CoC, ESG, HOPWA Waivers Available

HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) recently released a memorandum highlighting the availability of certain regulatory requirements associated with the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program, and the Continuum of Care (CoC). HUD’s memo also announces a simplified notification process to use waiver flexibility to expedite the delivery of assistance. Waivers must be used to assist affected CPD program beneficiaries and program eligible households to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate against the economic impact caused by COVID-19. To use the waivers, recipients must notify in writing, either through mail or e-mail, to the CPD Director of the HUD Field Office serving its jurisdiction no less than two days before the recipient anticipates using the waiver flexibility.

Waivers for the CoC program include: 1) paying above fair market rent for individuals units and leasing costs up to the reasonable rent; 2) disability documentation for permanent supportive housing; 3) limits of eligible housing search and counseling services; 4) Permanent Housing-Rapid Re-housing monthly case management; 5) Housing Quality Standards (HQS) initial physical inspection of unit; 6) HQS re-inspection of units; and 7) one-year lease requirements.

Waivers for consolidated plan requirements include amending the citizen participation public comment period and changing the citizen participation reasonable notice and opportunity to comment.

Waivers for ESG include: 1) HMIS lead activities; 2) re-evaluations for homelessness prevention assistance; 3) housing stability case management; and 4) restriction of rental assistance to units with rent at below FMR.

Waivers for HOPWA relate to: 1) self-certification of income and credible information on HIV status; 2) FMR rent standards; 3) property standards for TBRA; and 4) space and security.

HUD’s memo can be found here.