SERVICE 1: PUBLIC HOUSING

Reduce the public housing agency reporting burden.

Other Information:

Overview: Public housing agency (PHA) reporting burden will be reduced by (1) the creation of an online recertification system for PHAs, (2) the clarification of income verification hierarchy, (3) the elimination of unnecessary verification of excluded income, (4) the promotion of tools to streamline the development of utility allowance schedules using the HUD Utility Schedule Model (HUSM), (5) reducing system downtimes and posting scheduled downtimes on HUD’s website, (6) improving HUD’s website through a user-friendly PHA portal, (7) explore the feasibility of simplifying the inspection process of rental units by adopting a single inspection protocol and These changes will be phased in over a multi-year period, steadily reducing the time and resources needed by PHAs to manage time consuming functions so that they can focus on providing resident case work, reducing fraud, and improving the quality assurance function. Challenges: The project relies on the success of a new IT system, which is in itself a long-term HUD transformation goal. Moreover, other changes under consideration will require statutory and regulatory changes. Featured Actions: The PIH One Stop Tool (POST) will allow PHAs to more easily and intuitively access information on HUD’s website. Impacts and Benefits: The reduction of PHAs’ reporting burden is expected to provide the following benefits and improved measures: PHAs will need approximately 50% less time to conduct recertifications, freeing resources for activities such as counseling families, promoting self-sufficiency, recruiting landlords, and fraud recovery. Families will incur fewer recertification costs (such as lost wages, child care, and transportation). The promotion of easy-to-use utility allowance schedules will provide a consistent utility allowance schedule development methodology to all PHAs. Key Milestones and Timeline: Clarifications of the income verification hierarchy and excluded income verifications, promotion of tools to streamline the development of utility allowances, and the PIH One Stop Tool will be completed by January 2012. By the end of calendar year 2012, an online recertification prototype will be released for testing and user input in preparation for system development.

Stakeholder(s):

• HUD Public Housing Program


• HUD Indian Housing Program


• HUD Rental Assistance Program


• Office of Public and Indian Housing


• Public Housing Agencies: Key Customer Groups: The initiative will directly serve PHAs by administrative burdens and will impact residents directly by providing more time for PHA staff to provide resident support through improved case work. In addition, more PHA resources can be devoted to reducing fraud and improving quality assurance functions.

Objective(s):

S 1.1: Feedback

S 1.2: Best Practices

S 1.3: Metrics and Standard

S 1.4: Streamlining

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