Transitioning out of the traditional Public Housing business

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The U.S. Housing Act of 1937 made way for the formation of Housing Authorities throughout the Country to address the deplorable housing conditions of low income families and slum dwellings and unsanitary living conditions that plagued the Country. To address these housing concerns, public housing sites sprouted throughout the Country. The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) began building its first affordable housing sites in the early 1940s. However, through the years, public housing sites have become an inadequate and inefficient way of providing affordable housing assistance to low income families. Ongoing federal funding budget cuts also defer much-needed capital needs improvements. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced a new program called the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to assist Housing Authorities in transitioning out of the traditional public housing business. RAD allows housing authorities to convert their public housing to Section 8 Project-Based, which allows Housing Authorities to generate and leverage equity on the properties to rehabilitate and maintain them.