HUD revises contingency plan

With the government shutdown about to enter its third week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has posted a revised edition of its contingency plan for a lapse in appropriations. While the revisions appear to apply primarily to HUD employees, most of whom have gone without pay since October 1, we call your attention to the addition of one very important question and answer (Q&A) about funding for the voucher program:

Q:   Will PHAs receive November (and subsequent) housing assistance payments (HAP) and administrative fees?

A:   The housing choice voucher program is funded on a calendar year basis, and the monthly payments for November and December are scheduled to be made timely.

You’ll find this new Q&A near the bottom of page 71 of the revised contingency plan. The parts of the plan that apply specifically to Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) programs are now located on pages 8 and 70–78.

Negotiations between and among congressional leaders and the president reportedly continue, but no agreement to end the government shutdown or raise the debt ceiling has yet been reached.