Housing Quality Standards - Performance Measure 1.19

The Tempe Housing Authority administers the federal government's Housing Choice Voucher program to assist very low-income families and individuals afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since rental assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, program participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Tempe Housing Authority on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. 

Measure

Achieve a rate of 100% for resolving issues within 24 hours for Housing Quality Standards related to life, health, or safety.

Why this Measure Matters

Tempe's Housing Choice Voucher program provides federally subsidized housing to eligible low-income families. The program is designed to provide housing that is affordable, decent, safe and sanitary. All dwelling units are inspected prior to a tenant moving into the unit and then inspected annually. Tenants and landlords may request inspections for maintenance issues that impact health and safety. Housing Choice Voucher program regulations set forth basic housing quality standards (HQS) which all units must meet before assistance can be paid on behalf of a family and at least annually throughout the term of the assisted tenancy. HQS define "standard housing" and establish the minimum criteria for the health and safety of program participants. Current HQS regulations consist of 13 key aspects of housing quality, performance requirements, and acceptability criteria to meet each performance requirement. HQS includes requirements for all housing types, including single and multi-family dwelling units, as well as specific requirements for special housing types such as manufactured homes, congregate housing, single room occupancy, shared housing, and group residences.

A link to the current HQS standards can be found here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/hqs

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) for HCV and Project Based Voucher (PBV) programs will be effective October 1, 2023, and will replace Housing Quality Standards (HQS), as the inspection standards for these programs. The NSPIRE mode establishes a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality. NSPIRE strengthens Housing and Urban Development's (HUD’s) physical condition standards and improves HUD oversight by aligning and consolidating the inspection regulations used to evaluate “HUD housing, across multiple programs. Implementation of the NSPIRE model ensures that residents of HUD housing live in safe, habitable dwellings.  It also ensures that the items and components located both inside and outside, and within the units of HUD housing are functionally adequate, operable, and free of health and safety hazards.  NSPIRE will take effect on October 1, 2024.

A link to the upcoming NSPIRE standards can be found here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/reac/nspire

Baseline

100% (FY 2016/17)

Target

100% annually, by fiscal year

Strategies

1. Use the Housing Services Division tool to capture requests for Special Inspections due to a health and/or safety issue with the goal of responding within 24 hours.
2. Ensure Housing Inspector follows up on failed inspections on a daily basis to mitigate deficiencies, abate payments to landlords or ensure tenants has been offered another housing solution within 24 hours.
3. Ensure Inspector participates and completes all required NSPIRE training by March 2024.
4. Have all Housing Specialists and the Housing Services Supervisor attend and complete NSPIRE training by September 2024.  

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