Public Housing and Voucher Programs

SEMAP Training

This training provides an overview of Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) and key information to help Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) effectively manage their Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program for SEMAP success. This training helps PHA staff:

• Understand SEMAP Indicators
• Learn about the documentation required
• Understand how to use SEMAP to manage your HCV program

RRI Training for PHA Staff

This Rate Reduction Incentive (RRI) training helps PHA staff:

• Understand RRI and calculate rate reduction savings
• Learn about the documentation required
• Understand HUD’s review process for the RRI

HCV Overview Video Series

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Overview Video Series is intended to give Public Housing Authorities (PHA) and HUD staff a brief introduction to some of the main topics related to utilization in the HCV program, with a particular emphasis on HCV utilization tools available to PHAs. Topics include:

• Payment Standards
• Attrition Rate
• HCV Analysis Tool (HAT) & Drill-Down Tool
• Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs)

Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy Toolkit

The Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) Toolkit is designed to support PHAs and their staff in developing, revising, and implementing ACOP policies for the Public Housing Program. The ACOP toolkit includes a guide that:

• Demonstrates what content should be covered in a typical ACOP
• Provides practice tips and sample approaches that PHAs can use to formulate internal policies
• Notes where PHAs have discretion to create and decide policy
• Provides example ACOP policy language

HCV Landlord Resources

These resources provide an overview of some of the main processes’ landlords will encounter when participating in the HCV program. Resources include:

• HCV Landlord Videos: A collection of videos that introduces the HCV program to prospective landlords and highlights HCV landlords from across the country. In the video testimonials, eight landlords who manage a variety of property types from small apartment complexes to single-family properties share their HCV experiences.
• HCV Landlord Symposium Toolkit: This toolkit helps PHAs with planning a HCV Landlord Symposium to educate landlords, strengthen existing partnerships, and recruit new landlords for their HCV programs.

Public Housing Minimum Rent and Hardship Exemption Requirements Toolkit

This toolkit helps ensure PHAs have resources to inform residents about HUD’s Minimum Rent and Hardship Exemption requirements. Each of the following resources are translated in seven languages:

• Tip and Fact Sheets
• Outreach Templates
• Checklist and Request Forms
• Instructional Videos

In addition to this toolkit, a video training is also available for PHA staff. The PHA Minimum Rent and Hardship Exemption Policy Self-Paced Training was developed to provide guidance and information for PHA staff implementing such HUD requirements.

Mainstream Vouchers

These vouchers assists non-elderly persons with disabilities and are administered using the same rules as other housing choice vouchers. This page includes past webinar deliveries and the following featured resources:

• Mainstream Vouchers Spotlight
• Mainstream Vouchers Topic Guides

EPC Incentives Management Training

This training consists of a series of eight vignette training videos designed to help PHAs:

• Develop the knowledge and skillsets needed to better understand Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs)
• Review and request various EPC incentives on Form HUD-52722 and 52723 during the annual Operating Fund Grant (OpFund) process

PHA Asset Repositioning Post-Closing How-To Videos

Self-paced online training video series designed for PHAs:

• Common issues and activities that occur post-repositioning
• Asset management and reporting responsibilities in the project-based voucher (PBV) program

Public Housing Resident Organizing and Participation Toolkit

Toolkit available in English and Spanish designed for public housing residents interested in creating or supporting a resident council:

• Guides for organizing and running an effective resident council
• Sample, customizable, documents to help formally establish and run a resident council
• Tools for the effective use of tenant participation funds
• Case studies and profiles of resident councils and PHAs that support resident organizing and participation across the country

NSPIRE Online Training

This training curriculum covers the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) inspections model and how it works within the HCV program. Key features include:

• Foundational training intended primarily for HCV inspectors
• Guidance including NSPIRE standards, notices, job aids, and guides

PHA Strategies to Assist People Experiencing Homelessness Guidebook and Webinar

This five-part guidebook outlines strategies and approaches for PHAs to play an important role in reducing and ending homelessness in their communities by using HCV and public housing programs. The accompanying webinar introduced the guidebook and presented best practices.

• Subject Guide 1: Focusing on Homelessness: Collaboration between PHAs and CoCs
• Subject Guide 2: Establishing Waiting List Preferences and Programs Specifically for People Experiencing Homelessness
• Subject Guide 3: Using Coordinated Entry to Identify People Experiencing Homelessness for Housing Assistance
• Subject Guide 4: Helping People Experiencing Homelessness Navigate the PHA Application Process
• Subject Guide 5: Assisting People Experiencing Homelessness Through the Lease-Up Process

Mainstream Voucher Spotlights

In these video interviews, residents and staff from three PHAs share how Mainstream vouchers are helping HUD-assisted families who meet the targeted preference criteria in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Mainstream Voucher Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Topic areas include:

• Information on the targeted population the PHAs focused on and partners they worked with
• Program features that the PHAs and partners utilized to help residents identify and obtain suitable housing

Public Housing Assessment System Training: Improving PHA Performance

A five-module webinar that provides a comprehensive overview of the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) and the four indicators and sub-indicators in these areas:

• Physical Assessment Subsystem (PASS)
• Management Assessment Subsystem (MASS)
• Financial Assessment Subsystem (FASS)
• Capital Fund Program (CFP) Assessment

HCV Utilization Training: Financial Management and Best Practices

A webinar series intended to assist PHAs with the financial management of their voucher programs and related funding:

• Budget and Cost Allocation
• VMS and Cash Management
• HCV Administrative Plan Leasing Best Practices
• Strategies to Maximize Use of Special Purpose Vouchers
• Strategies to Align Voucher Use with Community Needs

Lead the Way: PHA Governance and Financial Management - A Training for Board Members

Self-paced online training designed for PHA board members and commissioners:

• Fundamentals of Oversight
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Public Housing Basics
• Other topics including: Asset Management, HCV, Budgets, Ethics, and more

PHA Financial Management Training

Training for PHAs with a focus on internal controls and financial management topics related to public housing and HCV programs:

• Understanding Financial Management
• PHA Operating Environment
• Effective Internal Controls
• Operating and Capital Budgets
• Financial Statements and Annual Audits
• Financial Monitoring

Preventing Sexual and Other Discriminatory Harassment in Housing

A suite of fair housing training that helps users understand what sexual harassment in housing looks like and how it violates the Fair Housing Act:

• Self-Paced Online Module for PHA Executives, Offices, and Commissioners
• Webcasts and Fact Sheets for Executive Staff and Commissioners, PHA Employees, Private Housing Owners/Managers, and Tenants
• Videos: What Does Harassment Look Like?

PHA Training: Detecting and Addressing Hazards from Mold

Training to inform PHAs and staff of the importance of early mold detection, causes, health concerns and remediation procedures in housing units and common areas:

• Types of Mold
• Causes of Mold
• Health Concerns
• Types of Mold Assessment
• Mold Remediation
• Managing Risk

Lead Safe Housing Rule Training

A collection of webinars and videos that help users review federal lead regulations and the Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) for pre-1978 housing:

• LSHR Webinar Series Subparts J and K
• LSHR Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Training
• LSHR Project-Based Assistance Training
• Amended Lead Safe Housing Rule Video Series

Running ROSS Step-by-Step Online Guide

A comprehensive guide for ROSS Service Coordinators and ROSS program grantees, including resident associations, PHA executive directors or other PHA leadership with oversight responsibility, and PHA staff who manage grant funding and reporting, covering the following topics:

• Best practices for engaging and working with residents
• Building partnerships with local service providers
• Information and strategies for successfully managing the program
• Reporting outcomes