Fiscal Year 1997 Guidance for FHEO Review of Applications for Section 202 and Section 811 - Supportive-Housing for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Programs

us-hud-fair-housing-guidance-97-2fheo-59271a8fd1dfFiscal Year 1997 Guidance for FHEO Review of Applications for Section 202 and Section 811 - Supportive-Housing for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities ProgramsGuidance

      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
          Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Special Attention of:                   Notice: FHEO 97-2

All State Representatives                Issued: August 6, 1997
All State Coordinators
All Program Operations and              Expires: August 31, 1998
  Compliance Center Directors
All Multifamily Housing Directors       Cross References:
All Housing Directors

Subject:  Fiscal Year 1997 Guidance for FHEO Review of
          Applications for Section 202 and Section 811 -
          Supportive-Housing for the Elderly and Persons with
          Disabilities Programs

 PURPOSE

     This Notice provides detailed guidance to Fair Housing and
 Equal Opportunity (FHEO) staff for their review and analysis of
 applications for the Section 202 and Section 811-Supportive
 Housing for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities Programs.
 In accordance with the Department's reinvention efforts and with
 the consolidation of the regulations for both programs because
 of their similarities, this guidance was revised also to
 consolidate the two previously separate FHEO Guidances for the
 Section 811 and the Section 202 Programs.  It discusses and
 clarifies FHEO's responsibilities for both the Section 811 and
 Section 202 Programs.  As such, FHEO staff shall consult the
 appropriate Handbook, NOFA and regulations for each program's
 requirements.  Knowledge of overall program requirements is
 especially important for FHEO staff to carry out their
 responsibilities.  This Notice highlights only program changes
 that affect FHEO, and is intended as a companion document to:

      -    HUD regulations 24 CFR Part 891 (Final Rule).  In
           1996, the Department consolidated and streamlined into
           one set of regulations, many parts of the Section 202
           and Section 811 regulations that were similar in
           substance. 24 CFR Parts 885, 889, and 890 have been
           deleted and replaced with a new Part 891.

      -    Fiscal Year 1997 Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA)
           (FR Vol. 62, No. 101 May 27, 1997), Supportive Housing
           For Persons With Disabilities.

EPSS:   Distribution: W-3-1, W-2 (FHEO) , R-1 , R-2
      -    Fiscal Year 1997 Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA)
           (FR Vol. 62, No. 101 / May 27, 1.997), Supportive
           Housing For the Elderly.

      -    HUD Handbook for the Section 811 program (HUD 4571.2
           REV-1) Supportive Housing for Persons With
           Disabilities.

      -    HUD Handbook for the Section 202 program (HUD 4571.3
           REV-1), Supportive Housing for the Elderly.

      -    Notice H-97-13  -   This Notice is effective from
                         5/14/97 to 5/31/98.  It consolidates and
                         updates instructions for the application
                         processing and selection program
                         requirements of the Sec. 202 Program.

      -    Notice H-97-30  -   This Notice is effective from
                         5/23/97 to 5/23/98.  It consolidates and
                         updates instructions for the application
                         processing and selection program
                         requirements of the Sec. 811 Program.

     FHEO field staff may obtain copies of documents listed above
from the Office of Counsel, the Office of Housing, or by
contacting their Program Coordinator.

REVISIONS TO FHEO REVIEW PROCEDURES

FISCAL YEAR 1997 CHANGES:

1.   Suitability of the site from the standpoint of promoting a
     greater choice of housing opportunities for minority elderly
     and minority persons with disabilities.

     Former Secretary Cisneros, in his December 16, 1996
     memorandum, directed the Department to include a selection
     factor addressing affirmatively furthering fair housing in
     NOFAs.  The application submission requirement responding to
     this criterion has been broadened to include a narrative
     description of how the Sponsor will use the site to
     affirmatively further fair housing opportunities for
     minority elderly persons and minority persons with
     disabilities.

2.   Change in definition of minority sponsor.

     In conformance with 60 FR 46159, September 5, 1995, Section
     2452.226-70, Hasidic Jew has been deleted from the
     definition of minority sponsor.

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3.   FHEO Selection Criteria included in NOFA and Housing Notice.

     The range of points (0 to 10) for each of FHEO's two rated
     factors is included in the NOFA and the Housing Notice for
     the Section 202 Program and the Section 811 Program.

FISCAL YEAR 1996 CHANGES REMAIN IN EFFECT:

1.   Review of Applications

     FHEO does a complete analysis of applications including the
     review for compliance with equal opportunity laws and the
     Department's Site and Neighborhood Standards (formerly
     FHEO's Threshold Review).

          FHEO provisions in the regulations:

                891.125 -     Site & Neighborhood Standards (S&N)
                              applicable to both programs'
                              requirements.

                891.155 -     Other Federal Requirements; civil
                              rights related program requirements are
                              cross-referenced to 24 CFR Part 5.

     Note that for the Sec. 811 Program, the S&N Standards have
     been relaxed to allow the jurisdiction more flexibility in
     the placement of Sec. 811 projects.  Language has been
     changed from "must" to "should" to remove restrictions on
     the consideration of sites adjacent to, or in areas where
     specifically designed facilities or housing to serve persons
     with disabilities already exist.  FHEO review of this factor
     is not required.

2.   Revised List of Exhibits for FHEO's Review

     The Department has rearranged or deleted some of the
     information requested from Sponsors and reduced the number
     of Exhibits in the application.  FHEO reviews the following
     exhibits:

          Sec. 202 - 1, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(e), 4(a), 4(c), 8 and 12.
          Sec. 811 - 1, 3(a), 3(b), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(h), 4(a),
4(e), 8 and 12.

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3.   Revised Standard Rating Criteria

     Section 202: The Factors for the Standard Rating Criteria
     are: Sponsor's ability to develop and operate the proposed
     housing on a long-term basis (52 points); need for
     supportive housing for persons and the suitability of the
     site, (28 points); and the adequacy of supportive services
     (20 points).  The maximum number of points an application
     can earn without bonus points is 100.  An application can
     earn an additional 10 bonus points for a maximum total of
     110 points.

     Section 811: The Factors for the Standard Rating Criteria
     have been reduced from three to two: Sponsor's ability to
     develop and operate the proposed housing on a long-term
     basis (57 points), need for supportive housing for persons
     with disabilities in the area to be served, the extent to
     which the Sponsor has site control and the suitability of
     the site, (43 points).  The maximum number of points an
     application can earn without bonus points is 100.  An
     application can earn an additional 25 bonus points for a
     maximum total of 125 points.

4.   FHEO Rated Factors Reduced From Three (3) to Two (2)-, but
     FHEO Points Remain at Twenty (20)

     FHEO continues to rate applicants on previous experience in
     serving/housing minorities and the extent to which the
     housing site promotes a greater choice of housing
     opportunities for elderly minority persons and minority
     persons with disabilities.  The number of points awarded by
     FHEO remains at last year's total of twenty (20) points, a
     maximum of ten (10) points for each factor.

5.   Sponsor's Experience in Providing Opportunities for Minority
     and Women-owned Businesses Deleted as Rated Factor

     Recognizing that the Sponsor's experience in providing
     opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses is not
     indicative of an applicant's ability to develop and operate
     the proposed program on a long-term basis, FHEO discontinued
     using this criterion as a rating factor.  The points for
     this factor were reallocated to the category of the
     applicant's previous experience in serving or housing
     minorities.  The Department, however, continues to require
     applicants to provide information on their contracting
     experience with minority and women-owned businesses.
     Sponsors must still describe their experience in contracting
     with minority- and women-owned businesses over the last
     three years; as well as their experience in contracting with
     small businesses.  In addition, they must provide
     information about their participation in joint ventures by

                               4

     describing the joint venture, the partners involved and the
     Sponsor's involvement.  The Department establishes Minority
     Business Enterprise (MBE) goals. (These goals do not affect
     the rating of Section 202 or Section 811 applications.) A
     minority Sponsor is one in which more than 50 percent of the
     board members are minority (i.e., African- American,
     Hispanic, Native American, or Asian-Pacific).

6.   Use of Term "Minority Persons" Refers to Elderly and Persons
     with Disabilities

     With the combining of the Section 202/811 Programs in this
     Guidance, the term "minority persons" as used throughout
     this guidance refers to elderly minority persons as used for
     the Section 202 Program, and minority persons with
     disabilities, as used for the Section 811 Program.

7.   Bonus Points (5) for Sponsor's Involvement of Elderly
     (Section 202 Program) and Persons with Disabilities (Section
     811), Including Minorities..... To Be Rated by Multifamily
     Housing

     The Sponsor's involvement of elderly and persons with
     disabilities, including minority elderly and minority
     persons with disabilities in the implementation of the
     project, is to be rated by Multifamily Housing instead of
     FHEO.

                   APPLICATION PRESUBMISSION

     Field Offices no longer publish an Invitation for
Applications.  Instead, the Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA)
published by Headquarters in the Federal Register will serve as
the invitation.  Field Offices must still notify media which
service elderly persons and minorities/persons with disabilities,
all persons and organizations on their mailing lists, minority
and other organizations involved in housing and community
development within their jurisdiction, and groups with a special
interest in housing for the elderly and persons with
disabilities.  FHEO shall assist in this endeavor by providing
the names and addresses of the minority media, minority
organizations and fair housing groups/organizations to Housing's
Processing Control and Reports staff.

     FHEO also participates in the Field Office's Section 811 and
Section 202 Workshops and pre-workshops by presenting information
to all potential sponsors on the equal opportunity requirements
of the program and the type of information required in the
applications.  Additionally, FHEO staff should remind all
workshop attendees of the need to fully and clearly articulate:
(1) their experience in providing housing and services to
minorities; and (2) how the proposed site will promote greater
housing opportunities for minority persons.

                               5

DEFINITIONS

     Minority: A racial or ethnic group, members of which have
               been subjected to prejudice or cultural bias by
               virtue of belonging to the group, without regard
               to individual qualities.  Such groups include, but
               are not limited
               to:

               (1)  African Americans.  Persons having origins in
                    any of the African racial groups of Africa.

               (2)  Hispanic Americans.  All persons of Mexican,
                    Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central
                    American, Caribbean and other Spanish or
                    Portuguese culture or origin.

               (3)  Native Americans.  Persons having origins in
                    any of the original peoples of North America
                    or the Hawaiian Islands, in particular,
                    American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Native
                    Hawaiians.

               (4)  Asian-Pacific Americans.  Persons having
                    origins in Japan, China, the Philippines,
                    Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust
                    Territories of the Pacific, Northern
                    Marianas, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan and India.

     Disability:    With respect to an individual, is a physical
               or mental impairment that substantially limits one
               or more of the major life activities of such
               individual. The term "person with disabilities"
               shall include:

               (1) A person who has a developmental disability,
                   as defined in Section 102(7) of the
                   Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill
                   of Rights Act [42 U.S.C. 6001(5)], i.e., if he
                   or she has a severe chronic disability which:

                   (i)   Is attributable to a mental or physical
                         impairment or combination of mental and
                         physical impairments;
                   (ii)  Is manifested before the person attains
                         age twenty-two;
                   (iii) Is likely to continue indefinitely;
                   (iv)  Results in substantial functional
                         limitation in three or more of the
                         following areas of major life activity:
                          (A) Self-care;
                          (B) Receptive and expressive language;
                          (C)      Learning;

                               6

                         (D)  Mobility;
                         (E)  Self-direction;
                         (F)  Capacity for independent living;
                         (G)  Economic self-sufficiency; and

                   (v)   Reflects the person's need for a
                         combination and sequence of special,
                         interdisciplinary, or generic care,
                         treatment, or other services which are
                         of lifelong or extended duration and are
                         individually planned or coordinated;

               (2)  A person with a chronic mental illness, i.e.,
                    a severe and persistent mental or emotional
                    impairment that seriously limits his or her
                    ability to live independently, and which
                    impairment could be improved by more suitable
                    housing conditions.

               (3)  A person with the human acquired
                    immunodeficiency virus, alcohol or drug
                    addiction, as defined 42 U.S.C. 8013(k)(2).

               (Adapted from 24 CFR Section 891.305)

     Elderly:  A person who is 62 years of age or older.

     Minority neighborhood:   A neighborhood in which any one of
                         the following statistical conditions
                         exists:

               (1)  The percentage of persons of a particular
                    racial or ethnic minority is at least 20
                    points higher than that minority's percentage
                    in the housing market as a whole;

               (2)  The neighborhood's total percentage of
                    minority persons is at least 20 points higher
                    than the total percentage of minorities for
                    the housing market area as a whole; or

               (3)  In the case of a metropolitan area, the
                    neighborhood's total percentage of minority
                    persons exceeds 50 percent of its population.

     Housing Market Area:     That geographic region from which
                    it is likely that renters/purchasers would be
                    drawn for a given multifamily housing
                    project.  A housing market area most often
                    corresponds to a Metropolitan Statistical
                    Area (MSA).

                               7

APPLICATION PROCESSING

     The selection process has been simplified to include only
Initial Screening and Technical Processing.  During Initial
Screening, applications will be reviewed to determine if all
parts are included.  The Department will not review the contents
of the application at this time.  At the end of Initial
Screening, "Acknowledgment Letters" will be sent to Sponsors
informing them that the applications are acceptable for Technical
Processing, or "Deficiency Letters" will be sent informing
sponsors of any missing parts of the application.  Sponsors must
correct deficiencies within 8 calendar days from the date of the
deficiency letter.

TECHNICAL PROCESSING

     During Technical Processing, applications will undergo a
complete analysis by appropriate disciplines within HUD.  As part
of this analysis, FHEO staff evaluates the application by
answering the questions listed on TECHNICAL PROCESSING REVIEW AND
FINDINGS MEMORANDUM - FAIR HOUSING AND EOUAL OPPORTUNITY listed
in Notice H-96-53. The instructions provided below are intended
to be used in conjunction with the Memorandum.

QUESTION 1:

     Based on the application submission, even without a site
visit, does the proposed site meet Site and Neighborhood
Standards?

EXHIBIT(S):

     Exhibits 4 (a) and 4 (e) for the Sec. 811 Program and
Exhibits 4 (a) and 4 (c) for the Sec. 202 Program on site
location and racial composition of the neighborhood with map
data.  OTHER DATA SOURCES:

     Census Tract and mapping data used for community and fair
housing planning; a personal visit to the site.

EVALUATION:

     Even without a site visit, FHEO can determine that the
proposed site meets Site and Neighborhood Standards requirements,
including minority and disabled concentration considerations.

     FHEO staff utilize data in the Exhibits on the location of
the site and the racial composition of the neighborhood to
determine whether the site meets the civil rights portion of
HUD's Site and Neighborhood Standards.  The following section is
an adaptation of the language found in the regulations at 24 CFR
891.125(b)&(c).

                               8

a.   AU sites and neighborhoods must be suitable from the
     standpoint of facilitating and furthering full compliance
     with the applicable provisions of Title VI of the Civil
     Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, Executive Order
     11063, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and
     implementing HUD regulations.

b.   New construction sites must not be located in an area of
     minority concentration (except as permitted in paragraph "c.
     " below), and must not be located in a racially mixed area
     if the project will cause a significant increase in the
     proportion of minority to non-minority residents in the
     area.

C.   New construction projects may be located in an area of
     minority concentration only if:

     (1)  sufficient, comparable opportunities exist for housing
          minority persons with disabilities, in the income range
          to be served by the proposed project, outside areas of
          minority concentration.

          (a) In determining whether there are "sufficient"
              housing opportunities for minorities outside areas
              of minority concentration, the term "sufficient"
              does not require an equal number of assisted units
              within and outside of areas of minority
              concentration in every locality.  Rather,
              application of this standard should produce a
              reasonable distribution of assisted units each year
              which over a period of several years will approach
              an appropriate balance of housing opportunities
              within and outside areas of minority concentration.
              An appropriate balance in any jurisdiction must be
              determined in light of local conditions affecting
              the range of housing choices available for very low
              income minority persons with disabilities and in
              relation to the racial mix of the locality's
              population.

          (b) Units may be considered "comparable opportunities"
              if they have the same household type (households
              with persons with disabilities) and tenure type
              (owner/renter); require approximately the same
              total tenant payment; serve the same income group;
              are located in the same housing market; and are in
              standard condition.

                               9

          (c)  Application of this sufficient, comparable
             opportunities standard involves assessing the
             overall impact of HUD's assisted housing on the
             availability of housing choices for very low income
             minority persons with disabilities in and outside
             areas of minority concentration, and must take into
             account the extent to which the following factors
             are present, along with any other factor relevant
             to housing choice:

             1    A significant number of assisted housing units
                  are available outside areas of minority
                  concentration.

             2    There is significant integration of assisted
                  housing projects constructed or rehabilitated
                  in the past ten years, relative to the racial
                  mix of the eligible population.

             3    There are racially integrated neighborhoods in
                  the locality.

             4    Programs are operated by the locality to
                  assist minority persons with disabilities who
                  wish to find housing outside areas of minority
                  concentration.

             5    Households with minority persons with
                  disabilities have benefited from local
                  activities (e.g., acquisition and writedown of
                  sites, tax relief programs for homeowners,
                  acquisition of units for use as assisted
                  housing units) undertaken to expand choice for
                  minority families outside areas of minority
                  concentration.

             6    A significant proportion of minority persons
                  with disabilities has been successful in
                  finding units in non-minority areas under the
                  Section 8 Certificate and Housing Voucher
                  programs.

             7    Comparable housing opportunities have been
                  made available outside areas of minority
                  concentration through other programs.

     (2)  the project is necessary to meet overriding housing needs
          which cannot be met in that housing market area.

          (a)  A determination of overriding need may be made if:

             1    The site is an integral part of an overall local
                  strategy for the preservation or restoration of
                  the immediate neighborhood; or

                               10

             2    The site is located in a neighborhood
                  experiencing significant private investment
                  which is demonstrably changing the economic
                  character of the area (a "revitalizing area").

          (b)  However, an overriding need may not serve as the
               basis for determining that a site is acceptable
               if:

             1    Discrimination on the basis of race, color,
                  creed, sex, or national origin renders sites
                  outside areas of minority concentration
                  unavailable; or

             2    The use of this standard in recent years has
                  had the effect of circumventing the
                  Department's obligation to provide housing
                  choice.

QUESTION 2:

     Is the sponsor in compliance with civil rights laws and
regulations?

EXHIBIT(S):

     Exhibit 12, Part 1. Certification in connection with the
Development and Operation of a Section 811 and/or Section 202
Supportive Housing for Elderly and/or Persons with Disabilities
Project.

OTHER DATA SOURCES:

     FHEO shall make the above determination with assistance from
the FHEO Compliance Division.  The FHEO Compliance Division will
advise if the sponsor is in compliance based upon
compliance/monitoring/audit findings, complaint determinations.

EVALUATION:

     If the Sponsor is in compliance, and if there is no evidence
to the contrary (i.e., compliance/monitoring/audit findings,
complaint determinations), FHEO can accept the certification.  If
a Sponsor is not in compliance with one of the civil rights laws
and/or implementing regulations, the certification cannot be
accepted.

     The Sponsor is in compliance with civil rights laws and
regulations, as follows:

        a. There is no pending civil rights suit against the
           Sponsor instituted by the Department of Justice;

                               11
        b. There is no outstanding finding of non-compliance
           with civil rights statutes, Executive Orders or
           regulations as a result of formal administrative
           proceedings, unless the Sponsor is operating under a
           Reapproved compliance agreement designed to correct
           the area(s) of noncompliance;

        c. There is no unresolved Secretarial charge of
           discrimination issued under Section 810(g) of the Fair
           Housing Act, as implemented by 24 CFR 103.400;

        d. There has not been an adjudication of a civil rights
           violation in a civil action brought against it by a
           private individual, unless the Sponsor is operating in
           compliance with a court order designed to correct the
           area(s) of noncompliance; and,

        e. There has not been a deferral of the processing of
           applications from the Sponsor imposed by HUD under
           Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Attorney
           General's Guidelines (28 CFR 50.3), or the HUD Title
           VI regulations (24 CFR
           1.8) and procedures (HUD Handbook 8040.1), or under
           Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
           HUD Section 504 Regulations (24 CFR 8.57).

QUESTION 3:

     Are the sponsor's certifications acceptable in connection
with compliance with civil rights laws, regulations, executive
orders, and equal opportunity requirements?

EXHIBIT(S):

     Exhibit 12, Part 1. Certification in connection with the
Development and Operation of a Section 811 and/or Section 202
Supportive Housing for Elderly and/or Persons with Disabilities
Project.

OTHER SOURCES OF DATA:

     This is a- statement of Sponsor's intent to comply with
civil rights laws and should be included with the application.

                               12

EVALUATION:

     This question differs from Question 2, which considers the
Sponsor's past history with respect to civil rights laws.  This
requests a certification of Sponsor's intent to comply with civil
rights laws.  FHEO reviews to determine if the Sponsor's
certification is acceptable based on its previous record as
'indicated in Question 2.

RATING FACTOR 1.

     The scope, extent and quality of the Sponsor's experience in
providing housing or related services to minority persons or
families (10 points).

EXHI[BIT(S):  Exhibit 3.

OTHER SOURCES OF DATA:

     Information on Sponsor's previous experience may be
available from the Asset Management staff or FHEO monitoring or
compliance review activity.

EVALUATION:

FHEO CRITERIA FOR FACTOR 1

      10 points     Sponsor has significant previous experience
                    in housing/serving minorities (i.e., previous
                    housing assistance/related service to minorities
                    was equal to or greater than the percentage of
                    minorities in the jurisdiction where the previous
                    housing/service experience occurred); and the
                    Sponsor has ties to the minority community.

      8-9 points    Sponsor has significant previous experience
               in housing/serving minorities.  There is no
               evidence that the Sponsor has ties to the minority
               community.

      5-7 points    Sponsor has minimal experience in
               housing/serving -minorities (i.e., previous
               housing assistance/related service to minorities
               was less than the percentage of minorities in the
               jurisdiction where the previous housing/related
               service experience occurred) and the Sponsor has
               ties to the minority community.

      3-4 points    Sponsor has minimal experience in
               housing/serving minorities but the Sponsor does
               not have ties to the minority community.

      1-2 points    The Sponsor does not have experience in
               housing/serving minorities, but there is evidence
               that the Sponsor has ties to the minority
               community.

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Experience in Providing Housing or Related Services

     Sponsors must have experience in providing either housing or
supportive services to the elderly, persons with disabilities,
families or minority groups.  FHEO's focus is on whether the
housing or related services that were provided by the Sponsor
were directed toward minorities.

     FHEO utilizes data contained in the Exhibits in the
application for an overall picture of the Sponsor's previous
housing and/or services experience.  Where the Sponsor has HUD
housing experience, FHEO should consider information provided by
Multifamily Housing staff in connection with the Sponsor's
previous participation certificate review.

     If the Sponsor has no previous housing experience, it is
particularly important for FHEO staff to examine all data and all
relevant experience reported in the application.  Nonprofit
organizations with little or no housing experience should have an
opportunity (based upon their service experience) to compete
successfully with larger organizations with significant housing
experience.  This is particularly true if the Sponsor is a
minority organization or if the Sponsor is new to the program and
proposes a project that will serve minority elderly and minority
persons with disabilities.

     In evaluating a Sponsor's experience in serving minorities,
FHEO should consider:

      a.  The variety of services and facilities provided;

      b.  The description of persons, by race and ethnicity,
          served by the activities; and, if available,

      c.  Information from residents in the community
          regarding the quality of the activities.

     Examples of activities that should be examined include:
housing counseling, nutrition and food services, special housing
referral, screening and information projects.

Review of Sponsor's Ties to the Minority Community

     As part of its analysis of Sponsor experience, FHEO reviews
the narrative statement in Exhibit 3 to determine the extent of
the Sponsor's ties to the minority community.  FHEO's review
includes any documentation submitted by the Sponsor, such as
letters from minority community leaders, heads of organizations,
etc.

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Sponsor's supportive services may not be a condition for
occupancy

     FHEO staff may review some applications that propose to
restrict occupancy to persons having similar disabilities, i.e.,
subcategories of the three major disability categories of
physically disabled, developmentally disabled or chronically
mentally W. With the approval of the Secretary, a sponsor may
restrict occupancy to persons with disabilities who have similar
disabilities and require a similar set of supportive services in
a supportive housing environment.  However, no qualified
individual, regardless of disability will be denied housing if
the individual can benefit from the housing and/or the services
provided.  The sponsor must assure that (1) the residents will
receive supportive services based on their individual needs, and
that (2) applicants will not be required to accept supportive
services as a condition of occupancy.

RATING FACTOR 2:

     Suitability of the site from the standpoint of promoting a
greater choice of housing opportunities for minority persons (10
points)

EXHIBIT(S):    Exhibit 4.

OTHER SOURCES OF DATA:

     Information is available from the Consolidated Plan; census
reports and community and fair housing planning mapping systems;
monitoring or compliance review reports; FHEO and Housing Asset
Management's files and HUD's in-house tracking data system for
Section 8 Applications and Contracts - Multifamily Tenant
Characteristics System (MTCS).

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EVALUATION:

Desirability of the Location

     FHEO reviews the proposed site from the standpoint of
promoting a greater choice of housing opportunities for minority
persons.  This differs from Question 1 where FHEO evaluated the
proposed site from the standpoint of compliance with the Site and
Neighborhood Standards threshold requirement.

     In determining whether a site promotes housing choice for
minority elderly and minority persons with disabilities, FHEO
staff must consider the existence of other assisted housing for
minority elderly and minority persons with disabilities
(including Section 202, other Section 811 and low rent public
housing projects) and the locations) of such housing.  Using
information contained in the Exhibits, FHEO staff would have
already determined whether a minority concentrated area has an
unmet need for housing for minority elderly and minority persons
with disabilities (see "3" above); FHEO staff now determines
whether the proposed housing addresses that need.  Depending upon
local circumstances, a favor-able site can be one that is:

   a. Located in a non-minority neighborhood, where there is no
      existing assisted housing for minority elderly and minority
      persons with disabilities in the housing market area or the
      existing assisted housing for minority elderly and minority
      persons with disabilities is located in a minority
      concentrated area;

   b. Located in a racially mixed neighborhood, where there is no
      existing assisted housing for the minority elderly and
      minority persons with disabilities in the housing market
      area or the existing assisted housing for the minority
      elderly and minority persons with disabilities is located
      in a minority concentrated area;

   c. Located in a minority concentrated area, where there is
      existing assisted housing for the minority elderly and
      minority persons with disabilities but there is still an
      identified need for such housing in that community; or,

   d. Located in a minority concentrated area with a need for
      assisted housing for minority elderly and minority persons
      with disabilities, where the existing assisted housing for
      minority elderly and minority persons with disabilities is
      located outside the minority concentrated area.

   However, if a site does not affect housing choice (i.e., the
   site is located in an area where minority elderly and minority
   persons with disabilities can select from housing
   opportunities both within and outside minority concentrated
   areas), the points under Factor 2 should not be awarded.

                               16

     The FHEO Rating Criterion for Factor 2 awards points
considering the existence and location of existing housing for
minority persons and whether a minority concentrated area has an
unmet need for such housing in determining whether a site
promotes housing choice.

        Situation #1 - Housing market area where there is no
        existing assisted housing for elderly (including Section
        202, low rent public housing and other assisted housing
        projects).  There is a need for such housing both inside
        and outside areas of minority concentration.

          10 points The site is located in a racially mixed area
                   with a need for such housing.

          8 points The site is located in a nonminority area with
                   a need for such housing.

          5 points The site is located in a minority concentrated
                   area with a need for such housing.  The
                   Sponsor has comparable, rental units outside
                   of the minority concentrated area that will be
                   available to elderly minority persons through
                   vacancies and/or turnover thus providing a
                   housing choice to those elderly minority
                   persons who live outside the minority
                   community.

          3 points The site is located in a minority concentrated
                   area with a need for housing.  Sponsor does
                   not have comparable rental units outside of
                   the minority concentrated area.

           0 points None of the above.  The site, although
                  acceptable, does not promote a greater choice
                  of housing opportunities for minority elderly
                  persons.

         Situation #2 - Housing market area where there is
         existing assisted housing for the minority elderly
         (including Section 202, low rent public hod-sing and
         other assisted housing projects for minority elderly
         persons) and such housing is located in a nonminority
         area.  There is an unmet need to house minority elderly
         and minority elderly persons in a minority concentrated
         area:

           10 points     The site is located in a minority
                    concentrated area with an unmet housing need
                    for elderly and/or minority elderly or
                    minority persons with disabilities.

                               17

           8 points The site is located in a racially mixed
                    area bordering the minority concentrated area
                    with an unmet need for housing minority
                    elderly or minority persons with disabilities.

           5 points The site is located in a nonminority area but
                         Sponsor has comparable, rental units in
                         the minority concentrated area that will
                         be available to minority elderly or
                         minority persons with disabilities
                         through vacancies and/or turnover, thus
                         providing a housing choice to minority
                         elderly or minority persons with
                         disabilities who desire to remain in the
                         minority community.

           0 points      None of the above.  The site, although
                         acceptable, does not promote a greater
                         choice of housing opportunities for
                         minority elderly or minority persons
                         with disabilities.

        Situation #.3 - Housing market area where the existing
        housing for minority elderly or minority persons with
        disabilities is located in an area of minority
        concentration.  There is still a housing need in the
        minority concentrated area, as well as in the community
        as a whole:

           10 points     The site is located in a racially mixed
                    area.

           8 points The site is located in a nonminority
                    area.

           5 points The site is located in a minority area
                    but Sponsor has comparable, rental units
                    outside of the minority concentrated area
                    that will be available to minority elderly or
                    minority persons with disabilities (through
                    vacancies and/or turnover), thus providing a
                    housing choice to minority elderly or
                    minority persons with disabilities who live
                    outside the minority community.

           0 points None of the above.  The site, although
                    acceptable, does not promote a greater choice
                    of housing opportunities for minority elderly
                    or minority persons with disabilities.

        Situation #4 - Housing market area where few or no
        minorities live. (There are no or few areas of minority
        concentration.)

           10 points     The site is located in a housing market
                    area with a population of only a few
                    minorities.

                               18

           5 points The site is located in a housing market area
                    with a population of no minorities.

        Situation #5 - Housing market area where existing
        assisted housing for the minority elderly and minority
        persons with disabilities is inside a minority
        concentrated area and also outside a minority
        concentrated area.  Both areas have an unmet need for
        housing for minorities.

           10 points     The site is located Outside and the
                    majority of assisted housing is located
                    inside.

           10 points          The site is located Inside and the
                    majority of assisted housing is located
                    outside.

           5 points      The site is located Outside and the
                    majority of assisted housing is located
                    outside.

           5 points      The site is located Inside and the
                    majority of assisted housing is located
                    inside.

        Situation #6 - Housing market area where few or no
        nonminorities live. (There are no or few areas of
        nonminority concentration.)

           10 points     The site is located in a housing market
                    area with a population of only a few
                    nonminorities.

           5 points The site is located in a housing market
                    area with a population of no nonminorities.

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS:

To answer the questions below, a "YES" or "NO" response is
required.

1. Does the project address a low participation rate and an
   identified need for housing for very low income minority
   persons?

Refer to Rating Factor 2.

2. Based upon data submitted in Exhibit 3(b), does the Sponsor
   indicate ties to the minority community?

Refer to Rating Factor 1.

                              1 9

3. Is the Sponsor's project consistent with the affirmatively
   furthering fair housing provisions of the jurisdiction's
   Consolidated Plan Certification?

   Refer to Exhibit I 1, Certification of Consistency with the
   Consolidated Plan.  FHEO indicates whether the Sponsor's
   project is consistent with the affirmatively furthering fair
   housing provisions of the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan
   certification.  Such projects are those that promote a greater
   choice of housing opportunities for minority persons.

4. For projects with relocation indicated, is the information
   submitted in Exhibit 8 acceptable?

   If displacement/relocation is indicated, FHEO staff shall
   review Exhibit 8 to determine whether the Sponsor has
   submitted the required racial and ethnic data on the
   persons/businesses to be displaced and whether the Sponsor's
   relocation advisory procedures promote a greater choice of
   housing opportunities for minority persons/households.

     Where displacement of minority persons is involved, services
must include steps to ensure
that such persons have a reasonable opportunity to relocate to
decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwellings that are within
their financial means, in a full range of neighborhoods,
including those which are outside areas of minority
concentration.

     If the comparable replacement dwellings are located in areas
of minority concentration, minority persons should, if possible,
be given opportunities to relocate to replacement dwellings not
located in such areas.  Additionally, where relocation occurs,
FHEO should assess the merits of the Relocation Plan in assigning
points to Factor 2.

     Note that Community Planning and Development (CPD) completes
the relocation plan review.

5. Has the Sponsor submitted the required racial and ethnic data
   on the persons/businesses to be displaced?

Refer to Exhibit 8.

COMPLETION OF FHEO REVIEW

     After its review, FHEO staff prepare the Technical
Processing Review and Findings Memorandum to document findings as
to FHEO's recommended rating and the acceptability or non-acceptability
of each application.  The review sheets are
forwarded to the Multifamily Housing Representative through the
Processing Control and Reports (PC&R) Staff.

                              2 0
     The MHR reconciles any conflicting review comments by
obtaining agreements from affected offices or by referring the
matter to the Multifamily Housing Director for a decision.  The
manner of resolving conflicting comments must be documented and
retained with the appropriate review sheets. (FHEO comments are
not affected by this process because FHEO is the only discipline
recommending points for Factors I and 2.)

     The MHR will also prepare technical rejection letters based
upon the reviews of each technical discipline.  No application
rejected during Technical Processing can be rated or considered
by the Rating Panel unless, based upon the Sponsor's appeal, the
application is reinstated.

SELECTION PROCESS

     The Multifamily Housing Director convenes a rating panel
comprised of the MHR and staff from other technical disciplines,
including FHEO.  The Panel evaluates all approvable applications
on the basis of their merits relative to those of other
approvable applications and determines those to be selected for
funding.

     As part of the Field Office panel, the FHEO representative
reviews the list of applications identified for selection and
provides advice and guidance to panel members regarding those
that will best meet the fair housing and equal opportunity
objectives.  Because there are usually far more applications than
can be funded, FHEO's role on the panel is essential.

     Where multiple disciplines review the same selection factor,
final points are determined by averaging the points awarded by
individual disciplines. (See Standard Rating Criteria Form.) Once
final points are assigned, the applications (along with
appropriate justification data) are rated and ranked.

     Field Office recommendations for selections of the Section
811 and Section 202 applications (with the appropriate
justification data) are then forwarded to the Headquarters Office
of Elderly and Assisted Housing, for final selections as approved
by the Assistant Secretary for Housing.

Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plans

     FHEO does not review the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing
Plan P), HUD Form 935.2, until the Sponsor is selected for
funding.  The AFHMP will be requested at a later stage of
processing.

     If FHEO reviews the AFHMP and FHEO finds it to be deficient,
FHEO may indicate such but the application is not rejected on
this basis during Technical Processing.  There is time to work
with the Sponsor to resolve problems or to obtain necessary
modifications to the AFHMP.

                               21

     FHEO staff should follow the guidance contained in HUD's
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Handbook, 8025.1 REV-2.

Outreach To Persons With Disabilities

     24 CFR 8.6 of the Section 504 regulation requires recipients
to take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with
applicants, beneficiaries, and members of the public who are
disabled.  Since the Section 811 Program is targeted for persons
with disabilities, Sponsors should be aware of methods to
specifically reach this population group.  Therefore, in addition
to utilizing newspapers and radio stations, Sponsors may also use
qualified sign language and oral interpreters, readers or taped
and Braille materials, and should inform those organizations
which serve persons with disabilities in the community, in order
to reach persons with all types of disabilities, such as visual
and hearing impairments or those who are developmentally disabled
with minimal reading skills, or persons who are confined to their
homes.  Sponsors are not required to submit their outreach
procedures to HUD for approval (as is the case for the
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan); however, documentation
of the outreach efforts should be maintained on site in the
rental office and available for HUD inspection.

   We hope this guidance will assist FHEO field staff in their
review of Section 811 and 202 applications.  For additional
information, please contact William D. Gregorie, Acting Director,
Office of Program Operations and Standards (202 708-0288) or your
Program Coordinator at 202 708-2288.

Susan M. Forward
Deputy Assistant Secretary for
  Enforcement and Investigations

                                22


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