In mid-August, HUD published an interim evaluation which showed mixed results for the efficacy of Small Area Fair Market Rents (FMRs). Fair Market Rents are calculated by HUD on the county or metropolitan area level. HUD states that the FMR is the amount of money that would be needed to pay the gross rent (shelter rent plus utilities) of privately owned, decent, and safe rental housing of a modest nature. Fair Market Rents help determine the amount of rent covered by the voucher (i.e., the higher the FMR, the higher the potential value of the voucher). Small Area FMRs are FMRs calculated by zip code. The intended effect of Small Area FMRs is to decrease subsidies in low-opportunity (low-rent) neighborhoods and increase subsidies in high-opportunity (high-rent) neighborhoods to incentivize families to move from low-opportunity neighborhoods to high-opportunity neighborhoods.

In 2012, HUD began the Small Area FMR Demonstration (though the Demonstration uses PHAs which have been using Small Area FMRs since before 2012) which tested, among other things, the mobility incentive of Small Area FMRs across seven public housing agencies (PHAs) with varied and diverse characteristics. This new HUD interim evaluation titled “Small Area Fair Market Rent Demonstration Evaluation Interim Report” shows that Small Area FMRs have a mixed impact. Among other findings, the report has four key takeaways about the use of Small Area FMRs: 1) different housing markets are impacted differently; 2) there are more families moving into areas of opportunity; 3) there is a loss of affordable units; and 4) there is an aggregate higher cost burden for families. Understanding these findings illustrates why Small Area FMRs have both benefits and costs. Continue reading →

HUD has published a short piece by Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research (PD&R) Todd Richardson in both HUD’s blog–the HUDdle–and on the HUDUser website as a piece titled “Message From PD&R Senior Leadership.” The piece notes that the decision to suspend the implementation of Small Area FMRs was a result of research. It goes on to note that “[w]e now have some preliminary results from a just-published interim evaluation that provides information on . . . program impacts such as changes to the availability of affordable units, average Housing [Assistance] Payments, and tenant rent burden.”

Additionally, the post offers great information on how to implement Small Area FMRs, for those PHAs which choose to implement Small Area FMRs now. The relevant information is reproduced exactly below except for some minor formatting changes.

• Know your market.
  • Do your own market research. Does this change make more or fewer units available? Will this change cause you to have higher or lower average Housing Assistance Payments (HAP)? PHAs that operate only in high cost areas will experience a significant increase in their average HAP. PHAs that operate mostly in low cost areas may see a decrease in their average HAP, although the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) allows PHAs to grandfather payment standards for tenants that remain in place. The final rule implemented the HOTMA provision and provides additional flexibilities for PHAs in setting payment standards for families currently receiving assistance in areas where the FMR decreases.
  • Do the leg work to determine how you would set payment standards around the Small Area FMR before you have to do it. This is a major work item.
  • Think about recruiting new landlords.
  • Ideally you are ready to implement Small Area FMRs when market conditions are favorable. A soft rental market is your friend.
• Get the back office ready.
  • This does increase your administrative costs — both one-time costs for information technology (IT) changes and the development of new procedures as well as ongoing operations costs. Start planning your administrative budget.
  • Upgrade your IT now.
  • Be prepared for a spike in moves among existing tenants. You may need to temporarily increase your capacity to conduct inspections.
  • Talk to your front-line staff about implementation before and during the process. Be quick to address misunderstandings and retrain as needed.

The Interim Small Area FMR report can be found here, while the final Small Area FMR rule can be found here.

The entire post can be found either here or here.

Earlier this morning, HUD sent letters to PHAs suspending the mandatory implementation of Small Area Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for 23 of the 24 metropolitan areas which were originally designated as areas in which PHAs would have to use Small Area FMRs. Small Area FMRs are FMRs calculated by zip code, instead of a wider metropolitan area. Among other concerns, there was widespread concern among industry groups and PHAs that the mandatory imposition of Small Area FMRs would mean that new program participants would receive lower voucher subsidy amounts and without appropriate wrap-around services would be unable to find units in neighborhoods which would receive higher subsidies.

NAHRO has long stressed that the quick imposition of mandatory Small Area FMRs would lead to adverse consequences for program participants and is pleased that HUD listened to NAHRO’s concerns and made implementation of Small Area FMRs voluntary. HUD has only suspended the mandatory imposition of Small Area FMRs. PHAs may still choose to voluntarily apply them, if it is the appropriate action for their program participants and community. All other aspects of the Small Area FMR rule remain in place. The suspension will last until October 1, 2019 (for a 2020 implementation), unless the Small Area FMR rule is changed. The Small Area FMR mandatory implementation remains in effect for the Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metro Division.

In a letter to HUD, NAHRO previously suggested suspending the Small Area FMR designation using authority under 24 CFR § 888.113(c)(4)(iii). HUD followed NAHRO’s suggestion and suspended the mandatory imposition of Small Area FMRs using the NAHRO-suggested provision. NAHRO is pleased that HUD recognized the potential adverse impacts to program participants and is following the NAHRO-suggested steps to avoid those consequences. NAHRO looks forward to continuing to work with HUD collaboratively to find solutions to tackle tough problems.

NAHRO’s letter to HUD recommending suspending the mandatory imposition of Small Area FMRs can be found here.

NAHRO’s comment letter to HUD on the Small Area FMR rule can be found here.