Community Service Policy

To be eligible for continued occupancy, each adult family member must either contribute eight hours per month of community service within the community in which the public housing development is located or participate in an economic self-sufficiency program.

The following adult family members are exempt from the Community Service requirement

• Family members who are 62 or older
• Individual who has a disability that prevents him or her from being gainfully employed
• One who is the caretaker of a disabled person
• Family members who are working at least 20 hours per week
• Or family members who are participating in a welfare to work program

The Department of Admissions & Occupancy monitors compliance with the Community Service Requirement. It is the family member(s) responsibility to perform the community service and to be sure the service is documented. Please note: Failure to satisfactorily complete the community service requirement is grounds for not renewing or terminating a resident's lease.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Contact our Resident and Community Services Director, Gwendalyn Campbell for volunteer opportunities

Documents You May Need:

• Community Service Policy
• Community Service Brochure
• Community Service Work-Out Agreement

1. Background
   • The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 requires that all nonexempt (see definitions) public housing adult residents (18 or older) contribute eight (8) hours per month of community service (volunteer work) or participate in eight (8) hours of training, counseling, classes or other activities that help an individual toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. This is a requirement of the public housing lease.
     
     
2. Definitions
   • Community Service - community service activities include, but are not limited to, work at:
     • Local public or nonprofit institutions such as schools, head start programs, before or after school programs, child care centers, hospitals, clinics, hospices, nursing homes, recreation centers, senior centers, adult day care programs, homeless shelters, feeding programs, food banks (distributing either donated or commodity foods), or clothes closets (distributing donated clothing)
     • Nonprofit organizations serving PHA residents or their children such as: Boy or Girl Scouts, Boys or Girls Club, 4-H clubs, Police Assistance League (PAL), organized children's recreation, mentoring or education programs, Big Brothers or Big Sisters, garden centers, community clean-up programs, beautification programs
     • Programs funded under the Older Americans Act, such as Green Thumb, Service Corps of Retired Executives, senior meals programs, senior centers, Meals on Wheels
     • Public or nonprofit organizations dedicated to seniors, youth, children, residents, citizens, special-needs populations or with missions to enhance the environment, historic resources, cultural identities, neighborhoods, or performing arts
     • PHA housing to improve grounds or provide gardens (so long as such work does not alter the PHA's insurance coverage); or work through resident organizations to help other residents with problems, including serving on the Resident Advisory Board
     • Care for the children of other residents so parent may volunteer
     • Note: Political activity is excluded.
       
       
   • Self - Sufficiency Activities - self sufficiency activities include, but are not limited to:
     • Job readiness or job training
     • Training programs through local one-stop career centers, workforce investment boards (local entities administered through the U.S. Department of Labor), or other training providers
     • Employment counseling, work placement, or basic skills training
     • Education, including higher education (junior college or college), or reading, financial, or computer literacy classes
     • Apprenticeships (formal or informal)
     • English proficiency or English as a second language classes
     • Budgeting and credit counseling
     • Any other program necessary to ready a participant to work (such as substance abuse or mental health counseling)

   • Exempt Adult - an adult member of the family who meets any of the following criteria:

     • Is 62 years of age or older
     • Is blind or a person with disabilities (as defined under section 216[i][1] or 1614 of the Social Security Act), and who certifies that because of this disability he or she is unable to comply with the service provisions, or is the primary caretaker of such an individual
     • Is engaged in work activities
     • Is able to meet requirements under a state program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the state in which the PHA is located, including a state-administered welfare-to-work program; or
     • Is a member of a family receiving assistance, benefits, or services under a state program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the state in which the PHA is located, including a state-administered welfare-to-work program and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), and has not been found by the state or other administering entity to be in noncompliance with such program
     • PHA's can use reasonable guidelines in clarifying the work activities in coordination with TANF, as appropriate.
       
       
   • Work Activities - as it relates to an exemption from the community service requirement, work activities means:
     • Unsubsidized employment
     • Subsidized private sector employment
     • Subsidized public sector employment
     • Work experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private sector employment is not available
     • On-the-job training
     • Job search and job readiness assistance
     • Community service programs
     • Vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual)
     • Job skills training directly related to employment
     • Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency
     • Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate
     • Provision of child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program
       
       
3. Requirements of the Program
   
   1. The eight (8) hours per month may be either volunteer work or self-sufficiency program activity, or a combination of the two
   2. At least eight (8) hours of activity must be performed each month, or may be aggregated across a year. Any blocking of hours is acceptable as long as long as 96 hours is completed by each annual certification of compliance
   3. Family obligation:
      • At least execution, all adult members (18 or older) of a public housing resident family must:
        • Sign a certification (Attachment A) that they have received and read this policy and understand that if they are not exempt, failure to comply with the community service requirement will result in a non-renewal of their lease; and
        • Declare if they are exempt. If exempt, they must complete the Exemption Form (Exhibit 11-3) and provide documentation of the exemption
      • Upon written notice from the PHA, nonexempt family members must present complete documentation of activities performed during the applicable lease term. This documentation will include places for signatures of supervisors, instructors, or counselors, certifying the number of hours.
      • If a family member is found to be noncompliant at the end of the 12-month lease term, he or she, and the head of household, will be required to sign an agreement with the housing authority to make up the deficient hours over the next twelve (12) month period, or the lease will be terminated.
      • At annual reexamination, the family must also sign a certification certifying that they understand the community service requirement.
   4. Change in exempt status:
      • If, during the twelve (12) month lease period, a nonexempt person becomes exempt, it is his or her responsibility to report this to the PHA and provide documentation of exempt status.
      • If, during the twelve (12) month lease period, an exempt person becomes nonexempt, it is his or her responsibility to report this to the PHA. Upon receipt of this information the PHA will provide the person with the appropriate documentation form(s) and a list of agencies in the community that provide volunteer and/or training opportunities.
        
        
4. Authority Obligation
   1. To the greatest extent possible and practicable, the PHA will:
      • Provide names and contacts at agencies that can provide opportunities for residents, including residents with disabilities, to fulfill their community service obligations.
      • Provide in-house opportunities for volunteer work or self-sufficiency activities.
   2. The PHA will provide the family with a copy of this policy, and all applicable exemption verification forms and community service documentation forms, at lease-up, lease renewal, when a family member becomes subject to the community service requirement during the lease term, and at any time upon the family's request.
   3. Although exempt family members will be required to submit documentation to support their exemption, the PHA will verify the exemption status in accordance with its verification policies. The PHA will make the final determination as to whether or not a family member is exempt from the community service requirement. Residents may use the PHA's grievance procedure if they disagree with the PHA's determination.
   4. Noncompliance of family member:
      • At least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the 12-month lease term, the PHA will begin reviewing the exempt or nonexempt status and compliance of family members;
      • If, at the end of the initial 12-month lease term under which a family member is subject to the community service requirement, the PHA finds the family member to be noncompliant, the PHA will not renew the lease unless:
        • The head of household and any other noncompliant resident enter into a written agreement with the PHA, to make up the deficient hours over the next twelve (12) month period; or
        • The family provides written documentation satisfactory to the PHA that the noncompliant family member no longer resides in the unit.
      • If, at the end of the next 12-month lease term, the family member is still not compliant, a 30-day notice to terminate the lease will be issued and the entire family will have to vacate, unless the family provides written documentation satisfactory to the PHA that the noncompliant family member no longer resides in the unit;
      • The family may use the PHA's grievance procedure to dispute the lease termination.

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