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Proposed Revision to the 2026 HCV Administrative Plan

St. Petersburg Housing Authority

Amendment to the 2026 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is amending its 2026 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan to include provisions related to projects that are undergoing a Restore-Rebuild (formerly known as Faircloth-to-RAD) conversion.

SPHA is seeking to amend its 2026 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan to insert a new provision into the following sections:

 

Chapter 4, Part III: Selection for HCV Assistance  

4-III.B. Selection and HCV Funding Sources

Special Admissions [24 CFR 982.203]

HUD may award funding for specifically-named families living in specified types of units (e.g., a family that is displaced by demolition of public housing; a non-purchasing family residing in a HOPE 1 or 2 projects). In these cases, the SPHA may admit such families whether or not they are on the waiting list, and, if they are on the waiting list, without considering the family's position on the waiting list. These families are considered non-waiting list selections. The SPHA must maintain records showing that such families were admitted with special program funding.

SPHA may make an occupancy designation and/or adopt a preference for projects that are undergoing a Restore-Rebuild (formerly known as Faircloth-to-RAD) conversion to allow such projects to elect a preference for single persons who are age 62 or older, displaced, homeless, referred by a special needs referral agency associated with project financing, or persons with disabilities over other single persons in accordance with 24 CFR 960.206(b)(5).

Households displaced, or at risk of being displaced, due to governmental action and/or redevelopment of their affordable housing property, may be provided with a preference for a PBV or HCV, which includes but is not limited to, PBV units in RAD and Restore-Rebuild projects.

 

4-III.C. SELECTION METHOD

Applicants will be selected from the Waiting List based on a preference point system as approved by the Board and then by date and time of application or Lottery:

[24 CFR 982.202(d)].

Local Preferences [24 CFR 982.207; HCV p. 4-16]

SPHAs are permitted to establish local preferences, and to give priority to serving families that meet those criteria. HUD specifically authorizes and places restrictions on certain types of local preferences. HUD also permits the SPHA to establish other local preferences, at its discretion. Any local preferences established must be consistent with the SPHA plan and the consolidated plan, and must be based on local housing needs and priorities that can be documented by generally accepted data sources.

SPHA may make an occupancy designation and/or adopt a preference for projects that are undergoing a Restore-Rebuild (formerly known as Faircloth-to-RAD) conversion to allow such projects to elect a preference for single persons who are age 62 or older, displaced, homeless, referred by a special needs referral agency associated with project financing, or persons with disabilities over other single persons in accordance with 24 CFR 960.206(b)(5).

Households displaced, or at risk of being displaced, due to governmental action and/or redevelopment of their affordable housing property, may be provided with a preference for a PBV or HCV, which includes but is not limited to, PBV units in RAD and Restore-Rebuild projects.

 

SPHA Policy

The SPHA will use the following local preferences:

1. Disabled = One (1). Point. A person with a disability to include any (1) individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) individual with a record of such impairment; or (3) individual who is regarded as having such an impairment. Proof of preference will be required at the time of selection.

2. Elderly = One (1). Point. An elderly family is one in which the head, spouse, cohead, or sole member is at least 62 years of age. It may include two or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living together, or one or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living with one or more live-in aides. Proof of preference will be required at the time of selection.

3. Veterans = One (1) Point. A person who served in the active military service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Military Reserve members also qualify if currently serving honorably or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. If the veteran dies before being admitted to the program, then the spouse of the veteran shall maintain their place and preference on the waiting list. Status is to be verified by:

  1. A DD 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) will serve as proof of service for those no longer active or reserve duty; or
  2. A current enlistment contract and/or unexpired military identification card will serve as appropriate proof of veteran status for those still in active reserve status or current enlistment.

4. Homeless families = One (1) Point: Applicant family is currently without stable shelter/living quarters or residing in Emergency Shelter, Transitional Shelter, Permanent Supportive Housing or participating in homeless services at/in/through a participating Pinellas County Continuum of Care agency and have received a written letter of recommendation from that agency not less than 30 days ago.

5. Resident of Pinellas County Florida = Ten (10) points. A person or family that live, work or who have been hired to work within SPHA's jurisdiction, or county it is located in. Proof of preference will be required at the time of selection.

6. Mainstream Voucher Program = Five (5)Points:

  1. A family composed of one or more non-elderly persons with disabilities, which may include additional members who are not elderly persons with disabilities.
  2. Currently experiencing homelessness.
  3. Currently a client in a permanent supportive/rapid rehousing project.

7. Displacement preference = Ten (10) Points. A person or family displaced is defined as one whose dwelling is condemned by governmental action (federal, state or local), or a person whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a declared disaster or otherwise formally recognized under federal disaster relief laws.

8. VAWA preference = One (1) point. Applicants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking will receive a preference. In order to qualify for a VAWA preference on the waitlist, applicants should provide documentation that incidents of domestic violence have occurred within the past year. Status is to be verified by:

  1. Referral from domestic violence shelter (e.g., Hubbard House)
  2. Confidentiality of applicant status shall be maintained by the agency in accordance with the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.

9. Involuntary displacement preference = Ten (10) Points. A person or family displaced is defined as one whose dwelling:

  1. is condemned or demolished by governmental action (federal, state, or local);
  2. is a public housing unit or Low Income Housing Tax Credit unit in which SPHA has an interest that is undergoing substantial capital improvements, modernization, or rehabilitation or change in use and the person or family has received a "90 Day Notice to Vacate" from SPHA within 90 - 120 days of selection from the waitlist; or
  3. has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a declared disaster or otherwise formally recognized under federal disaster relief laws.

10. Relocated from SPHA's public housing, affordable housing or Low Income Tax Credit properties = Twenty (20) Points. Families that are in the process of or have been relocated from properties in which SPHA is participating that are being demolished, undergoing substantial capital improvements, modernization, or rehabilitation or change in use. The relocation must have occurred within the five years to prior to selection from the wait list

11. Transitioning EHV Families = Fifteen (15) Points. Families that were previously receiving assistance through an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV), but due to the exhaustion of funding for the EHV program, need to transition to the Housing Choice Voucher program to prevent housing instability. (Remains in effect pending waiver approval from HUD)

12. Youth Transitioning out of Foster Care or Transitional Housing = Fifteen (15) Points. Youth that meet the eligibility of the FYI Voucher Program and/or Youth that transitioned out of foster care into transitional housing who will leave the transitional housing within 90 days. (Eligibility is not limited to single persons. For example, pregnant and/or parenting youth are eligible to receive assistance under this notice assuming they otherwise meet eligibility requirements.

 

 

Chapter 11.B., Part II - Interim Reexaminations under HOTMA 102/104

 

11-II.B CHANGES IN FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

New Family and Household Members Requiring Approval

With the exception of children who join the family as a result of birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody, a family must request PHA approval to add a new family member [24 CFR 982.551(h)(2)] or other household member (live-in aide or foster child) [24 CFR 982.551(h)(4)].

Although the PHA must verify aspects of program eligibility when any new family member is added, the Streamlining Final Rule removed the requirement that PHAs conduct a reexamination of income whenever a new family member is added. The PHA may state in policy that an income reexamination will be conducted. The PHA must process a reexaminations when a household adds or removes household members, including family members, foster adults, foster children, and live-in aides, regardless if the change in household composition results in a decrease, increase, or no change in the family's annual adjusted income.

 

If a change in family size causes a violation of space standards (see Chapter 8), the PHA must issue the family a new voucher, and the family and PHA must try to find an acceptable unit as soon as possible. If an acceptable unit is available for rental by the family, the PHA must terminate the family's HAP contract in accordance with its terms [24 CFR 982.403].

SPHA Policy

Families must request PHA approval to add a new family member (other than due to birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody), live-in aide, foster child, or foster adult. This includes any person not on the lease who is expected to stay in the unit for more than 30 consecutive days or 90 cumulative days within a 12-month period and therefore no longer qualifies as a "guest." Requests must be made in writing and approved by the PHA prior to the individual moving into the unit.

The PHA will not approve the addition of a new family or household member unless the individual meets the PHA's eligibility criteria (see Chapter 3) and documentation requirements (see Chapter 7, Part II).

The PHA will not approve the addition of a foster child or foster adult if it will cause a violation of space standards.

If the PHA determines an individual meets the PHA's eligibility criteria and documentation requirements, the PHA will provide written approval to the family. If the approval of a new family member or live-in aide will cause overcrowding according to space standards, the approval letter will explain that the family will be issued a voucher and will be required to move.

If the PHA determines that an individual does not meet the PHA's eligibility criteria or documentation requirements, the PHA will notify the family in writing of its decision to deny approval of the new family or household member and the reasons for the denial.

The PHA will make its determination within 10 business days of receiving all information required to verify the individual's eligibility.

 

Departure of a Family or Household Member

Families must promptly notify the PHA if any household member no longer lives in the unit [24 CFR 982.551(h)(3)]. Because household members are considered when determining the family unit (voucher) size [24 CFR 982.402], the PHA also needs to know when any live-in aide, foster child, or foster adult ceases to reside in the unit. The PHA must process an interim for all decreases in adjusted income when a family member permanently moves out of the unit. The PHA must process a reexaminations when a household adds or removes household members, including family members, foster adults, foster children, and live-in aides, regardless if the change in household composition results in a decrease, increase, or no change in the family's annual adjusted income.

SPHA Policy

If a household member ceases to reside in the unit, the family must inform the PHA within 10 business days. This requirement also applies to a family member who has been considered temporarily absent at the point that the family concludes the individual is permanently absent.