MHA Going RAD
WHAT IS RAD?
The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) is a program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that seeks to preserve affordable housing. RAD is a HUD program created to assist Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to maintain and preserve their public housing units. RAD provides PHAs a way to make needed improvements to their properties without depending on additional money from Congress.
PHA's across the country need more than $26 billion in repairs and many PHAs do not have enough money to keep units in good condition. RAD provides PHAs a way to stabilize, rehabilitate, and or replace properties by borrowing money to make needed repairs to enhance the communities for residents and longevity of affordable housing.
HOW DOES RAD WORK?
RAD allows PHAs to convert a public housing property's HUD funding to either: • Section 8 project-based voucher (PBV); or • Section 8 project-based rental assistance (PBRA). Units move to a Section 8 projectâbased voucher platform with a long-term contract, by law that must be renewed ensuring that the units remain permanently affordable to low-income households. The conversion of funding allows PHAs the ability to borrow money easily for rehabilitation work.
Before RAD
- Properties are typically not funded at 100% in Public Housing
- In Public Housing, PHAs cannot borrow money to perform necessary repairs
- The funding fails to keep up with the deteriorating living conditions of residents
- Residents cannot choose to move without losing housing assistance
After Rad
- Properties are placed on a more stable Section 8 funding platform
- PHAs and owners can more easily borrow money and perform rehabilitation work
- the living conditions of residents are improved
- Residents may receive a tenant-based voucher, or similar assistance and move after 1 year in PBV and 2 years in PBRA
To find out more about Monroe Housing Authority's RAD Conversion, please check our website for on-going updates, and attend your community Resident Council Meetings.