While public housing funding for May is now at an 82% proration level (up from 79% in April), sequestration is still in effect, and Congress shows no inclination to reverse it any time soon.
The business of owning and managing affordable housing in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in good repair remains our mission. PHAs need to plan more strategically than ever before. So, as all businesses must ask in tough times: How can we maximize dollars and cut costs?
Tip #14: Look at your transfer policies.
Any time you transfer a family, you're creating a vacancy. The cost to turn a unit typically can run $2,000 or more. While we would never advocate cutting down on or delaying transfers for reasonable accommodation or medical reasons, your transfer policy should be tight enough to avoid unnecessary transfers. We've seen some transfer policies that allow transfers for folks who don't like their neighbors.
Look at your policies. Do you require that families be in good standing (paid up, no termination pending) to be approved for the transfer list? (However, don't require this for your reasonable accommodation transfers.)
Next: Working with sequestration in the public housing program: Tip #15
NMA senior associate Cara Gillette trains, consults, and provides technical assistance nationwide in fair housing, public housing management, hearings, economic self-sufficiency, and governing boards. Prior to joining NMA, Ms. Gillette served at the San Diego Housing Commission, administering its public housing and Section 8 waiting lists, serving as hearing officer, managing public housing, and overseeing resident economic development programs. She has previously written for the NMA blog about blended occupancy projects.
If you find that you need staffing help during sequestration, NMA can assist your agency with recertifications (done remotely), quality control, outsourced hearing officer services (done remotely), HQS inspections, and more. Email sales@nanmckay.com for more information.
