Housing Authorities and Language Access Plans
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Transcript Housing Authorities and Language Access Plans
Housing Authorities and
Language Access Plans
NAVNEET GREWAL
LEP ADVOCACY 201:
BEYOND THE BASICS
NLADA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 19-22, 2009
What We’re Covering Today
What is the PHA Planning Process?
How can advocates get involved?
Comments
Public 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
Jan 1
FY
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 and
tenants should review prior year plan, develop issues, determine
progress on prior year goals and strategies. Current year approved
plan attachments and supporting documents are available for review
May
(Prior Year)
Aug
(Prior Year)
Nov
(Prior Year)
Feb
8 mos
8 mos.
8 mos.
8 mos
PHA should have available a draft plan and should be discussing the
plan with RAB and tenants and other advocates, such as housing
advocates, disability rights groups, homeless advocates and other
agencies such as welfare and jurisdiction consolidated plan agency
Mid-July
(Prior
Year)
Mid-Oct
(Prior Year)
MidJan.
MidApril
5.5 mos
5.5 mos
5.5 mos
5.5 mos
Notice of hearing, proposed plan on file for review, RAB members
names published
Mid-Aug
(Prior Year)
Mid-Nov.
(Prior Year)
Mid-Feb
Mid-May
4.5 mos
4.5 mos
4.5mos
4.5 mos
Public hearing
(time should be allowed between public hearing and date plan is due
at HUD to make revisions based upon public comment)
First week
Oct
(Prior Year)
3 mos
First
week
Jan
3 mos
First
week
April
3 mos
First
week
July
3 mos
Plan due at HUD
Mid-Oct.
(Prior Year)
MidJan
MidApril
MidJuly
2.5 mos
2.5 mos
2.5 mos
2.5 mos
Jan 1
April 1
July 1
Oct. 1
Action
HUD approves plan and notifies PHA. PHA provides RAB with a
copy of approved plan, notice of approval and funding awards. Or
plan rejected
Key Players
Public Housing Residents and Voucher Participants
Resident Advisory Board
Others in the community interested in the issue
PHA Staff
PHA Board of Commissioners
HUD
City/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 minutes
Required 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 LAP
Education
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 efficacy
Engage 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 process
Most PHAs have not created a language access plan
Ensure that all players are engaged in developing plan
Advocates can influence the process significantly
Requires ongoing interactive process and monitoring
NAVNEET GREWAL
STAFF ATTORNEY
NATIONAL HOUSING LAW PROJECT
[email protected]
(510)251-9400 EXT. 3102