Housing Mobility-Related Services

Description

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 ((Pub. L., 117-103, approved March 15, 2022) (2022 Appropriations Act), made available $25,000,000 for mobility-related services (as defined by the Secretary) for voucher families with children modeled after services provided in connection with the mobility demonstration authorized under section 235 of division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 116–6). The overall purpose of these mobility-related services funds made available under the FY 2022 appropriations bill is to expand housing choices for Housing Choice Voucher families with children particularly by increasing access to opportunity neighborhoods with high-performing schools, access to jobs, low crime, parks and other amenities.The HCV program offers families with vouchers the opportunity to live in a neighborhood of their choice, including low-poverty, opportunity neighborhoods. Yet, HCV families may encounter barriers to using their vouchers in communities with expanded opportunities. Some barriers may be financial, such as saving enough money for a security deposit or maintaining a positive credit score. Other barriers may include inadequate time to find a unit, landlord unwillingness to rent to voucher holders, or limited awareness of neighborhood amenities, such as the location of high-performing schools.Congress previously made available $50 million for the Community Choice Demonstration (CCD), formerly known as the HCV mobility demonstration. The CCD is now underway at 8 Public Housing Agency (PHA) sites across the country. As required by the 2022 Appropriations Act, the funds awarded under this NOFO will be modeled after the services provided in the CCD.The CCD builds upon recent research that shows growing up in neighborhoods with lower levels of poverty improves children's academic achievement and long-term chances of success and reduces intergenerational poverty. Children who move to low-poverty neighborhoods have also been shown to experience lower rates of hospitalizations, lower hospital spending, and some positive changes in mental health over the long-term. Adults given the chance to move to low-poverty neighborhoods experience reductions in obesity and diabetes.The CCD supports selected PHAs in addressing barriers to accessing housing choices by offering mobility-related services to increase the number of voucher families with children living in opportunity areas. The CCD includes a rigorous, independent evaluation to determine what services are most effective at helping families move to opportunity areas. HUD also intends to make materials developed for the Demonstration available to all PHAs for use in their own communities.Under the CCD program, PHAs must offer comprehensive mobility-related services (CMRS), which includes pre- and post-move supports, family financial assistance (e.g. security deposits), landlord outreach, and housing search assistance.The mobility-related services funds made available under this NOFO will allow more PHAs to begin planning for, and implementing housing mobility programs, thus increasing the number of HCV families with children residing in lower-poverty neighborhoods. HUD will continue, to the extent possible, to share lessons learned and evidence from the CCD with grantees to implement successful evidence and practice-based programs.

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