42 U.S.C. § 1437p - Demolition and disposition of public housing

• Cite as: 42 U.S.C. § 1437p

(a) Applications for demolition and disposition

Except as provided in subsection (b), upon receiving an application by a public housing agency for authorization, with or without financial assistance under this subchapter, to demolish or dispose of a public housing project or a portion of a public housing project (including any transfer to a resident-supported nonprofit entity), the Secretary shall approve the application, if the public housing agency certifies-

(1) in the case of-

(A) an application proposing demolition of a public housing project or a portion of a public housing project, that-

(i) the project or portion of the public housing project is obsolete as to physical condition, location, or other factors, making it unsuitable for housing purposes; and

(ii) no reasonable program of modifications is cost-effective to return the public housing project or portion of the project to useful life; and

(B) an application proposing the demolition of only a portion of a public housing project, that the demolition will help to ensure the viability of the remaining portion of the project;

(2) in the case of an application proposing disposition by sale or other transfer of a public housing project or other real property subject to this subchapter-

(A) the retention of the property is not in the best interests of the residents or the public housing agency because-

(i) conditions in the area surrounding the public housing project adversely affect the health or safety of the residents or the feasible operation of the project by the public housing agency; or

(ii) disposition allows the acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of other properties that will be more efficiently or effectively operated as low-income housing;

(B) the public housing agency has otherwise determined the disposition to be appropriate for reasons that are-

(i) in the best interests of the residents and the public housing agency;

(ii) consistent with the goals of the public housing agency and the public housing agency plan; and

(iii) otherwise consistent with this subchapter; or

(C) for property other than dwelling units, the property is excess to the needs of a public housing project or the disposition is incidental to, or does not interfere with, continued operation of a public housing project;

(3) that the public housing agency has specifically authorized the demolition or disposition in the public housing agency plan, and has certified that the actions contemplated in the public housing agency plan comply with this section;

(4) that the public housing agency-

(A) will notify each family residing in a project subject to demolition or disposition 90 days prior to the displacement date, except in cases of imminent threat to health or safety, consistent with any guidelines issued by the Secretary governing such notifications, that-

(i) the public housing project will be demolished or disposed of;

(ii) the demolition of the building in which the family resides will not commence until each resident of the building is relocated; and

(iii) each family displaced by such action will be offered comparable housing-

(I) that meets housing quality standards;

(II) that is located in an area that is generally not less desirable than the location of the displaced person's housing; and

(III) which may include-

(aa) tenant-based assistance, except that the requirement under this clause regarding offering of comparable housing shall be fulfilled by use of tenant-based assistance only upon the relocation of such family into such housing;

(bb) project-based assistance; or

(cc) occupancy in a unit operated or assisted by the public housing agency at a rental rate paid by the family that is comparable to the rental rate applicable to the unit from which the family is vacated;

(B) will provide for the payment of the actual and reasonable relocation expenses of each resident to be displaced;

(C) will ensure that each displaced resident is offered comparable housing in accordance with the notice under subparagraph (A); and ¹

(D) will provide any necessary counseling for residents who are displaced; and

(E) will not commence demolition or complete disposition until all residents residing in the building are relocated;