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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
  • "A New Public Housing? HUD Has Found a Way."  Read this article in the Shelter Force, on how for decades, the number of public housing units across the U.S. has been shrinking. But within the limits of the law and funding, HUD has figured out a way to get back some of the housing that has been lost. (10/8/2021)
  • 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. (9/28/2021) Note: Use Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer to View/Open the Excel File
  • Executive Director Q&A: Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County, MD. Read our discussion with Stacy Spann, Executive Director of HOC, on how they used RAD with exceptional creativity to replace distressed public housing with modern, new permanently affordable housing, bring affordable housing into higher opportunity neighborhoods, and expand the overall supply of affordable housing in Montgomery County. (9/21/2021) 
  • New RAD Complaint Process document now available. Read more on the process for Residents and their advocates or other stakeholders. (9/2/2021)
RAD in the News
  • The New York Times published a great article,"A Rebirth in the Bronx: Is This How to Save Public Housing." and focuses on how the Baychester Houses were brightly refurbished using a federal program (RAD) that could help fix America's ailing subsidized housing situation. (August 5, 2021)
RAD More Information
  • RAD for PRAC training videos are available. For more information visit our web page. 
  • 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 (www.radresource.net) 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.