Housing Opportunities Commission reports $5.8M HUD recapture, expects shortfall resolution by January

Housing Opportunities Commission officials briefed the committee on how Road to Housing provisions intersect with public housing authorities and described the current status of HOC’s voucher program.

President Andrews and Vice President Ken Silverman identified nine provisions in the federal package relevant to HOC, including a temperature sensor pilot, an expanded public welfare investment cap, a permanent Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) framework and inspection alignment to reduce duplicate inspections. Andrews highlighted the potential benefits of an Innovation Fund for mixed-income public development and said several items will require HUD rulemaking.

On program finances, Andrews told the committee: "we were apprised of the fact that HUD recaptured $5,800,000 in our reserves, earlier this year." HOC said it has applied for shortfall funding and is "very optimistic that we will receive it." The authority reported it is currently unable to issue new vouchers because of the shortfall, but expects to be out of shortfall by January with a plan to reissue in the spring contingent on HUD actions.

HOC also described other program details to the committee: it administers about 7,800 vouchers in Montgomery County, has roughly 1,787 project-based rental assistance units, and has issued 84 emergency housing vouchers that are currently unable to be absorbed into standard vouchers while shortfall status continues.