[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21544-21545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10686]



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[[Page 21545]]

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. N-95-3853; FR-3833-N-02]


Preferences for Admission to Assisted Housing; Preference for 
Working Families--Notice of Statutory Amendment; Clarification

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner; and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and 
Indian Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On January 18, 1995, HUD published a notice that advised that 
sections 6(c)(4)(A)(ii) and (8)(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the U.S. Housing Act of 
1937 were amended by the HUD Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to 
provide a discretionary local preference for admission to public 
housing and HUD-assisted housing for ``families that include one or 
more adult members who are employed.'' The amendment by the HUD 
Appropriations Act provides that this preference for working families 
``shall be effective only during fiscal year 1995.''
    The purpose of this notice is to clarify that preferences for 
admitting working families to public housing and HUD-assisted housing 
can continue to be used indefinitely, under the conditions described in 
HUD final rules published on July 18, 1994, and entitled, respectively, 
``Preferences for Admission to Assisted Housing'' and ``Section 8 
Certificate and Voucher Programs Conforming Rule: Admissions.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the public housing and Section 8 
Existing Housing programs, Sherone Ivey, Occupancy Division, Office of 
Public Housing, (202) 708-0744 (voice); (202) 708-0850 (TDD).
    For other Section 8 programs, Barbara Hunter, Planning and 
Procedures Division, Office of Multifamily Housing, Office of Housing 
(202) 708-3944 (voice); (202) 708-4594 (TDD).
    None of these telephone numbers is toll-free. The individuals 
listed above are located at the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 18, 1995 (60 FR 3646), HUD published a notice that 
advised that sections 6(c)(4)(A)(ii) and (8)(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the U.S. 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437d and 42 U.S.C. 1437f) were amended 
by the HUD Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1995 (Pub.L. 103-327, 
approved September 28, 1994, 108 Stat. 2315) to provide a discretionary 
local preference for admission to public housing and HUD-assisted 
housing for ``families that include one or more adult members who are 
employed.'' The two statutory amendments cover public housing and 
section 8 existing housing.
    In the January 18, 1995 notice, HUD noted that the preference added 
by the Congress is consistent with two HUD final rules, both published 
on July 18, 1994, and entitled, ``Preferences for Admission to Assisted 
Housing'' (59 FR 36616), and ``Section 8 Certificate and Voucher 
Programs Conforming Rule: Admissions'' (59 FR 36662). The January 18, 
1995 notice also advised that the HUD Appropriations Act provides that 
this preference ``shall be effective only during fiscal year 1995.''
    Since publication of the January 18, 1995 notice, HUD has received 
a number of inquiries concerning the HUD Appropriations Act 
``limitation'' of the working family preference to FY 1995.
    The purpose of this notice is to clarify that preferences for 
admitting working families to assisted housing can continue to be used 
indefinitely, under the conditions described in the two HUD final rules 
published on July 18, 1994.
    The amendments made by the HUD Appropriations Act cover public 
housing and section 8 existing housing (including section 8 project-
based assistance), but not Indian housing. However, all three programs 
can establish preferences for working families, according to the terms 
in HUD regulations, and HUD encourages the adoption and continued use 
of such preferences.

    Dated: April 24, 1995.
Jeanne K. Engel,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner.
Michael B. Janis,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 95-10686 Filed 5-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-P and 4210-33-P