housing project or is assisted under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
(c) Conflict of interest. A governing board may not exclude any resident board member from participating in any matter before the governing board on the grounds that the resident board member's lease with the public housing agency, or the resident board member's status as a public housing resident or recipient of Section 8 tenant-based assistance, either results or may result in a conflict of interest, unless the matter is clearly applicable to the resident board member only in a personal capacity and applies uniquely to that member and not generally to residents or to a subcategory of residents.