Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)

Authorized by Congress under the FY12 HUD appropriations act, the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) allows public housing agencies (PHAs) and owners of other HUD-assisted properties to convert units from their original sources of HUD financing to project-based Section 8 contracts. The primary benefit of RAD is that properties that convert under this process are no longer restricted from securing private sources of capital financing, and the owners are therefore able to address deferred maintenance issues that have caused Public Housing and other HUD rental stock to deteriorate nationwide.

Under the First Component of RAD, properties that are currently funded under Public Housing convert their assistance to long-term, project-based Section 8 contracts. Under the Second Component of RAD, the owners of projects funded under HUD's legacy programs (Rental Supplement, Rental Assistance Payment, Moderate Rehabilitation, and Moderate Rehabilitation SRO) can convert the unit subsidy funding to long-term, project-based Section 8 contracts.

By drawing on an established industry of lenders, owners, and stakeholders, RAD allows PHAs and owners of HUD-assisted housing to preserve and improve affordable housing units that could be subject to vouchers and demolition. RAD provides greater funding certainty for potential lenders, and increased operational flexibility for PHAs and owners to serve their communities. RAD is a central part of the Department's rental housing preservation strategy, which is designed to:

Safeguard long-term rental housing assistance for both current tenants and future generations;
Improve and Modernize HUD-assisted multifamily properties; and
Stabilize these properties by placing them on solid financial footing.

RAD Online Resources

The HUD Exchange offers a number of resources on RAD, including resources, training, and technical assistance.

Resource Library. HUD is developing various RAD technical assistance tools and products, which are posted here on the HUD Exchange as they become available. Notifications will be transmitted to owners, applicants, and other stakeholders via the RADBlast listserv whenever a new tool or product becomes available. Current resources are easily accessible using this pre-filtered RAD search.

RAD Mailing Lists.
- Visit the HUD Exchange Mailing List page to register for a variety of HUD program mailing lists, including Multifamily Housing.
- Visit the HUD.gov RAD Mailing List page to register for the RAD listserv RADBlast.

Webinars. Recorded webinars on RAD topics are available through the HUD Exchange Trainings.

HUD also provides various levels of RAD program information and other guidance under the following online sources:

HUD.gov: General RAD program information is available on the Department’s web site, with certain information categorized as follows:
- Rental Housing Owners
- Rental Housing Residents
- Press Room
- RAD Library

RAD Resource Desk: This site serves as the main portal for Demonstration participants to ask questions, search for information and forms, upload application documents, and track their progress toward closing. Access is available to the public as well as HUD employees and PHA staff. The primary functions and resources available on this site include:
- Electronic Consolidated Application Tool
- Searchable RAD Database
- "Ask a Question” Function