HUD has announced that in the coming weeks, they will begin implementing DocuSign for contract renewals in Arkansas and Texas, becoming the 2nd region to roll out the DocuSign process. Once implemented, all documents for contract renewals will be sent and signed via DocuSign. It’s important to note that this implementation ONLY applies to contract renewals, and not rent adjustments.

What does this mean for Owners/Agents?

• This implementation requires every Owner/Agent to have an email address as DocuSign emails cannot be forwarded.

• During the renewal process, SHCC’s Contracts Department will verify individuals that need to review and sign documents.

• Contracts Staff will also reach out and obtain necessary emails/contact information for review and execution of contract documents.

This new process aims to streamline the contract renewal process and make it more efficient and secure for all parties involved.

On July 27, 2023, HUD published a Supplement to the RAD Notice making changes to the RAD Notice in order to implement certain changes to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) authorized under the FY 2022 Appropriations Act, as well as other changes.

Key changes made in the supplement include revisions to: RAD for PRAC Initial Contract Rent Setting, Resident Engagement, Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience, Treatment of Zero-HAP families, Housing Quality Standards, Radon Policies in RAD Conversions, Faircloth-to-RAD Developments, and RAD/Section 18 Blend Streamlining.

The changes in the Notice are effective immediately following publication in the Federal Register. These provisions are subject to a 30-day comment period. If HUD receives comment that leads to reconsideration of any changes contained within the Supplemental Notice, HUD will notify the public in a new revision. Please submit all comments to RAD@hud.gov.

Check HUD’s RAD page for the latest information on RAD or to join the RAD listserv.

The notice outlines how NSPIRE inspections will be scored and responds to comments submitted in response to the Proposed Scoring Notice. NSPIRE advances HUD’s mission to create quality affordable housing and strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities. For more information on NSPIRE, visit the NSPIRE Resources page.

The 2023 Hurricane season began on Thursday June 1st, and continues through November 30th. Multiple sources are predicting a near-normal 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season. For important tips and resources to help you prepare and plan before a storm makes landfall, visit the link below.

https://conta.cc/3JwyBSN

In-Person HOTMA Training

with Gwen Volk

September 21, 2023 – Houston, TX

8:30 AM – 4:00 PM CST

Register Online

HUD has issued final regulations implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) and says that Owners must implement the new income rules for all tenant certifications (50059’s) beginning January 1, 2024.

This is the most sweeping change to how we determine eligibility and calculate income and rent in the last 40 years. There will be new forms 50059, 9834, 9887, and HUD Model Leases and new definitions for Day Laborer, Independent Contractor, Real Property, and Seasonal Worker, revised definitions of Dependent, Earned Income, Family, Health & Medical Care Expenses, Net Family Assets, and Unearned Income. The new regulations allow for self-certification of assets under $50,000 (not $5,000) and changes in what is included and excluded from income (must be verified at move in and re-verified every 4th year). The percentage of annual income that is deducted before taking medical and disability expenses will increase and has to be phased in to mitigate the impact on residents. Elderly/disabled families and dependent deductions will change annually based on an inflationary adjustment. 

Some rules apply only to Section 8 PBRA including making families with more than $100,000 in assets or who own another place to live ineligible for both admission to and continued occupancy in assisted housing. The requirement to do interims both for increases and decreases will be based on a % of change not on a specific dollar amount or whenever a tenant has any amount of decrease.  And there’s more! Learn how each change will work and what you need to do to implement them and be in compliance.

Areas Covered:

·       Asset limitations, verification, and imputing income

·       Income and Asset Inclusions/Exclusions

·       Medical Expense/Allowance

·       Dependent Allowance

·       Elderly/Disabled Family Deduction

·       Interim Recertification triggers

·       Hardship Exemptions and Phase-ins

·       Form changes

·       Use of EIV

·       Students will identify which rules apply to which programs

·       Students will learn how the deadline could affect their current work

Who Should Attend:

·       Owners

·       Agents

·       Managers

·       Compliance Specialists for HUD Multifamily Projects



What Programs Are Affected:

·       Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA),

·       Section 202/8

·       Section 202/811 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC)

·       Section 202/162 Project Assistance Contract (PAC)

·       Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA)

·       Senior Preservation Rental Assistance Contract (SPRAC)

On May 15, 2023, HUD released the Fiscal Year 2023 Income Limits for Section 8 properties. The new income limits must be utilized when processing all Move In certifications effective May 15, 2023 and later. Please note that these limits do not affect the eligibility of households who are already receiving Section 8 assistance.

Please make sure you immediately update your TRACS software with the new limits. You can access the Income Limit documentation at:

HUD Income Limits

AHMA East Texas and NAHMA
NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR 2023

Scholarship season is now open for the 2023/2024 school year.  Both AHMA East Texas and NAHMA are offering scholarships for the 2023/2024 school year.  These are two separate applications and have different requirements.  Make sure your residents and employees take advantage of both these scholarship opportunities.  (Employees are only eligible for the AHMA East Texas scholarship.)  Please note your property must be current with their AHMA East Texas dues to qualify for either of these scholarships.

AHMA EAST TEXAS 2023 SCHOLARSHIP

RECIPIENTS MUST LIVE OR WORK ON AHMA EAST TEXAS MEMBER PROPERTIES (OR MEMBER AGENT OFFICE)

AHMA East Texas Scholarship Foundation will award educational scholarships to qualified applicants as determined by the Scholarship Eligibility requirements listed in the application packet.  Scholarships are to be used for post-secondary education.  Evaluation of the application includes reading and following instructions.  Make sure your resident/employee follows all directions and provides all requested information.  Failure to do so may disqualify their application.

The application is offered in fillable form and must now be submitted via email.  Email application and all documents in one email to info@ahmaet.org.  Remember both the applicant and Property Manager/Agent signatures must be wet signatures or a certified signature (typed signatures are not accepted). Deadline for receipt of applications is 10:00 p.m. CST, May 12, 2023.  Note the deadline has been extended by 2 days.

Once an application is received (via email or other method), you will receive an email acknowledging receipt.  We will only acknowledge receipt:  we will not acknowledge if the application was accepted.

NAHMA 2023 SCHOLARSHIP

The 2023 NAHMA Educational Foundation scholarship season is open, and the digital application is now available online.  This is a great opportunity for low-income residents to receive financial assistance to pursue their education and career goals.  NAHMA has provided a scripted email template on their website and they encourage you to use these notification promotional materials.  This can be located on their website at www.nahma.org.

To access the application, visit https://nahma.communityforce.com. The deadline for completed applications is 10 p.m. EST on May 12, 2023.  Eligibility for the program requires that an applicant be a resident in good standing at an AHMA- or NAHMA-affiliated apartment community and be either a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5; or a high school equivalency diploma holder or matriculated college student with a minimum GPA of 2.3 at an accredited community college, college, university, or trade/technical school. Applications from students in graduate-level programs are not accepted.

The required application components include an application form, essay, reference and certification of residency in good standing form.  Additionally, an official grade transcript showing grades through the fall 2022 semester is also required and is the only component submitted to the foundation via mail. All necessary forms are provided within the web-based software.

Webinar:  HOTMA (for Decision Makers & Policy Developers with Gwen Volk

Thursday, May 18, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 pm. CST

This course is recommended for decision makers and policy developers.

On January 1, 2024, HUD will implement the most comprehensive changes to the way HUD properties determine eligibility and calculate income and rent since 1981 when Congress raised the rent cap from 25% to 30% of Adjusted Income.  The changes are expected to have a ripple effect on other affordable housing programs including Rural Development and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and HOME programs.  Find out the most significant changes, what guidance HUD has provided to date, and when you will need to start following the new rules.

Register Now for Webinar: HOTMA with Gwen Volk

Webinar:  Creating and Reporting Repayment Agreements with Jenny DeSilva

Friday, May 26, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CST

This advanced class is designed for compliance staff and onsite staff who handle recertification processing within their TRACS compliance software.

The group will explore common scenarios that prompt subsidy repayment agreements. The instructor will test participant understanding of how the overpayment occurred and which lease obligation(s) the tenant did not meet, while sharing effective tips to minimize repayments in the future. The group will then practice calculating the balance of overpaid subsidy owed to HUD and determine when these transactions will appear on the voucher.

Using a realistic case study, the instructor will show participants how to correctly report various types of repayment transactions on the new repayment agreement schedule of the monthly voucher and how to proceed when terms of the agreement are not upheld by the tenant.

Register now for Creating & Reporting Repayment Agreement wtih Jenny DeSilva

Webinar:  Ins and Outs of Certification Processing with Jenny DeSilva

Wednesday, May 31, 2023, Thursday, April 13, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CST

Join us in this interactive webinar that will help you “keep the certification ball rolling”.

This class will teach participants how to fine tune their interviewing skills to aid in making a certification appointment worthwhile, productive and efficient.  Next, we will discuss proper ways to use HUD’s hierarchy of income verification levels to avoid recertification delays and achieve timely, accurate certifications, even when third parties do not respond.

Using real world scenarios, we will determine the correct effective date for interim recertifications based on whetehr changes are reported timely by the household.  Finally, we will assess situations where certification actions can be delayed and combined with subsequent actions.

Regiser now for Ins and Outs of Certification Processing

SWAHMA 2023: Upcoming Training and Events, beginning May 25, with a 90 minute Webinar on HOTMA, followed by “Are you ready for RAD?” on June 15th.

SW-AHMA Fall Conferences have been announced for San Antonio and Little Rock, AR.

To find out more, please click the link below:

https://conta.cc/3APku6h

IN PERSON SEMINAR (Houston, Texas)

REAC & UPCS with Alejandro Dominguez

Wednesday, March 29, 2023, Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.  Class 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. CST

Please join us for this in-person seminar in Houston, Texas.  Alejandro Dominguez will teach us about REAC & UPCS. 

Here are the topics that will be covered:

• Topic 1: A brief introduction to REAC & UPCS (why a good score matters) and UPCS Scoring explained (so you don’t waste time and money on items that will not affect your score).
• Topic 2: Introduction to NSPIRE with comparison to the current UPCS protocol. We will discuss how REAC will schedule the initial NSPIRE inspections (how to know if your property will be up first), along with proposed changes to the REAC inspector protocol (changes to building count procedures, new pre-inspection property requirements, how often NSPIRE inspections will occur, etc).
• Topic 3: Breakdown of the current highest scoring UPCS deficiencies, which will also include NSPIRE corrective actions for each item.

Register Now for Seminar REAC & UPCS with Alejandro Dominguez