The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued corrections to the final rule titled “Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016—Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Implementation; Additional Streamlining Changes,” initially published on May 7, 2024. These HOTMA final rule corrections aim to refine and enhance the existing regulations, ensuring clarity and precision in their application.
Key Corrections in the Final Rule:
1. Amendments Delay: HUD identified an error in the delayed amendments section. Specifically, the correction shifts the reference from instruction 100 to 99 regarding the delay of certain amendments.
2. Housing Quality Standards: Amendatory instruction 64 incorrectly referenced “housing quality standards (HQS)” instead of “housing quality standards.”HUD has corrected this to ensure accurate terminology.
3. Duplicate Paragraph Removal: § 983.10 mistakenly included a duplicate paragraph (b)(3). The correction removes this redundancy for clarity.
4. Paragraph Redesignation: Section 983.51(e)(2) omitted paragraph (ii) and instead included two paragraphs labeled “(iii).” The changes redesignate the first as (ii) to meet environmental review requirements.
5. Subpart D Exclusions: Revisions to part 983, subpart D erroneously excluded § 983.157. HUD will change this. Subsequent instructions correctly add the new § 983.157, although its implementation is delayed.
Streamlining Processes for Improved Efficiency
These HOTMA final rule corrections are part of HUD’s ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency in administering HCV and PBV programs. By addressing these errors, HUD ensures that public housing agencies (PHAs) and stakeholders can implement the final rule without confusion, enhancing the accessibility and sustainability of affordable housing.
Continued Commitment to Affordable Housing
The original HOTMA final rule introduced several significant enhancements to increase the efficiency of voucher programs. These included flexibility for PHAs to use Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs), enhancements to Project-Based Vouchers, and various tenant protections. The recent corrections further underscore HUD’s commitment to delivering precise and effective regulations that support affordable housing initiatives.
Collaborative Efforts Under the HOTMA Final Rule
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized that this new rule “represents collaboration between HUD and our stakeholders to build more affordable housing and make existing housing more affordable.” This collaborative approach remains essential as HUD and its partners continue to refine and implement policies that expand affordable housing options.
For further information, contact
Allison Lack, Assistant General Counsel for Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10238, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-708-1793.
