The Five Year PHA Plan

HUD directs every housing authority to submit a 5 year plan and every year to update the plan. It is to include the individual housing authority's goals and objectives in relation to the mission statement. The intent of the document is to present programs, services, policies, and requirements benefiting clients. Information is gathered at public hearings involving the staff, clients and the Board of Commissioners. There have been three public meetings and another one is scheduled June 2nd at 5:30 at the main office.

The draft of the plan is available for anyone to review at the main office Monday- Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. The office is closed between 12-1. You can submit a written statement/ suggestion to be reviewed by the staff. The plan is reviewed by the city of Denton to see if it is in compliance with the city's Consolidated Plan. A city official must sign the certification which is sent to HUD when the plan is submitted.

This year the plan has additions to the Administrative Policies. These include:

• addition of new objectives to the missions statement
• a policy regarding submitting Social Security numbers for all family members and verification procedures for SS and SSI benefits
• requirements for testing electrical receptacles
• requirements for HUD to approve an exception payment standard higher than 100% of the FMR for reasonable accommodations
• requirements regarding foreclosure of a unit occupied by Section 8 clients
• regulations regarding payments to landlords when a Section 8 client is deceased

The PHA Plan includes the Limited English Proficiency plan. Persons with limited English skills will have access to programs with the housing authority arranging assistance. DHA will determine when the translation or interpretation is reasonable and needed. DHA will canvas documents that HUD provides. Presently the office staff is able to translate for Spanish speaking clients.

HUD requires housing authorities to report information at the conclusion of participation into a system that can be accessed by HUD and housing authority employees. The clients will be given a notice informing them of the required information being submitted for them to sign. The information shows any balance owed to the landlord or the PHA, the repayment agreement, any default to repay, any judgment against you, bankruptcy and the reason for the end of participation.

The final 5 year PHA Plan is submitted to HUD by July 16, 2010.