HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) published a notice implementing the FY 2026 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program’s funding allocations.

While most of the content remains the same from the 2025 notice, some policy changes include:

Housing Assistance Payments

  • Mainstream Voucher renewal funding is now included in HCV renewal funding, but PHAs must still report Mainstream leasing and data separately. A new Mainstream HAP set-aside category has also been added.
  • HUD will consider PHA shortfall risk when applying reserve offsets to renewal funding eligibility.
  • MTW Initial PHAs will face renewal offsets tied to excess program reserves, including excess “single fund budget authority” reserves, under the 2026 Appropriations Act.
  • HUD updated HAP set-aside eligibility policies to help prevent terminations of assistance.
  • HUD added a reminder about SAM.gov reporting requirements.
  • For PHAs that exceeded their 2025 authorized level of unit months authorized (UMAs), HUD created a FY2026 exception & will allow renewal funding for overleased units tied to EHV transitions into the HCV program.

Administrative Fees

  • Mainstream administrative fee funding is now included in HCV administrative fee funding, though reporting will remain separate.
  • A new Special Fees category was created for PHAs that reduce payment standards back to the basic range.