HUD recently announced that public housing authorities (PHAs) and owners of HUD-assisted housing must verify the citizenship and immigration status of assisted households within 30 days. This announcement has raised questions about the responsibilities of private housing providers who accept Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). Here's what you need to know:
Key Points:
- Who is responsible for verifying immigration status of HCV households? PHAs administering the voucher program are solely responsible for verifying the citizenship and immigration status of voucher holders. This has always been a PHA responsibility and remains so.
- What about "owners" mentioned in HUD's announcement? When HUD refers to "owners," the agency is referring to owners of multifamily rental properties who contract directly with HUD to provide assisted housing, such as Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance properties and Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. This does not include private housing providers who accept HCVs.
- What are your responsibilities as a housing provider participating in the HCV program? Your responsibilities remain unchanged. You continue to work with the PHA that administers vouchers in your area, and the PHA remains responsible for determining tenant eligibility, including citizenship and immigration status verification.
If you have specific questions about your participation in the HCV program, contact your local PHA. For general questions about HUD programs, NAR's policy team is available to assist.