Housing Association of Delaware Valley

Public Housing Alerting Bulletin October 2002

HUD Issues Draft Public Housing Occupancy Guidelines

HUD has released its draft Public Housing Occupancy Guidelines, which explains regulations relating to admissions, tenant selection, income qualifications, rent, transfers and occupancy. The draft focuses on admissions policies for individuals with disabilities. Public Comments on the draft were due by October 15, 2002. A copy of the guidelines is available at HADV, or by linking to www.hud.gov/offices/pih/rhiip/phghidebook.pdf .

HUD Announces $46 Million for Self Sufficiency Coordinators

HUD will provide Family Self Sufficiency Coordinators for 687 Public Housing Agencies throughout the nation, assisting low-income adults in job training, child care, counseling, transportation issues and job-placement programs.

Philadelphia PHA Attorney Files Whistle Blower Suit

Michael Pileggi, a former attorney with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, has filed suit against the PHA, claiming that he was fired for refusing to hide mistakes by the Authority that cost PHA hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pileggi claims that PHA failed to notify its insurer of employment discrimination suits, and as a result, the PHA incurred huge legal costs defending theses suits itself. One day after advising his superiors that he wouldn’t keep the error a secret, he was fired. Attorneys for PHA claim that he was fired for violating the city’s residency requirements.

HUD Announces HOPE VI Relocation Rule Change

Public Housing residents relocated in connection with HOPE VI projects cannot be left unassisted. Under HUD Notice CPD 02-8, residents moved under HOPE VI must be provided full relocation benefits, including replacement housing payments, packing and moving expenses, reimbursement for utility disconnecting and reconnecting expenses, and equipment installation for air conditioners, computers and fans.

Florida Court Upholds One-Strike Eviction

A Florida Court upheld the eviction of a public housing activist because her son was arrested for selling drugs to an undercover police officer three years ago. Connie Burton has been fighting the eviction for the past three years, but HUD’s one-strike policy allows for the eviction of public housing residents if their names are on the lease, even if they were not accomplices to the crime. Burton claimed that her son had not been living with her since 1997, but at the time of his arrest, he was listed on the lease. The trial court upheld the eviction.