HUD Restricts MTW Participation in the Mobility Demonstration

Tomorrow, HUD will publish a notice titled “Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Implementation of the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration, Restrictions on Participating in the Mobility Demonstration and the Moving to Work Demonstration Expansion.” To maintain the “Congressionally mandated rigorous evaluation” of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration expansion and the mobility demonstration expansion, HUD is restricting the overlap between MTW agencies and agencies that can participate in the mobility demonstration.

In general, PHAs that participate in MTW Expansion cohorts 2, 3, or 4 may not participate in the mobility demonstration program. Housing agencies that participate in MTW Expansion cohorts 1 or 5 may participate, but will have their MTW flexibilities curtailed.

The restrictions are noted below.

• MTW Expansion Cohort #1 (testing the efficacy of general MTW flexibilities for Small PHAs) – PHAs in this cohort may participate in the mobility demonstration, but must agree to limit the adoption of certain MTW flexibilities (described below).
• MTW Expansion Cohort #2 (testing rent reform policies) – PHAs selected for this cohort, may not participate in the mobility demonstration program. If a PHA applies for this cohort and is selected for it and is also selected for the mobility demonstration program, it must decide which it wants to participate in within 21 calendar days of its selection for both programs.
• MTW Expansion Cohort #3 (testing work requirements) – if a PHA has been selected for the mobility demonstration, it may not apply to be in this MTW cohort. If the mobility demonstration selections have not occurred before the due date of the application for this cohort, a PHA may apply for this cohort, but will have to choose between the mobility demonstration or this MTW cohort within 21 calendar days of its selection for both programs.
• MTW Expansion Cohort #4 (testing landlord incentives) – if a PHA has been selected for the mobility demonstration, it may not apply to be in this MTW cohort. If the mobility demonstration selections have not occurred before the due date of the application for this cohort, a PHA may apply for this cohort, but will have to choose between the mobility demonstration or this MTW cohort within 21 calendar days of its selection for both programs.
• MTW Expansion Cohort #5 (testing the efficacy of general MTW flexibilities for Small PHAs) – PHAs in this cohort may participate in the mobility demonstration, but must agree to limit the adoption of certain MTW flexibilities (described below).

Restrictions for PHAs in MTW Expansion Cohorts 1 and 5 that participate in the mobility demonstration

Housing agencies participating in either MTW Expansion Cohort 1 or 5 and the mobility demonstration program will have certain flexibilities curtailed. These agencies may not make family self-sufficiency or other MTW self-sufficiency programs mandatory. Additionally, the following activities may not be implemented without the express written permission of HUD:

• Work requirements;
• Vacancy loss;
• Damage claims;
• Other landlord incentives;
• Pre-qualifying unit inspections;
• Reasonable penalty payments;
• Term limits;
• Tenant payment as a modified percentage of income;
• Fixed subsidy;
• Initial rent burden; and
• Imputed income activities.

Flexibilities related to short term assistance and increasing the project-based voucher (PBV) program cap may be implemented as long as HUD provides prior approval.

The full pre-publication notice can be found here.