Richard Monocchio, principal deputy assistant secretary for HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), sent an email to public housing agency (PHA) executive directors reminding them that the Public Housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund may be used to provide air conditioning. In response to dangerous levels of heat and multi-day extreme heat events recently, PIH has identified and clarified strategies PHAs can implement to ease the impact of extreme heat on residents. PHAs can use Capital Funds to purchase and install air conditioning and use Operating Funds to pay the associated utility costs.
PIH recommends PHAs create cooling spaces in common areas such as lobbies, community rooms, community centers, or other non-dwelling spaces and make those spaces available to residents so they can escape the heat. PHAs are authorized to spend Capital Funds to purchase cooling equipment to create cooling spaces either on a permanent or a temporary basis. In addition, PHAs may use Operating Funds to pay for the associated costs of providing air conditioning in common areas.
Because the extreme heat can pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of residents, PHAs can take advantage of emergency procurement procedures or small purchase procedures to purchase air conditioning equipment. The email also provides access to Extreme Temperature training materials on PIH’s Disaster Preparedness landing page.
Read HUD’s email to PHAs at: https://tinyurl.com/y32bwbxw
More information about public housing is on page 4-32 of NLIHC’s 2023 Advocates’ Guide.