HCV Essentials-Presentation

Presentation - HCV Essentials

Pdf Summary

This document is a National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) participant/resource guide for “Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Essentials,” designed for new and current HCV staff, supervisors, and related housing professionals. It outlines training expectations, learning objectives, module content, and exam logistics (100 multiple-choice questions, 70% passing score, two hours, accommodation contact provided). The course explains the purpose of the HCV program: helping low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities afford safe private-market housing; expanding housing choice; and supporting inclusive communities.<br /><br />Key stakeholders and responsibilities are detailed, including Congress, HUD, Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), program participants, and property owners. The guide emphasizes family and owner obligations, including accurate reporting, compliance with leases and inspections, fair housing requirements, and Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract duties. It identifies core regulatory resources: 24 CFR (especially Part 982 and Part 5), PIH Notices, HUD guidebooks, and the PHA Administrative Plan (“If it’s not in the plan, don’t do it”).<br /><br />Subsequent modules cover fair housing and equal opportunity laws (Fair Housing Act protected classes, Section 504 reasonable accommodations, VAWA protections, and Limited English Proficiency access). The training then addresses application and eligibility: waiting list management, outreach requirements, preferences and prohibited preferences, income targeting (75% of new admissions at or below 30% AMI), family definitions, student restrictions, citizenship/eligible immigration status, and mandatory vs. discretionary denials plus informal review rules.<br /><br />The guide explains verification standards (HUD verification hierarchy and required consent forms), and provides extensive instruction on calculating annual income (earned, unearned, and asset income), including self-employment net income, exclusions, and imputed asset income rules. It then covers adjusted income deductions (dependents, elderly/disabled allowance, childcare, medical and disability assistance expenses). Later modules walk through voucher issuance and leasing, rent reasonableness, utility allowances, payment standards, the 40% initial affordability test, rent/HAP/tenant portions, utility reimbursements, and prorated assistance for mixed-status families. Finally, it reviews continued occupancy (annual and interim reexaminations, effective dates, COLA and streamlined income processes), moves/portability rules, and termination/compliance procedures including notices, informal hearings, and alternatives like repayment agreements. HOTMA updates are noted as future changes and are generally excluded from the exam.

Keywords

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Essentials

NAHRO participant guide

Public Housing Agencies (PHAs)

HUD 24 CFR Part 982

PHA Administrative Plan

fair housing and equal opportunity

income and eligibility determination

verification hierarchy and consent forms

rent reasonableness and payment standards

portability and continued occupancy reexaminations