TRACS Industry Meeting Scheduled

The next TRACS Industry Meeting will be held on April 11 and 12 in Washington, DC at the HUD Headquarters. An official announcement will be posted in the TRACS announcement page.

Fraud Policy Replaces Things You Should Know

We have received confirmation from HUD that the “Is Fraud Worth It?” brochure (HUD 1141) has replaced the “Things You Should Know” pamphlet. The fraud brochure is available in an English version and a Spanish version.

http://hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/nph-brs.cgi?d=FRMS&s1=(+HUD-1141)[NO]&OP1=ADJ&SECT5=FRMS&SECT1=TXTHLB&l=50&u=../cgi/newsdoc_run.cgi&p=1&r=1&f=G

The New 9887...again!

HUD has posted a new 9887 to the HUDClips web site...again! This new form is dated 1/18/2007. Please be sure to download and begin using the new form. Seriously...it's there!

http://hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/nph-brs.cgi?d=FRMS&s1=HUD-9887$[NO]&SECT5=FRMS&SECT1=TXTHLB&l=50&u=../cgi/newsdoc_run.cgi&p=1&r=1&f=S

LEP Implementation Deadline Extended

HUD has issued a notice advising members of the public that its final ``Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons,'' published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2007, and scheduled to become effective on February 21, 2007, will now become effective on March 7, 2007.

HUD is moving the effective date to March 7, 2007, in order to allow HUD the opportunity to brief interested members of the public on the guidance before it takes effect. A meeting for this purpose originally scheduled at HUD Headquarters on February 13, 2007, had to be rescheduled for February 28, 2007. Therefore, HUD is moving the effective date of the final guidance to March 7, 2007. Visit the following web site to obtain a copy of this notice.

http://hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/nph-brs.cgi?d=FR06&s1=FR-4878-N-04$[NO]&SECT5=FR06&SECT1=TXTHLB&l=50&u=../cgi/newsdoc_run.cgi&p=1&r=1&f=G

EIV Update

We have received some questions regarding the availability of EIV information for those of you managing properties under a non-Section 8 contract (236, BMIR, etc.). RHIIP recently released the following announcement.

“At the present time, social security benefit information for tenants under the Section 236 and Section 221(d)(3)BMIR programs (tenants not receiving Section 8, RAP or Rent Supplement) is not available in EIV. When certifying/recertifying these tenants, owners and management agents will need to use an alternative form of verification for social security benefits. See Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 Occupancy Requirements for Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs, Appendix 5-3, Acceptable Forms of Verification, for suggested documents that can be used for verification purposes. Notification will be provided once this information becomes available in EIV.”

Please keep in mind that the Social Security benefits letters can be used as verification for 120 days from the date of the letter. After 120 days, a new benefit letter must be obtained from the Social Security Administration. We have discovered that the Social Security Administration offices may charge a fee to provide a new copy of the letter.

Paying the fee for Social Security verification may be cost prohibitive to the property. If this is the case, you should document efforts to obtain 3^rd party verification, indicate why 3^rd party verification was not obtained, and ask your resident to request a new benefit letter. Residents may request a free copy through the Social Security Administration web page at www.ssa.gov or by calling the Social Security office at 800-772-1213.

Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan - Multifamily Housing

A new 935-2a Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan form has been posted to HUDClips. http://hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/pdfforms/935-2a.pdf This form is dated 8/2006 and has an expiration date of 1/31/2010. Changes are as follows:

· Section 2 has been slightly modified. The question has been divided in to 2a and 2b. If the plan is being updated, HUD now asks for the reason why.

· An “Other” option has been added to Section 3 which identifies who is targeted by the efforts described in the plan.

Be sure to use the new form if you are creating a new AFHMP or if you are updating an existing AFHMP.

Notice of Closure of the Special Claims Comment Box

The Special Claims Guide has been developed to assist in the reduction of errors in the administration of HUD’s rental housing assistance programs. The Special Claims Guide provides detailed guidance for the processing of Special Claim requests and is intended for use by HUD staff, Contract Administrators and Owners and Management Agents of Section 8 properties. When the guide was released, HUD provided a forum to enabled these users to ask questions and obtain clarification and guidance.

Your input through your questions and comments has helped improve the Guide. While the FAQs can serve as a resource the Department encourages the users of the Special Claims Guide to become more familiar with it rather than rely on the FAQs alone.

HUD recently issued a notice specifying that, due to the diminishing number of questions and comments being received, the Special Claims Comment box will no longer be available as of February 17, 2007. Since the box was opened in August 2006, receipt of questions and comments have been substantial and have helped the Department make improvements to the Guide as well as prepare and release Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Visit the following HUD web site to obtain a copy of the Special Claims FAQs. http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/rfp/faq_scpg.pdf

Watch Those Mailboxes

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released new requirements regarding mailboxes to be installed in planned apartments buildings. The requirements do not apply to existing structures or to apartment buildings currently under construction.

The newly issued USPS standard gives precise specifications for the type of mailbox that is acceptable; it must be

· 12 inches wide

· 15 inches deep and

· 3 inches high

One parcel locker must be provided for every 10 customer mailboxes

RBD does not act as a legal advisor nor as a regulatory governing agency. The recipient should understand that any materials or comments contained herein are not designed for, nor should be relied upon as a source of legal guidance or as a final authority with respect to any particular circumstance. Ross Business Development, Inc. makes no warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty of any type. Owners and management should seek competent legal advice in developing and carrying out policies and procedures. While we have been diligent in our efforts to provide comprehensive and accurate regulatory information, Ross Business Development, Inc. shall not be responsible for errors or inaccuracies.