Notice of HATC’s proposed changes to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan (2025)

HCV Administrative Plan 2025 Revisions

The Housing Authority of Travis County is announcing a public comment period for proposed changes to the PHA Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan (HCV) 2025

The purpose of the change is to align the PHA policies with HUD’s regulatory changes. Written comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted starting December 16, 2024, through January 14, 2025.

All comments may be submitted to: Christina Diaz, Director of Voucher Programs & Homeless Initiatives, 502 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 106 B, Austin, Texas 78752 or emailed to [email protected].

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A copy of the changes to the HCV Administrative Plan is available at the end of this page, while directly below the changes are summarized.

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HATC’s Board of Commissioners will vote on adopting these changes on Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 9:30 AM at the HATC office located at 502 E. Highland Mall Blvd. Ste. 106 B Austin, Texas 78752. This public hearing meeting is subject to change and any changes will be posted on the website.

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Copies of the proposed plans are available for review at the HATC administrative office. Reasonable accommodations related to reviewing this plan may be requested at [email protected] or 512-854-1883.

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Changes

HOTMA Voucher Final Rule

In May 2024, HUD released the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule which is separate from HOTMA 102/104. While the rule does not require PHA policies be updated until June 2025 at the latest, agencies must operate under the new provisions of the rule at various points throughout 2024 and 2025. Both the A and B versions of Chapters 6, 7, and 11 have been updated for this rule.

Further, this rule required a complete redo of Chapter 17 for the Project Based Voucher program. Changes to this chapter were so extensive that a new chapter was created.

NSPIRE and HQS

To address the transition from HQS to NSPIRE that was supposed to occur in October 2024, this revision contains the following:

• NSPIRE standards are planned to be adopted October 1, 2025, therefore two chapters will be included in the HCV Admin Plan.
• Chapter 8.A. will be used prior to NSPIRE implementation. Once NSPIRE becomes effective, it will be replaced with Chapter 8.B.

HUD has since made clear that the regulations for the HCV program will continue to use the term “HQS” and “housing quality standards” rather than “NSPIRE” as the general term for unit inspections in the regulations, even after the transition occurs. As a result, this August 2024 revision reverts back to using the terms “HQS” and “housing quality standards” where applicable.

Below is a summary of the changes contained in this revision, organized by chapter.

Introduction

Because the PHA must operate according to HUD policy to include revisions not yet approved in the administrative plan, a provisional statement is added.

Chapter 6

• Split Chapter 6 into two chapters: 6.A and 6.B.
• • Chapter 6.A. This chapter is pre HOTMA implementation.
  • Chapter 6.B. Represents the policies the PHA will use upon the HOTMA 102/104 compliance date and contains changes made to the previously released version of Chapter 6. This includes:
  • • Clarifications and corrections regarding student financial assistance requirements under HOTMA.
    • Clarifications regarding the treatment of alimony and child support.
    • Clarifications regarding amounts adjusted annually under inflation under HOTMA.
    • Updates to the list of federally mandated income exclusions.
    • Clarifications regarding necessary and non-necessary personal property.
    • Clarifications regarding health and medical care expenses.
    • Required changes for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule, including changes regarding increases and decreases in payment standards. Policies effective prior to and upon specific effective dates are explicitly called out.
    • Additions to the section on applying utility allowances regarding flat fees and PBV developments.

Chapter 7

• Split Chapter 7 into two chapters: 7.A and 7.B.
• • Chapter 7.A. This chapter is pre HOTMA implementation.
  • Chapter 7.B. Represents the policies the PHA will use upon the HOTMA 102/104 compliance date and contains changes made to the previously released version of Chapter 7. This includes:
  • • Changes regarding the use of consent forms, specifically as related to HUD-9886-A.
    • Clarifications regarding amounts adjusted annually under inflation under HOTMA.
    • Policy revisions for streamlined income determinations from fixed sources of income.
    • Certain updates for Notice PIH 2023-27 regarding verification requirements, use of EIV + self-certification, verification of net family assets, and treatment of zero-income families.

Chapter 8

• Split Chapter 8 into two chapters: 8.A and 8.B.
• • Chapter 8.A. Represents the policies the PHA will use prior to the NSPIRE compliance date while still operating under HQS and contains only those changes prior to 2023 that fall outside the scope of NSPIRE. This includes:
  • • An explainer regarding the use of HQS until such time as NSPIRE becomes effective.
    • Additions regarding NSPIRE requirements that are applicable to HQS prior to transitioning to NSPIRE.
    • Various revisions for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule. Policies effective prior to and upon specific effective dates are explicitly called out.
  • Chapter 8.B. Represents the policies the PHA will use upon the NSPIRE compliance date and contains changes made to the previously released version of Chapter 8. This includes:
  • • Updates for Notice PIH 2024-26.
    • An explainer on the continued use of the term housing quality standards.
    • Various revisions for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule. Policies effective prior to and upon specific effective dates are explicitly called out.

Chapter 10

• Added section on family moves due to unit deficiencies per the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule.
• Clarified policy regarding voucher issuance and term of the voucher.

Chapter 11

• Split Chapter 11 into two chapters: 11.A and 11.B.
• • Chapter 11.A. This chapter is pre HOTMA implementation.
  • Chapter 11.B. Represents the policies the PHA will use upon the HOTMA 102/104 compliance date and contains changes made to the previously released version of Chapter 11. This includes:
  • • Minor clarifications regarding calculating annual income at reexamination.
    • Required revisions for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule, including revisions regarding changes in family unit size. Policies effective prior to and upon specific effective dates are explicitly called out.

Chapter 16

• Required revisions for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule, including extensive revisions concerning payment standards and the use of SAFMRs.
• Reverted references to housing quality standards.

Chapter 17

• This chapter has undergone an extensive rewrite for the HOTMA Voucher Final Rule. As such, it is completely replaced.

Chapter 19

• Multiple clarifications to the section on FUP vouchers.
• Extensive changes to the VASH section to account for the requirements set forth in the Federal Register on August 13, 2024.
• Extensive changes to the Mainstream section to account for the requirements set forth in Notice PIH 2024-30.

HOTMA Appendix

• Added a new appendix per recent HUD guidance to explicitly call out HOTMA 102/104 policies that are on hold until implementation.

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