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RAD Program

Additional Information

Margaret Jones Headshot
Margaret Jones, 
Director Of Assisted Housing

What is RAD?
The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) allows public housing agencies (PHAs) and owners of HUD-assisted properties to convert units to project-based Section 8 programs, providing an opportunity to invest billions into properties at risk of being lost from the nation's affordable housing inventory.

Why RAD?
The 1.2 million units in the Public Housing program have a documented repair backlog of nearly $26 billion. As a result, the public housing inventory has been losing an average of 10,000 units annually through demolitions and dispositions. The current conditions of many of these properties prevent reinvestment and recapitalization efforts in the communities with the most need. By drawing on an established industry of lenders, owners, and stakeholders, RAD allows PHAs and owners of HUD-assisted housing to preserve and improve affordable housing units that could be subject to vouchers and demolition. RAD creates greater funding certainty while allowing increased operational flexibility to empower PHAs and owners to serve their communities.

Will a RAD conversion affect my housing assistance?
You will not lose your housing assistance and you will not be rescreened because of a RAD conversion. Even though a RAD property can use private money to make big repairs, it will still receive money from HUD. With this subsidy from HUD, PHAs will manage RAD properties through either the PBV or PBRA programs. RAD requires that converted properties be owned or controlled by a public or nonprofit entity.

Will a RAD conversion affect my rent?
If your building or development is converted to PBV or PBRA, your rent contribution will most likely be the same as it was under public, housing-generally no more than 30% of your household's adjusted gross income. Since the project-based Section 8 programs also set resident rents at 30% of adjusted income, most residents will not have rent increases as a result of a RAD conversion.

Major Changes
Recertification and interim processing will no longer be conducted at the property office. The Assisted Housing Department staff will now process all re-certifications. The office is located at 5301 West Cypress Street. All families will have a counselor assigned, and notices will be mailed in October notifying families of the changes that will occur on January 1st, 2017.

All units must pass a Housing Quality Standards Inspection annually.

Families may be eligible to receive a Housing Choice Voucher if funding is available and if families are in good standing after one year. The waitlist process may be published within the next 6 months online.

If you have any questions regarding the RAD conversion after you have attended a meeting, please contact Margaret Jones, Director, via email or at 813.253.0551, ext 1470.