Moving to Work

Reno Housing Authority's Moving to Work application

The Reno Housing Authority (RHA) has been selected by HUD as one of four Public Housing Agencies designated as a Moving to Work (MTW) agency.

The proposed plan is available for public review at RHA’s main office at 1525 E 9th Street during normal business hours or on RHA’s website here.

List of Reno Housing Authority Moving to Work (MTW) proposed activities

Rent reform for all tenants

Self-certification of assets under $10,000. Income from assets under this amount would be excluded from income calculations.
Stop including income which will not change the rent, such as food stamps, in the income calculation process.
Exclude all educational grant and loan income from income calculations for rent.
Increase the minimum rent from $50 to $75. The normal hardship policy will remain.

Recertification every two years specifically for elderly/disabled tenants
Recertification every two years for elderly/disabled families on fixed incomes. Yearly rent increases will be based on COLA for their fixed income program.

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection simplification
If a unit passes the annual HQS inspection on the first visit, that unit could be exempt from the HQS inspection the next year. Tenants and landlords would both be required to sign a self-certification that the unit is in good condition. If they do not self-certify, the unit would have an HQS inspection. (Section 8 only)

Project-Based Voucher program changes
Conversion of any RHA owned property to Project-Based Vouchers without requiring a competitive process.
RHA will purchase at least 50 single family homes, condos and duplexes in low-poverty areas which will be assigned Project-Based Vouchers. These will be used for the mobility study.

Strengthen the Family Support Services programs
RHA will strengthen Public Housing Community Service requirements so that non-compliant residents will be unable to renew their leases at the next annual unless their Community Service hours are made current. (Public Housing only)
Combine Public Housing and Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency programs.

Xeriscaping work at Public Housing complexes
RHA will be doing significant xeriscaping work on three Public Housing complexes.
- Mineral Manor – finish the landscaping for the remainder of the complex
- Essex Manor – finish the landscaping for the remainder of the complex
- Hawk View Apartments – expand landscaping throughout the complex
Rent Reform Controlled Study
RHA will use families with children from the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list to perform a rent reform controlled study. As a family with children is assigned a voucher, they will be assigned to the Set Rent, Graduated Rent, or Control Group. Each group will consist of 50 families.

Mobility Study
The Mobility Study program will be offered to existing Public Housing clients. Families with children who meet certain criteria will be invited to apply. RHA will purchase at least 50 single family homes, condos and duplexes in low-poverty areas which will be assigned Project-Based Vouchers for this activity.

Partnerships with local organizations
RHA will be working with local organizations which assist specific high risk populations; RHA will provide Project-Based Vouchers for units owned by RHA, and the organizations will provide supportive services.