510237 The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking makes changes to the District of Columbia Housing Authority's (DCHA) Waiting List Regulations, Chapter 61 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

The Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) hereby gives notice, pursuant to D.C. Code Section 6-203 (2007 Ed.), of its intent to adopt the following proposed amendments of Chapter 61, Sections 6103 and 6106 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.  The purpose of the proposed rulemaking is to amend the existing regulations regarding DCHA’s Waiting List.

 

Section 6103, “Waiting Lists”, of Chapter 61, “Admission and Recertification”, of Title 14, “Housing”, of the DCMR is amended as follows:

 

Subsection 6103.7 is amended to read as follows:

 

6103                WAITING LISTS

 

6103.7             DCHA will mail a waiting list update form to each applicant periodically.

 

(a)                Applicants who return a completed update form to the DCHA within the time frame specified in the update package, shall retain their place on the waiting list and remain active;

 

(b)        If the applicant indicates that his/her circumstances have changed, the appropriate changes shall be made on the waiting list; and

 

(c)                Applicants who do not return the completed update form within the specified time frame shall have their waiting list status changed to inactive.

 

(1)        An applicant whose status is inactive will not receive offers of housing placement from DCHA

 

(2)        If an inactive applicant submits a completed update form at any time after the expiration of the specified time frame, then the applicant shall be restored to active status on the waiting list with the applicant's original application date.

 

(d)       If an applicant has been inactive for three years prior to October 1,

2006, for all types of housing assistance offered by DCHA and requested by the applicant; the applicant must reapply for any type of housing assistance offered by DCHA.

 

Section 6106, “Eligibility”, of Chapter 61, “Admission and Recertification”, of Title 14, “Housing”, is amended as follows:

 

Subsection 6106.4 is amended to read as follows:

 

6106                ELIGIBILITY

 

6106.4             If an applicant does not respond to notice of an eligibility interview and does not request an alternate appointment in advance of the scheduled interview date, then the applicant shall be deemed inactive on the waiting list for the type housing assistance offered. If the applicant informs DCHA that the applicant remains in need of the housing assistance at any time after the scheduled interview date, then the applicant shall be restored to active status on the waiting list for the relevant type of housing assistance with the applicant's original application date. The applicant shall be scheduled for another eligibility interview based on the restored application date and any updated applicant information.

 

Subsection 6106.13 is amended to read as follows:

 

6106. 13          BRIEFINGS

 

(a)                Applicants must attend a full briefing prior to issuance of a Housing

            Choice Voucher unless this requirement is waived by the Executive Director in emergency cases.

 

(b)               DCHA will mail notice of the briefing via U.S. mail to the last address

            provided by the applicant or existing participant.

 

(c)                Families or applicants who provide prior notice of inability to attend a

            briefing will automatically be scheduled for the next available briefing and notified by mail of its date and time. If a family or applicant fails to attend a scheduled briefing another notice will be mailed for a second (2^nd) briefing date.

 

(d)               If an applicant fails to attend two (2) scheduled briefings, and does not

            notify DCHA in advance of their inability to attend the second (2^nd) briefing appointment, then the applicant shall be deemed inactive on the waiting list. If the applicant informs DCHA that the applicant remains in need of the housing assistance at any time after becoming inactive then the applicant shall be restored to active status on the waiting list with the applicant's original application date.

 

(e)                If vouchers of the type that would have been issued to the applicant at

            the missed briefings are still available and the inactive applicant asserts the need for housing assistance less than thirty (30) days after initial eligibility determination then a new briefing appointment shall be made with the applicant.

 

(f)                If the inactive applicant requests assistance more than thirty (30) days after the initial eligibility determination by DCHA, and vouchers of the type that would have been issued to the applicant at the missed briefings are still available; DCHA shall schedule the restored applicant for another eligibility interview.  If the applicant is determined to be eligible, the applicant shall be scheduled for a full briefing. If vouchers of the type that would have been issued are not available, the applicant will be restored to the waiting list as an active applicant with the date and time of the original application

 

 

 

All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this rulemaking should file comments, in writing, no later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this Notice in the D.C. Register.  Comments should be filed with the Office of the General Counsel, DCHA, 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002-7599; copies of these rules may be obtained from DCHA at that same address.  Alternatively, copies of the rules can be requested from and comments can be sent to Hans Froelicher, General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, District of Columbia Housing Authority, at [e-mail]