HUD posts guidance for voucher
inflation factor appeals due July 15

Agencies strongly encouraged to provide
as much independent documentation as possible

HUD's guidance for submitting appeals to raise the inflation factor applied to HAs' August 1, 2003 average voucher costs appeared on its website with little fanfare. Members can find the link on the Office of Public and Indian Housing's main web page at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/index.cfm at the top of the list of Highlights that will open a PDF file. The document appears to have been completed on June 29.

The guidance is encouraging as it introduces a new factor on which to base appeals, "PHA costs for portable vouchers billed by other PHAs have exceeded the costs projected by the AAF." The guidance also indicates that appeals may be based on the factors HUD has listed, "or other relevant factors," leaving the possibility open that appeals based on problems such as reduced participant income may be considered. The guidance provides a mailing address for appeals, and offers a listing of the contents of an appeal submission, as well.

Other news included in the guidance is that the Department expects to announce decisions on every submitted appeal by August 31. HAs planning to submit appeals of the inflation factor HUD has used for their average voucher cost (the current AAF) must make sure that HUD receives the submission by July 15, and must bear in mind that HUD will rely only on the factors and data submitted by HAs in their submissions. HUD will validate information, but will not conduct any independent research in support of appeals.

PHADA FRONT