Press Release

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2008

House Approves HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act

Washington, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007.  The legislation reauthorizes the HOPE VI program and makes a number of important changes that provide for the replacement of housing units and thereby prevent the further loss of affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable citizens including the elderly and the disabled; prevent re-screening of returning residents; protect residents from disruptions of funding; increase resident involvement; improve the efficiency and expediency of HOPE VI construction; and implement environmental technologies, which will lower costs in the long-term.

“I am pleased that we passed a bill that will bring ‘hope’ back into the HOPE VI program,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and a main sponsor of the legislation.  “We will now be able to bring desperately needed help to low-income families, including the elderly and people with disabilities by preserving and revitalizing our public housing stock. This is a bill that is good for residents, housing authorities, and communities.”

"It is vitally important that we reauthorize the HOPE VI program, but equally important that we address the shortcomings that have allowed the program to be used to displace low-income people. This bill helps address those shortcomings and I am proud to be a co-sponsor," said Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. 

 

H.R. 3524 will include the following provisions: 

• One-for-One Replacement. The bill requires that all public housing units in existence as of January 2005 that are proposed for demolition be replaced on a one-for-one basis.  It also gives public housing agencies flexibility in meeting the one-for-one replacement obligations by establishing a limited waiver for compelling circumstances (such as a severe shortage of land). 
• On-Site Mixed-Income Housing. The bill requires public housing agencies to provide a mixed-income housing development on the site of the original public housing location in a manner resulting in a decrease in the concentration of poverty.  In addition, public housing agencies must ensure that replacement units are provided in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing
• Consistent Eligibility and Occupancy Standards. The bill prohibits housing authorities or resident advisory boards from implementing strict re-entry standards, including credit checks, for returning residents.
• Tenant Protections. The bill requires public housing agencies to monitor and track all households affected by the HOPE VI revitalization plan. In addition, public housing agencies must develop a relocation plan that provides comparable housing for all relocated residents, protects residents in transitioning to the private rental market with housing choice vouchers, provides for housing opportunities in neighborhoods with lower concentrations of poverty, and allows residents to be provided a public housing unit or to extend search time if they are unable to use their voucher within 150 days. The bill contains administrative enforcement provisions, providing an administrative recourse for adversely affected residents. The bill also allows up to 25 percent of grant funds to be used for community and supportive services and provides these activities to all residents affected by the HOPE VI grant.
• Resident Involvement. The bill provides for the active involvement and participation of residents in the grant planning process, including public hearings and four notices to residents on a) the intent to apply for a HOPE VI grant, b) grant award and relocation options, c) grant agreement and relocation options, and d) availability of replacement housing.
• Improvements to Grant Implementation. The bill gives public housing agencies 54 months from the date of execution of the grant agreement to complete construction.  The bill waives the grant matching requirement for HOPE VI applicants in areas recovering from natural disasters or emergencies. The bill also provides penalties for grantees that do not meet performance benchmarks and allows some limited extension. The bill provides additional consideration for applications that are realistic and achievable.
• Green Housing. The bill requires green development as part of HOPE VI revitalization.