Moving To Work

Background Information

Moving To Work is a program started in 1996 to design and test innovative, locally designed strategies using Federal dollars more efficiently. The program has three overarching goals: to help residents find employment and become self-sufficient, to increase housing choices for low-income families, and to reduce cost and greater efficiency. On March 23, 2022, AHA was designated as an MTW agency under the Landlord Incentive Cohort. Since AHA was selected under the Landlord Incentive Cohort, we are required to implement activities that improve landlord participation in the HCV Program and are prohibited from implementing activities that curb landlord participation. 

AHA’s MTW designation has several benefits including: the ability to operate more efficient programs by designing agency-specific initiatives and policies, the addition of new tools and incentives to enhance community outreach with prospective landlords to ultimately provide more housing options, the ability to invest directly into projects to create new affordable housing units, and funding flexibilities that will allow us to reallocate funds towards programs and activities with more funding needs. 

At this time MTW activities will pertain to all participants of AHA’s voucher programs EXCEPT those in the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, Stability Voucher (SV) program, Moderate Rehabilitation (SRO) program, and Shelter Plus Care program. Please note that the AHA has received a waiver from HUD to apply Activity 2022-01 2.b. Payment Standards – FMR to VASH, EHV, and SV which allows the AHA to increase payment standards up to 120% FMR for these three special programs. Participants to whom the MTW activities pertain cannot choose to opt-out of changes as a result of MTW activities.

Announcements

February 22, 2024: The AHA implemented activities 2022-14: Project-Based Voucher Right Sizing and 2023-02: Project-Based Voucher Contract Rent Increases.

December 18, 2023: The AHA received approval from HUD for the following activities (to learn more about the following activity look under the “Document” heading below under Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and Fiscal Year 2023-2024):

  • 2022-14: Project-Based Voucher Right Sizing
  • 2023-02: Project-Based Voucher Contract Rent Increases

Additionally, Activity 2022-01: 2.b. Payment Standards – Fair Market Rents (HCV) was revised so that if the payment standard amount is increased during the term of the HAP contract, the increased payment standard amount can be used at the effective date of the family’s first regular reexamination on or after the effective date of the increase in the payment standard amount.

November 29, 2023: The AHA received approval from HUD to be able to increase the payment standard up to 150% of FMR for its VASH, EHV, and SV programs.

July 1, 2023: The AHA implemented all of its approved MTW activities.

June 16, 2023: The AHA has received conditional approval for the MTW Supplement for FY 2023-2024 and is approved for the following activities (to learn more about the following activity look under the “Document” heading below under Fiscal Year 2023-2024):

  • 2022-15: 1.w. Alternative Income Inclusions/Exclusions (HCV)

April 4, 2023: The AHA has received conditional approval for the MTW Supplement for FY 2022-2023 and is approved for the following activities (to learn more about the following activities look under the “Document” heading below under Fiscal Year 2022-2023):

  • 2022-01: 2.b. Payment Standards – Fair Market Rents (HCV)
  • 2022-02: 3.b. Alternative Reexamination Schedule for Households
  • 2022-03: 3.d. Self-Certification of Assets
  • 2022-04: 4.a. Vacancy Loss
  • 2022-05: 4.c. Other Landlord Incentives
  • 2022-06: 5.a. Pre-Qualifying Unit Inspections
  • 2022-07: 5.d. Alternative Inspection Schedule
  • 2022-08: 9.a. Increase PBV Cap
  • 2022-09: 9.b. Increase PBV Project Cap
  • 2022-10: 9.c. Elimination of PBV Selection Process Cohort
  • 2022-11: 4.2 Front-End Vacancy Loss Payment

Upcoming Meetings

Currently Implemented Activities

The AHA began implementing the conditionally approved activities under the MTW Supplement for FY 2022-2023 and FY 2023-2024 starting on February 22, 2024:

  • 2022-14: Project-Based Voucher Right Sizing
  • 2023-02: Project-Based Voucher Contract Rent Increases

The AHA began implementing the conditionally approved activities under the MTW Supplement for FY 2022-2023 and FY 2023-2024 starting on July 1, 2023:

  • 2022-01: 2.b. Payment Standards – Fair Market Rents (HCV)
  • 2022-02: 3.b. Alternative Reexamination Schedule for Households
  • 2022-03: 3.d. Self-Certification of Assets
  • 2022-04: 4.a. Vacancy Loss
  • 2022-05: 4.c. Other Landlord Incentives
  • 2022-06: 5.a. Pre-Qualifying Unit Inspections
  • 2022-07: 5.d. Alternative Inspection Schedule
  • 2022-08: 9.a. Increase PBV Cap
  • 2022-09: 9.b. Increase PBV Project Cap
  • 2022-10: 9.c. Elimination of PBV Selection Process Cohort
  • 2022-11: 4.2 Front-End Vacancy Loss Payment
  • 2022-15: 1.w. Alternative Income Inclusions/Exclusions (HCV)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are landlord incentives paid with the regular monthly payments to the landlord or are they paid separately?

A: They are paid separately.

Q: What is the process to apply for the landlord incentives?

A: At this time, staff will apply and process the incentives on the landlord’s behalf. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these incentives you can reach out to the landlord liaison or MTW team.

Q: Are the landlord incentives paid by direct deposit?

A: Incentives and vacancy loss payments are paid using the same method as the HAP payments.  

Documents

Resources

MTW Team

Sepideh Kiumarsi

Management Analyst

Tonya Schuler-Cummins

Director of Data and Policy

The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (AHA) main office located at 701 Atlantic Avenue will be closing at 10am on Wednesday (April 24th) due to AHA staff training.