Payments get most of the attention, but the URA gives advisory services equal weight. Under 49 CFR 24.205, the agency must carry out a relocation assistance advisory program for displaced persons. For housing authorities, this is usually the work a relocation consultant does day to day.
What the advisory program must include
The regulations require measures, facilities or services that may be necessary or appropriate to, among other things:
- Determine each household's needs, generally through a personal interview, including preferences for replacement housing and any special needs.
- Explain the relocation assistance available, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for payments.
- Provide current information on comparable replacement dwellings, including availability, rents and prices.
- Supply transportation to inspect housing for persons who need it, particularly the elderly and persons with disabilities.
- Help complete claims and other forms.
- Offer counseling and referrals to minimize hardship, including referrals to social services, employment, and other public programs.
- Inform residents about fair housing rights and the availability of housing on a nondiscriminatory basis.
The availability rule
Under 49 CFR 24.204, no person may be required to move from a dwelling unless at least one comparable replacement dwelling has been made available. The household also must receive at least 90 days' advance written notice of the earliest date it may be required to move. Advisory staff are the people who make that comparable available and document it.
Doing it well
- Meet in person. The needs interview is the foundation of the plan for that household.
- Assign one case manager per household so residents always know whom to call.
- Document every contact in the household file with the date, topic and follow-up.
- Plan for language and disability access in every conversation and document.
- Stay neutral. Advisors should explain options, not steer households toward the outcome that is cheapest or fastest for the project.
Sources
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it as a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. Reading it does not create an attorney-client or consulting relationship. HUD guidance changes; confirm current requirements with your RAD Transaction Manager and counsel before acting. PHA Consultant is not a law firm and is not affiliated with HUD.