Section 209 of the Economic Growth Act calls for HUD to provide a different assessment for small PHAs that operate in rural areas. Section 209 defines a small PHA as an agency that administers 550 or fewer combined public housing units and HCV vouchers and operates predominantly in a rural area. PHAs that meet both criteria will be termed “Small Rural” PHAs.

‘‘operates predominantly in a rural area’’ means a PHA that:

1. Has a primary administrative building with a physical address in a rural area as described in 12 CFR 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A); or
    
2. more than 50 percent of its combined public housing units and voucher units under section 8(o) are in rural areas as described in 12 CFR 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A).

HUD published a notice in the Federal Register on February 27, 2020, explaining the methodology used to identify small rural PHAs and described which 209 provisions were being implemented.

Implementation of the small rural definition and the new assessment system for their public housing and HCV programs are detailed in the NSPIRE Proposed Rule Published Jan 13, 2021.