Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)
RAD was created in order to give public housing authorities (PHAs) a powerful tool to preserve and improve public housing properties and address the $26 billion dollar nationwide backlog of deferred maintenance. RAD also gives owners of three HUD "legacy" program (Rent Supplement, Rental Assistance Payment, and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation) the opportunity to enter into long-term contracts that facilitate the financing of improvements.
Five Things You Should Know About Public Housing Conversions
- RAD allows public housing agencies to leverage public and private debt and equity in order to reinvest in the public housing stock. This is critical given the backlog of public housing capital needs - estimated at over $35 billion.
- In RAD, units move to a Section 8 platform with a long-term contract that, by law, must be renewed in perpetuity. A Use Agreement is also recorded under RAD further enforcing HUD’s long-term interest. This ensures that the units remain permanently affordable to low-income households.
- Residents benefit from a right of return, a prohibition against re-screening, and robust notification and relocation rights. Residents continue to pay 30% of their adjusted income towards the rent, maintain the same basic rights as they possess in the public housing program, and gain a new option to request tenant-based assistance if they wish to subsequently move from the property.
- RAD maintains the ongoing public stewardship of the converted property through clear rules requiring ongoing ownership or control by a public or non-profit entity.
- RAD is highly cost-effective, relying on shifting existing levels of public housing funds to the Section 8 accounts as properties convert.
RAD What's New
- HUD has produced guidance PHAs and their partners can use to understand the new Faircloth to RAD process and make the appropriate submissions to HUD. That guidance is located here and our fact sheet on Faircloth to RAD is located here.(4/8/2021)
- Executive Director Q&A: Ann Arbor Housing, Commission, Ann Arbor, MI. The Ann Arbor Housing Commission is located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, MI (population 121,000), and had 355 public housing units before deciding to convert all of its' public housing units to the Section 8 platform, through RAD. We spoke with Jennifer Hall, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission on why she chose to participate in RAD, how RAD has impacted the agency, and advice for other housing authorities. Visit our Newsletter web page for more details. (4/13/2021)
- The list of ;Closed Transactions under 2nd Component and the Potential RAD Mod Rehab Projects has been updated. Visit our RAD for Mod Rehab, Rent Supp and RAP web page for more details. (3/3/2021) Note: Use Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer to View/Open both Excel Files.
- Executive Director Q&A: Lavonia Housing Authority, Lavonia, GA. Lavonia Housing Authority is a small, rural agency in Georgia that converted its 180-unit family property through RAD to a Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance Contract in 2014. We sat down with Executive Director Rick Whitworth to learn why he chose to participate in RAD, how RAD has impacted his agency, and his advice for other housing authorities. Visit our Newsletter web page for more details. (2/22/2021)
RAD in the News
- The Poverty & Race Research Action Council has published a Guide for Successful Implementation of Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Choice-Mobility. This new publication highlights recommended practices for public housing agencies (PHAs) and project owners of converted public housing properties on the effective implementation of the “Choice-Mobility” option.
RAD More Information
- Looking for a Notice, Quick-Reference Guide, or another RAD Tool? Visit our RAD Statutes, Notices, Regulations & Tools web page for more information.
- Residents, want to know how RAD impacts you? Our web page, How Does RAD Impact Me provides a glimpse of helpful information.
- RAD data is available to the public. Visit the RAD Resource Desk and click on “Data and Resources.”
- RAD resources and information are now on HUD Exchange.
- RAD Photo Essays documents a series of resident experience for properties that go through a RAD conversion.
- The RADBlast!, an electronic communication sent to subscribers of our mailing list is now available online. To receive the blast and/or periodic updates about the RAD program, join our mailing list.
- RAD Contact Information
- Email rad@hud.gov for information about RAD for Public Housing
- Email rad2@hud.gov for information about RAD for Multifamily Housing.