Tip #2: Take stock of your agency's existing resources for LEP individuals.
There is no "one size fits all" solution for every PHA when it comes to providing access to persons with limited English proficiency. For this reason, taking stock of resources you may already have is an important step in making sure that your agency can provide appropriate services while keeping costs down.
Your agency's staff and participants can be valuable assets when it comes to assessing your resources. For example, if you have bilingual staff or residents who are willing to help with translation, particularly for the prevalent languages in your area, their assistance can often be your agency's best solution.
Community volunteers can also be a great resource, especially for less critical activities. There may also be universities in your area with language departments willing to translate documents or provide services at little to no cost. Nonprofit groups in your community who are already serving LEP individuals may be willing to provide your PHA with resources as well.
HUD has many key program documents such as the HUD-9886,
the Tenancy Addendum, and many others already translated
into several languages on their LEP webpage.
Other PHAs in your area may also be willing to share resources and ideas they've used successfully. Remember, your agency is not alone in the requirement to provide access — any entity in your community receiving federal funding has the same obligations. Reaching out to other organizations may benefit your agency greatly because you might be able to pool your resources.
We recommend contacting other federally funded agencies in your community to see what steps they've taken to provide meaningful access to LEP individuals. Sharing resources can save your agency time and money.
Next: How to meet your community’s LEP needs: Tip #3
Becky Gligo has been a trainer and consultant at Nan McKay and Associates since 2008. She trains hundreds of housing authority staff each year, both in open enrollment and onsite trainings. Ms. Gligo is one of NMA's primary fair housing experts.
Do you have concerns about whether or not your agency is compliant with federal fair housing law? Nan McKay and Associates can help. Email sales@nanmckay.com for more information.
