HUD’s Office of Housing detailed the recent changes to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) statute included in the FY 2024 Appropriations bill:  

  • Extending the Sept. 30, 2024, sunset date, by which public housing authorities (PHAs) can apply for RAD through Sept. 30, 2029. This change will give PHAs more time to carry out the necessary and important resident engagement activities before applying for RAD and allow PHAs to pursue large-scale, multi-year redevelopment of public housing properties to keep their commitments to their communities.  
  • Allowing for the continued availability of services for residents following a public housing conversion to project-based rental assistance (PBRA) or project-based vouchers (PBV) under RAD. This change will guarantee that resident services funding under the Jobs Plus, Resident Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) and Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) programs awarded to public housing properties before conversion, may continue to operate fully and, as appropriate, be eligible for renewal at the completion of the grant term. 
  • Simplifying the execution of RAD/Section 18 Blends and ensuring that all units are fully covered under the RAD protections. The change authorizes the conversion into RAD PBRA or PBV contracts of the budget authority associated with Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPV) authorized following a Section 18 approval. The authority also permits previously converted properties that have both a PBV and a PBRA contract to combine those contracts onto the PBRA platform. 
  • Authorizing the budget-neutral conversion for properties assisted under Senior Preservation Rental Assistance Contracts (SPRACs). This will permit SPRAC properties to fully operate under standard Section 8 requirements. 

HUD will develop implementation guidance for each of these changes and anticipates publishing a Notice covering the first three items this year.