From time to time, changes in HUD regulations require Public Housing Authorities to modify their policies. Applicants and tenants who could potentially be affected by these proposed modifications must be given an opportunity to provide written comment.
Therefore, the Housing Authority of the City of Beaumont (BHA) is accepting written comments on proposed modifications to its community service and flat rent policies, made necessary by recent HUD regulatory changes.
The proposed revisions include:
- Community Service Policy: A member of a family receiving and compliant with requirements of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be considered exempt from the Community Service Requirement.
- Flat Rent Policy: When new flat rents requirements were implemented in 2014, HUD limited the increase for existing residents paying flat rent at that time to no more than 35 percent of the current tenant rent per year. In some cases, this meant that some residents had or will have their flat rents phased-in at the time of their annual recertification.
For families whose flat rent is being phased-in, the PHA will conduct a flat rent impact analysis to determine the percentage increase in the family’s rent amount at each annual recertification. If the increase is greater than 35 percent, the PHA will phase in the rent increase at the maximum amount annually over a three-year period so that it does not exceed 35 percent in any year until the flat rent is fully phased in. If the increase is 35 percent or less, there will be no phase-in. Families who have subsequently been admitted to the program or have subsequently selected flat rent will not experience a phase-in.
The deadline for submittal of written comments is noon CST on October 23, 2015. To facilitate public access and review of the proposed changes, BHA has arranged for the plan to be available via the internet at the BHA web site at www.bmtha.org. Public housing residents may review the Plan in their Manager’s office or at the Central Office located at 1890 Laurel, Beaumont, TX 77701.
The public is invited to submit written comments. Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Robert L. Reyna, Executive Director, and must be received at BHA’s Central Office, 1890 Laurel, Beaumont, TX 77701, no later than noon CST on October 23, 2015.