DHCD Suggests LHAs Be Flexible
to Temporary Doubling-Up in Public Housing

The following is the edited text of a letter from Amy Schectman of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development that was sent to the state’s Local Housing Authorities (emphasis added):

The destruction and ruin caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti has  made all of us pause. This disaster hits close to home since Massachusetts is home  to the third largest Haitian community in the United States.  There are more than 43,000 Haitian Americans living in Massachusetts.

This may soon impact housing authorities directly (if it hasn't  already).  Many, many people are trying to leave Haiti; they will surely  seek the support of family and will in all likelihood come to stay with  them temporarily.  There are Haitian families in Massachusetts whose  homes are in state-aided public housing.   Some have raised the  question about whether and in what circumstances this is allowed.  In  addition, the Governor's Office of Refugees and Immigrants has reached  out to us.

In all cases, we leave decisions regarding individual tenancies to the  housing authority. With the on-the-ground knowledge, you are best able  to make decisions that are both compassionate and respect the safety and  sustainability of your developments.

One of the steps we can take to support these families is to allow  people arriving from Haiti to stay temporarily in units leased by their  family in state-aided public housing.  Leases signed by tenants and  housing authorities limit the time a guest can stay to 21 nights during any 12 month period unless the housing authority otherwise consents to a  longer period for good cause.  This means you can, at your discretion,  grant guest privileges when the 21-day period does not adequately  recognize the urgency of the situation-whether it is caused by a natural  disaster in a foreign country or the worst domestic economic downturn in  at least 50 years.  So, while we raise this concern to support Haitian  families coming into our communities, it is also fair to consider  allowing domestic extended family members to stay as guests in their  units if doing so is temporary and likely to prevent homelessness.

We realize that there are many issues and concerns about how this will  impact the housing authority's community and the residents of your  developments-and that we need to be both compassionate and protective of  the program we have all worked so hard to maintain. Through your  communication with your residents they will know that a visit is a  temporary stay, that the tenant is responsible for the conduct of all  household members and guests, and that we must still adhere to the State  Sanitary Code.

-From letter On Behalf Of DHCD-Housing Authority Information, From Amy Schectman - re: Haiti, January 27, 2010 posted as “DHCD memo to LHAs re: temporary double-ups”, on housingbenefits@googlegroups.com listserv, on March 03, 2010.

3/10