NAVNEET GREWAL LEP ADVOCACY 201:

BEYOND THE BASICS NLADA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 19-22, 2009

Housing Authorities and Language Access Plans

What We’re Covering Today

What is the PHA Planning Process? How can advocates get involved? CommentsPublic Hearing Follow Up

What are PHA Plans?

Annual Plan Annual Process Must make civil rights certifications Must attach Administrative Plan and/or ACOP

Administrative Plan Section 8

ACOP Public Housing

Language Access Plan

Sample Policy (Common)

How to Get Started

Obtain relevant documents PHA office

Hard Copy/Email PHA Website

HUD web site Approved Plans http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha

Determine if there are partners in the community Residents Other advocates

Timeline

6

ActionJan 1FY Start date

April 1 FY Start Date

July 1 FY Start Date

Oct. 1 FY Start Date

PHA should begin to develop plan for coming year. RAB andtenants should review prior year plan, develop issues, determineprogress on prior year goals and strategies. Current year approvedplan attachments and supporting documents are available for review

May(Prior Year)

8 mos

Aug (Prior Year)

8 mos.

Nov (Prior Year)

8 mos.

Feb

8 mos

PHA should have available a draft plan and should be discussing theplan with RAB and tenants and other advocates, such as housingadvocates, disability rights groups, homeless advocates and otheragencies such as welfare and jurisdiction consolidated plan agency

Mid-July(Prior Year)5.5 mos

Mid-Oct(Prior Year)

5.5 mos

Mid-Jan.

5.5 mos

Mid-April

5.5 mos

Notice of hearing, proposed plan on file for review, RAB membersnames published

Mid-Aug(Prior Year)4.5 mos

Mid-Nov.(Prior Year)4.5 mos

Mid-Feb

4.5mos

Mid-May

4.5 mos

Public hearing (time should be allowed between public hearing and date plan is dueat HUD to make revisions based upon public comment)

First week Oct(Prior Year)3 mos

First weekJan3 mos

First weekApril3 mos

First weekJuly3 mos

Plan due at HUD Mid-Oct.(Prior Year)2.5 mos

Mid-Jan2.5 mos

Mid-April2.5 mos

Mid-July2.5 mos

HUD approves plan and notifies PHA. PHA provides RAB with acopy of approved plan, notice of approval and funding awards. Orplan rejected

Jan 1 April 1 July 1 Oct. 1

Key Players

Public Housing Residents and Voucher ParticipantsResident Advisory BoardOthers in the community interested in the issuePHA StaffPHA Board of Commissioners HUDCity/County

Case Study

Initial Comments

(Submitted by NHLP and Bay Area Legal Aid)

Initial Comments

Public Hearing

Who is on the Board of Commissioners? What is on the agenda? Who will attend? Often limited to 2-3 minutesRequired to respond to RAB comments Will often respond to all public comments (see materials)

Follow Up

Set up meetings between all interested parties and housing authority - legal services, community organizations, appropriate housing authority staff

Engage in drafting LAPEducation Often a long process Often incremental Reassessment

Draft Plan

Adopted Plan

Training

List languages

Discourage use of friends/children as interpreters

Adopted Plan

Vital Documents

Ongoing Advocacy

Continue to monitor plan and efficacyEngage in trainings Use next year’s plan process if necessary Informal complaint to Board of Commissioners Informal complaint to HUD FHEO – Regional Office Informal Hearings/Grievance Procedures Formal Administrative Complaint

Summary

PHAs required to engage in annual planning processMost PHAs have not created a language access planEnsure that all players are engaged in developing plan Advocates can influence the process significantlyRequires ongoing interactive process and monitoring

NAVNEET GREWAL STAFF ATTORNEY

NATIONAL HOUSING LAW PROJECTNGREWAL@NHLP.ORG

(510)251-9400 EXT. 3102