Item HA 03 - Update to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

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Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 16-11 PART III: INFORMAL REVIEWS AND HEARINGS 16-III.A. OVERVIEW Both applicants and participants have the right to disagree with, and appeal, certain decisions of the PHA that may adversely affect them. PHA decisions that may be appealed by applicants and participants are discussed in this section. The process for applicant appeals of PHA decisions is called the “informal review.” For participants (or applicants denied admission because of citizenship issues), the appeal process is called an “informal hearing.” PHAs are required to include informal review procedures for applicants and informal hearing procedures for participants in their administrative plans [24 CFR 982.54(d)(12) and (13)]. 16-III.B. INFORMAL REVIEWS Informal reviews are provided for program applicants. An applicant is someone who has applied for admission to the program but is not yet a participant in the program. Informal reviews are intended to provide a “minimum hearing requirement” [24 CFR 982.554] and need not be as elaborate as the informal hearing requirements [Federal Register 60, no. 127 (3 July 1995): 34690]. Decisions Subject to Informal Review [24 CFR 982.554(a) and (c)] The PHA must give an applicant the opportunity for an informal review of a decision denying assistance [24 CFR 982.554(a)]. Denial of assistance may include any or all of the following [24 CFR 982.552(a)(2)]:  Denying listing on the PHA waiting list  Denying or withdrawing a voucher  Refusing to enter into a HAP contract or approve a lease  Refusing to process or provide assistance under portability procedures Informal reviews are not required for the following reasons [24 CFR 982.554(c)]:  Discretionary administrative determinations by the PHA  General policy issues or class grievances  A determination of the family unit size under the PHA subsidy standards  A PHA determination not to approve an extension of a voucher term  A PHA determination not to grant approval of the tenancy  A PHA determination that the unit is not in compliance with the housing quality standards  A PHA determination that the unit does not meet space standards EXHIBIT 1