2022 Draft of Public Housing Authority Plan

HHSC Memorandum  Neighborhood Resources Department- Memo No. HD22-01
Date:
Feb. 9, 2022
To:
Housing and Human Services Commission 
Thru:
Leah Powell, Neighborhood Resources Director
Amy Jacobson, Housing and Redevelopment Manager
From:
Deborah Cooke, Housing Administrative Supervisor
Subject:
Briefing item for The Submission Of The City Of Chandler Housing And Redevelopment
2022 Annual Plan and Capital Fund for The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2022 and
Certifying Compliance With The Related Regulations.
Background: The  City  of  Chandler  Housing  and  Redevelopment  Division  (the  Public  Housing
Agency/PHA) administers 303 units of Low Rent Public Housing and 486 Housing Choice Vouchers
(formerly known as Section 8).
The Public Housing Agency (PHA) is required to submit the PHA Annual Plan to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by April 15, 2022 for its housing programs.  The Annual Plan is
a comprehensive guide to PHA policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing
needs and goals. Each year, staff reviews policies and revises supporting documents, as needed.  
Staff provides a briefing item to the Housing and Human Services Commission (HHSC) members for
their review of the City of Chandler Public Housing Authority 2022 Annual Housing Plan and Capital
Fund and certifying to compliance with the related regulations.  
Discussion:  This year we will be submitting the 2022 Annual Plan and Capital Fund. The process allows
for community input from program participants, residents, and the public in general.  The City is currently
in a public comment period from Jan. 23, 2022 to March 9, 2022 for the City of Chandler Housing and
Redevelopment Division’s 2022 Annual Housing Plan.  We have had one Resident Advisory Board
(RAB) meeting, in English and in Spanish, on Dec. 16, 2021. A second RAB Meeting has been scheduled
for Feb. 24, 2022 to be conducted into English and Spanish. 
The  draft  2022  Annual  Plan  and  Capital  Fund  can  be  found  on  our  website  at
chandleraz.gov/affordablehousing.  A summary of updates are outlined below:
Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and Public Housing Admissions and Continued
Occupancy Policy (ACOP)
 
Utility Allowance
The utility allowance is the amount that a housing authority determines necessary to cover the resident’s
reasonable utility costs. The utility allowance schedules are reviewed annually for both housing programs
and are recommended for adjustment when a cumulative change of 10% or more occurs. Prior to
beginning this update, a consultant was hired to do a comparison of the existing utility rates and charges

Memo No. HD22-01
Feb. 9, 2022
Page 2
and  Housing’s  current  utility rate  schedules  in  the  Housing  Choice  Voucher  and  Public  Housing
Programs.  A revised utility allowance for 2022 will be established for both programs effective July 1,
2022.
Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections
The minimum heating temperature in each unit must be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit where the landlord
has the ability to control the temperature, and the unit must have the capability of heating to 68 degrees
Fahrenheit where the resident has control of the temperature. The current policy states there must be a
heating system present and the interior heating system must be a temperature between 55 and 85 degrees
Fahrenheit between October 1 and May 1.
The minimum cooling temperature in each unit must be at least 82 degrees Fahrenheit where the landlord
has the ability to control the temperature, and the unit must have the capability of cooling to 82 degrees
Fahrenheit where the tenant has control of the temperature. The current policy states there must be a
cooling system present and it constitutes an emergency if the temperature outside is 110 degrees
Fahrenheit. This policy change would specify the inside temperature requirement.
Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP)
Assistance Animals
Families may submit a request for a reasonable accommodation to have an assisted, support, or “therapy”
animal approved by COCHRD. Each year, requests for an assisted animal are reviewed and appropriate
documentation submitted for approval. The new policy would mean the reasonable accommodation
process would occur every three years instead of every year. HUD does not require annual verification
and this policy change is in-line with HUD streamlining rule.
Maintenance Policy
The minimum cooling temperature in each unit must be at least 82 degrees Fahrenheit where COCHRD
has the ability to control the temperature. Where the resident has control of the temperature, the cooling
system must have the capability of cooling to at least 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The current policy states it
constitutes an emergency if the temperature outside is at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit, except in situations
of the elderly or those with medical conditions. This policy change would specify the inside temperature
requirement.
Public Housing House Rules
Gas meters or pipes are not to be used to hang, mops, brooms, rags, towels, etc. 
Holiday decorations are to be removed within 10 calendar days, instead of the current policy of three
weeks. 
The kitchen floor must be free of spills from food and liquids The floor must be clean, including the
bottom edge under the cabinets and appliances. 
Financial Implications: HUD funds the costs associated with the Public Housing and Housing Choice
Voucher Programs.
Proposed Motion: None at this time.