HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 3-1

A.       This chapter discusses the requirements and procedures for determining whether
                 applicant families may participate in HUD-subsidized multifamily housing
                 programs. Described in this chapter are steps an owner must follow to determine
                 whether a family is eligible to receive assistance in a HUD-subsidized multifamily
                 property and eligible to live in a specific property and unit. These activities are
                 described in a sequential order; however, owners may deviate from this
                 sequence based on project circumstances as long as they determine an
                 applicant’s eligibility before admitting the family to the property.

                 1.       While this chapter provides the rules for eligibility, the processes for
                          developing and maintaining a waiting list and correctly selecting an
                          applicant for the next available unit are addressed in Chapter 4, Sections
                          3 and 4. Determining and verifying annual income, which is an eligibility
                          requirement, is addressed in Chapter 5.

                 2.       Subsequent chapters in the handbook address activities that occur once
                          an owner determines that a family is eligible for tenancy, such as leasing,
                          recertification, terminations, billing, and reporting.

        B.       This chapter is divided into three sections, each of which identifies the variations
                 in eligibility requirements based upon type of subsidy. The three sections are as
                 follows:

                         Section 1: Program Eligibility, which describes the criteria by which the
                          owner must determine whether a family is eligible to receive assistance;

                         Section 2: Project Eligibility, which describes the criteria by which the
                          owner must determine whether a family is eligible to reside in a specific
                          property (e.g., project eligibility limited to a specific population, unit size,
                          and occupancy standards); and

                         Section 3: Verification of Eligibility Factors, which describes how the
                          owner should collect information to document family composition,
                          disability status, social security numbers (SSNs), and other factors
                          affecting eligibility for assistance.