The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) has adopted regulatory waivers provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response the COVID-19 emergency. Additionally, HACSB received approval from HUD to implement emergency operations under amendment number two of the 2020 Moving to Work (MTW) Plan.
The list below summarizes the activities and regulations that have been modified, waived or altered as of this date. Items and alternative procedures are subject to change.
| Item | Alternative Procedure |
|---|---|
| Revisions to Administrative Plan | Policies may be adopted without Board approval but must be formally adopted by 6/30/2021 |
| Initial Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections | Acceptance of owner certification of no life-threatening deficiencies; HACSB will inspect unit within 1 year of owner’s certification |
| Biennial HQS Inspections | Postpone biennial inspections |
| Complaint/Special Inspections | Acceptance of owner certification and documentation of repairs |
| Project-Based Voucher Unit Turnover Inspections | Acceptance of owner certification of no life-threatening deficiencies; HACSB will inspect unit within 1 year of owner’s certification |
| HQS Quality Control Inspections | Suspension of Quality Control inspections |
| Homeownership HQS Inspections | Use of independent professional inspection |
| Housing Authority Oral Briefing | Conduct briefings through the mail, using videos posted on website, and through on-line meetings |
| Extension of Voucher Terms | Provision of tolling time and further extensions as needed |
| Family Absence from Unit | Allows family absence from unit for COVID-19 reasons up to 6/30/2021 |
| Automatic Termination of HAP Contract after Six Months of No HAP Payments | Extension of HAP Contract grace period for an additional six months |
| Revisions to ACOP | Policies may be adopted without Board approval but must be formally adopted by 6/30/2021 |
| Over-Income Families in Public Housing & Housing Choice Voucher | Over-income families scheduled to end participation between April 1 and September 30, 2020 will receive a six month extension |
| Biennial and Triennial Recertifications | Extends the validity of the family’s most recently completed biennial or triennial recertification by one year |
| Local Policies for Portability | Temporarily suspends acceptances of Housing Choice Voucher port-ins |
| Local Payment Standards and Alternative Flat Rents | Defers the annual review and update to the local Payment Standards |
| Property Management Innovation | Provision of remote meetings whenever possible between HACSB employees and assisted families such as a modified grievance process (settlement conference) |
| Term-Limited Lease Assistance | Extends assistance for six months for families scheduled to end participation due to term limits between April 1 and September 30, 2020 |
| Streamlined Lease Assistance Program | Provides COVID-19 hardship exemption for families experiencing loss of income as a result of current crisis and processing of rent increase requests will be delayed |
| No Child Left Unsheltered | Supportive services provided to NCLU families may be reduced and/or deferred based on the availability and ability of HACSB staff and partners to provide those services |
| Mainstream Voucher Program | Mainstream definition of an eligible non-elderly family member is expanded to include those who were issued a voucher prior to turning 62 years of age and were not yet 63 on the effective date of the HAP Contract. |
| Removal of Project-Based Voucher Units | Project-based units may be kept under HAP contract due to a zero HAP family beyond 180 days but no later than 6/30/2021 |
| Community Service Requirement | Temporarily suspends Community Service Requirement for Public Housing residents |
| Annual Self-Inspections | Temporarily suspends HACSB’s self-inspections of public housing units |