PIH Notices & HUD Rules

Statutorily Mandated Designation of Difficult Development Areas and Qualified Census Tracts for 2027

This HUD notice designates the 2027 Difficult Development Areas (DDAs) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) used to determine eligibility for increased Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) basis. It explains the data and methodology HUD uses to identify these areas based on 2020 Census data, FY 2026 income limits and Fair Market Rents, and ACS income/poverty data. The 2027 lists take effect for credit allocations or bond-financed projects after December 31, 2026, which matters for housing agencies and developers applying for LIHTC allocations in designated high-cost or low-income areas.

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing is establishing a new Privacy Act system of records called the Enterprise Voucher Management System (eVMS), which automates monthly Housing Assistance Payment calculations for the Housing Choice Voucher Program using family-level data from IMS/PIC. The system displays Head of Household names and unmasked Social Security Numbers to authorized HUD and PHA users to support payment tracking, reconciliation, and fraud/waste/abuse prevention. PHA staff should be aware that PHAs must apply for user IDs to access eVMS, and the public may submit comments on this notice before it takes effect for routine uses.

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing is modifying the Privacy Act system of records notice for IMS/PIC and HIP, which are national repositories tracking PHA, TDHE, and HUD-assisted family data. The update adds three new routine uses (numbers 19, 20, and 21) and incorporates two previously added ones (17 and 18), updates the system manager and contact information, and clarifies categories of records, record sources, and electronic collection methods. PHA staff should be aware that this affects how tenant and program data in IMS/PIC and HIP may be shared and used, and comments on the changes are being accepted through October 30, 2026.

Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families

This notice establishes how HUD will award Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) to convert all Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) families under lease as of September 30, 2026 into the Housing Choice Voucher program by December 31, 2026, as required by the 2027 Continuing Resolution. PHAs will receive estimated award amounts around October 1, 2026, must correct any errors by October 15, 2026, and will receive one round of EHV-TPV funding in December 2026 covering one month of assistance, with future renewals subject to appropriations. These TPVs cannot be reissued upon turnover, and PHAs must track and report them separately through IMS/PIC and VMS.

Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program, and Other Programs, Fiscal Year 2027

This HUD notice publishes the Fiscal Year 2027 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) used to set payment standards under the Housing Choice Voucher Program and other HUD programs, effective October 1, 2026. It explains the methodology used to calculate base rents, inflation and trend factors, bedroom adjustments, minimum rents, and Small Area FMRs, and it describes the process by which PHAs or other interested parties can submit comments or request a reevaluation of specific area FMRs by the comment deadline. PHA staff should review their area's FY 2027 FMRs and, if needed, submit data supporting a reevaluation request by October 1, 2026.

Revision of Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program

This notice revises HUD's Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program, which was last published August 28, 2020 with technical revisions in March 2025. The revisions cover funding flexibility, program administration, special purpose vouchers, and multiple MTW waivers in Appendix I and II, including changes to stepped rent, imputed income, work requirements, and local non-traditional activity limits. HUD is soliciting public comments on these revisions, with a 60-day comment period followed by an additional 30-day period.

Offset of Excess Reserves for Initial Moving to Work Public Housing Agencies and PHA Appeals

This notice explains how HUD will offset excess public housing and HCV reserves for Initial Moving to Work (MTW) PHAs—those under the MTW Standard Agreement designated before the 2016 act—for the CY2026 funding cycle, protecting 4 months of operating expenses from offset. It also describes the appeals process, including data correction appeals and statutory obligation appeals for committed capital/development activities, and the required documentation and review process. PHA staff must understand these calculation methods and appeal deadlines to protect their agency's reserves and renewal funding allocations.

Revision to Emergency Housing Voucher and Stability Voucher Program Requirements Related to Payment Standards

This notice removes the special waiver that let PHAs set EHV and Stability Voucher payment standards between 90% and 120% of the FMR, reverting them to the standard regulatory range. PHAs must now follow 24 CFR 982.503(c) for the basic 90-110% FMR range and 982.503(d) for exception payment standards above 110%, and must come into compliance within 60 days for new SV admissions and current EHV/SV families moving units.

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

This notice announces HUD's reestablishment of a computer matching program with DHS/FEMA and HUD's CDBG-DR grantees to share data for disaster recovery purposes. The matching will be used to transition HUD-assisted households displaced by disasters back into HUD housing, calculate CDBG-DR grant allocations, and support duplication-of-benefits and flood insurance compliance reviews. PHA staff should note that HUD Public Housing Agency Code, HUD Program Code, and recipient/household member data may be shared with FEMA as part of this program. Public comments are due by September 8, 2026, and the program becomes effective that same date unless comments require modification.

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

HUD is re-establishing a computer matching agreement with HHS to compare information on HUD rental assistance participants against the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) to verify income and prevent improper payments. Matched results will be uploaded into the EIV system and made available to PHAs, owners/agents, contract administrators, and independent public auditors to verify tenant-reported income. Public comments on the notice are due by September 3, 2026, and the matching program is expected to run for 18 months starting September 9, 2026, with possible 12-month extension.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Revisions to Study Enrollment, Treatment Arms and Funding Guidance for the Community Choice Demonstration

This HUD notice updates the Community Choice Demonstration (formerly the HCV Mobility Demonstration) by canceling the SMRS treatment arm, moving up the study enrollment end date to June 30, 2026, and clarifying rules for recapturing and reallocating funding and Mobility Demonstration Vouchers (MDVs). PHA staff running CCD sites need this to understand new deadlines for enrollment, service delivery tracking, budget submissions, MDV recapture, and continued mobility-related services through the demonstration's October 1, 2028 statutory end date.

The Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative

This notice renames and updates the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI) as The Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and explains how PHAs request FYI vouchers under the Housing Choice Voucher program to serve eligible foster youth. It revises the definition of 'at risk of becoming homeless,' removes the annual cap on FYI vouchers a PHA can request, eliminates the utilization threshold requirement for new voucher requests, and describes the process for PHAs to voluntarily return unneeded vouchers and funding. It also details PHA and public child welfare agency (PCWA) eligibility, partnership agreement requirements, required supportive services, and the application and funding process for the $38.2 million in available assistance.

Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate Administrative Procedures for Voucher Programs

This notice extends the deadline for PHAs administering Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation programs to implement NSPIRE inspection standards to February 1, 2027. It clarifies which NSPIRE provisions are excluded from the extension, updates HUD notification requirements, provides guidance on variation and alternative inspection method requests, and informs PHAs that HUD is no longer developing a software application for voucher program inspections. PHAs must continue complying with carbon monoxide and smoke alarm requirements regardless of which inspection standard they use.

Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program-Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Inflation Factors for Public Housing Agency (PHA) Renewal Funding

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Implementation of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 Funding Provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher Program

This notice implements the Housing Choice Voucher program funding provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, explaining how HUD calculates CY 2026 HAP renewal funding, administrative fees, and HAP set-aside categories for PHAs. It details renewal calculation steps for non-MTW, MTW Initial, and MTW Expansion PHAs, reserve offset policies, and application processes and deadlines for ten HAP set-aside categories, including a new Mainstream Vouchers Increased Costs category. PHA staff should use this to understand funding eligibility, apply for set-aside categories by the stated deadlines, and manage shortfall risk.

Public Housing Agency Compliance Deadline for Sections 102 and 104 of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) and Alternative HUD-50058 Reporting Instructions

This notice sets January 1, 2027 as the deadline for most public housing agencies to fully comply with sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA, except MTW PHAs and PHAs exclusively using FRS software, who will receive future guidance. PHAs can comply either by using the updated 2024 Form HUD-50058 or, if unable to convert in time, by using the 2020 Form HUD-50058 with alternative reporting instructions detailed in Appendix B. It partially supersedes Notice PIH 2024-38 but does not change the earlier July 1, 2025 deadline for select HOTMA provisions.

Request for Applications under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program: Overall Impact of Moving to Work Flexibility and Administrative Efficiencies (Additional Agency Selection)

This notice announces the process for HUD to select one additional public housing agency (PHA) with 1,000 or fewer combined public housing and HCV units to fill the last remaining slot in the Moving to Work (MTW) Expansion's MTW Flexibility II Cohort. It explains eligibility and completeness requirements, the application package contents (MTW Plan, Administrative Efficiencies Information, and appendices), the public process and Board Resolution requirements, and the review, lottery, and selection process. PHA staff need this to determine whether their agency is eligible, how to prepare and submit an application, and by when the application package must be submitted.

Required Use of the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System’s Deceased Tenants Report to Reduce Subsidy Payment and Administrative Errors

This notice requires PHAs to monitor the EIV Deceased Tenants Report at least monthly and take corrective action when household members are reported as deceased, including confirming death, filing End of Participation forms, and handling unauthorized occupants or HAP overpayments. It applies to Public Housing, HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab programs and updates prior guidance to reduce subsidy payment and administrative errors. PHAs that fail to comply may face monetary sanctions.

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing Choice Voucher Program and Tribal HUD-VASH

Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program, and Other Programs Fiscal Year 2026; Revised

Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) Sections 102 and 104 Implementation Guidance – Amendment to Attachment I Related to Interim Reexaminations

This notice revises Attachment I of Notice H 2023-10/PIH 2023-27 to change when PHAs and Multifamily Housing Owners must conduct interim reexaminations of income and household composition under HOTMA Sections 102 and 104. PHAs and MFH Owners must now conduct interim reexaminations whenever a household adds or removes members, regardless of whether income increases, decreases, or stays the same, with a limited exception during the last 3 months of a recertification period if they have a written policy against interim reexaminations for income increases. The prior version of Attachment I (Revision 2) is superseded, and the notice is being republished with the revised Attachment I as Revision 3.

2025 Additional Administrative Fees for HUD-VASH

This notice announces $10 million in additional administrative fee funding available to PHAs that administer the HUD-VASH program, to help them lease HUD-VASH vouchers. It explains how PHAs can apply, what expenses the funds can be used for, and how to report the spending. PHAs must submit applications by April 14, 2026, using an electronic form certifying their funding need.

Rescission and Revision of Certain PIH Notices

This notice rescinds a series of PIH notices tied to COVID-19 pandemic guidance that are now obsolete, including CARES Act funding, waiver, and closeout notices. It also revises Notice PIH 2020-32 by striking LEP-related remote hearing/briefing guidance, and rescinds portions of Notice PIH 2021-14 that pertain to HCV and Public Housing (the ICDBG/IHBG portions remain intact). PHA staff should note that rescinding the 2024-04 LEP guidance does not remove their obligation to comply with Title VI language access requirements.