Housing Authority of Bergen County

ADDENDUM

Identifying CARES Act Waivers for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

In compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Public and Indian Housing Notice 2020-05, establishing waivers and alternative requirements the Housing Authority of Bergen County as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and in further compliance with Public and Indian Housing Notice 2020-13 (HA), REV-1 restating the waivers and alternative requirements established in PIH 2020-05, providing additional waivers and alternative requirements, extending the periods of availability for previously established waivers and alternative requirements, and issuing technical amendments to several of the previously established waivers and alternative requirements. Further, use of any waiver or alternative requirement established by HUD is at the discretion of the Housing Authority.

The Housing Authority of Bergen County (HABC) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program will utilized the following waivers and alternative requirements, effective April 23, 2020:

WAIVERS APPLICABLE TO BOTH THE PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAMS

• PH/HCV-2 Family Income and Composition: Delayed Annual Examination
• PH/HCV-3 Family Income and Composition: Annual Examination Income Verification Requirements

OF NOTE: HABC will permit self-certification in the absence of all other valid forms of verification, and all self-certifications will be required to provide higher forms of validation as soon as the information is available. 

• PH/HCV-4 Family Income and Composition: Interim Examinations

OF NOTE: Similar to HCV-3 HABC will forego income hierarchy requirements until which time higher forms of verification are available to substantiate income. 

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAIVERS – HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS INSPECTIONS

• HQS-1 Initial Inspection Requirements

For any unit which the PHA accepts owner self-certification, HABC will conduct an HQS inspection as soon as reasonably possible but not later than the 1 year anniversary of the date of the self-certification

• HQS-3: Initial Inspection Non-Life Threatening Deficiencies (NLT) Option

HABC approval of extension of up to 30 days ends 12/31/20.  The extension to make repairs may extend beyond 12/31/20 depending on the date that HABC approved the extension.  

• HQS-5: HQS Inspection Requirement – Biennial Inspections

HABC must conduct the delayed biennial inspection as soon as reasonably possible not no later than one year after the date the biennial inspection would have been required absent the waiver. 

• HQS-6: HQS Interim Inspections

Availability ends on 12/31/20, after 12/31/20 the HABC must conduct the inspection in accordance with the applicable time period upon notification by a family or government official that the assisted unit does not comply with HQS.

• HQS-9: HQS Quality Control Inspections

• HQS-10: HQS – Space and Security

The waiver will be in effect for the duration of the current lease term or one year from the date of the PIH Notice (7/2/20), whichever time period is longer. 

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAIVERS – GENERAL

• HCV-2 Information When Family is Selected – PHA Oral Briefing
• HCV-3 Term of Voucher – Extensions of Term
• HCV-4 PHA Approval of Assisted Tenancy – When HAP Contract is Executed
• HCV-5 Absence from Unit
• HCV-6 Automatic Termination of HAP Contract
• HCV-8 Utility Allowance Schedule – Required Review and Revision
• HCV-14 Mandatory Removal of Unit from BBV HAP Contract