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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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  • In a new case study from HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research, we explore how the housing authority of Westbrook, Maine was able to utilize RAD to perform a $7M renovataion to the Riverview Terrace and Larrabee Woods properties in order to continue providing affordable housing to low-income seniors. (9/29/2020)
  • HUD has published a brief new Notice providing supplemental COVID-19 guidance for PHAs and owners converting properties through RAD. The Notice describes the availability of Operating Fund CARES Act funds for public housing properties that have converted or that will convert in Calendar Year 2020. In addition, complementing FAQs that provide guidance to PHAs and owners on conducting remote resident meetings, this Notice permits PHAs to conduct one-on-one or small group resident meetings, instead of larger group meetings. For more information, access Housing H-2020-09 / Notice PIH-2020-26 here. (9/18/2020)
  • 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. (9/1/2020)
  • HUD has published, "RAD Resident Rights in Public Housing" for resident of public housing properties, participating in RAD. This brochure was created to replace the "RAD Facts Sheets" and provides greater detail on each of the resident rights and protections that HUD requires as a public housing property converts through RAD. For more information visit our "How Does RAD Impact Me?" web page. (8/14/2020)
  • Updates available for the Closed Transactions under 2nd Component and Potential RAD Mod Rehab Projects lists. For more information visit our RAD 2 web page. (7/22/2020)
RAD in the News
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.