HUD PIH Notice § 2015-12
Administering the Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirement (CSSR) (HUD PIH Notices)
HUD guidance — not codified law
In Force
Verified 10/14/2026 · Next check 10/21/2026
effective 10/6/2026FederalAffordable Housing ProgramsOperative Text
HUD PIH Notice § 2015-12
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
_____________
Special Attention of: Notice PIH-2015-12 (HA)
Public Housing Agency Directors;
Public Housing Hub Office Directors; Issued: August13,
Issued: August 13, 2015
2015
Public Housing Field Office Directors;
Program Center Coordinators; Expires: Effectiveuntil
Expires: Effective until amended
amended or
Resident Management Corporations; superseded
Resident Councils ________________________________
Cross References: PIH Notice
References: PM Notice 2009-48
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Administering the
Subject: Administering the Community
Community Service
Service and
and Self-Sufficiency
Self-Sufficiency Requirement (CSSR)
Purpose: The Department is issuing this Notice to assist public housing
1. Purpose: housing authorities’
authorities' (PHAs) understanding
and administration of the Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirement (CSSR) and in response to
an audit report issued by the Office of Inspector
Inspector General
General on
on February
February 13,
13, 2015.
2015. This Notice addresses:
• Statutory/Regulatory Requirements for Administering CSSR;
• Data Collection and Reporting Requirements;
• Action to take against non-compliant tenants; and,
• Penalties/sanctions against PHAs housing ineligible households.
2. Applicability: This Notice applies to PHAs that administer the Public Housing Program and all HUD Field
Offices with Public Housing Programs. This Notice supersedes all previous guidance and provides
clarification guidance on administering the CSSR.
3. Background: Section 12(c) [42 U.S.C. Section 1437j] of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as
amended on October 12, 1998 by Section 512 (Pub. L. 105-276) of the Quality Housing and Work
Responsibility Act of 1998, contained a CSSR that every adult resident of public housing contribute eight
hours of community service per month, or participate in an economic self-sufficiency program for eight
hours per month. Regulations
Regulations for
for the
the CSSR
CSSR requirement
requirement can
can be found at 24 CFR Subpart F, 960.600
through 960.609.
4. Statutory/Regulatory Requirements for Administering CSSR: Community Service is "The performance
of voluntary work or duties that are a public benefit, and that serve to improve the quality of life, enhance
resident self-sufficiency, or increase resident self-responsibility in the community. Community service is not
employment and may not include politica1 activities.” (See
political activities." (See 24 CFR 960.601(b)).
960.601(b)).
Community service and economic self-sufficiency requirements mandate that each nonexempt adult
household member (18 years or older) shall either contribute 8 hours per month of community service, or
participate in an economic self-sufficiency program
program for
for 88 hours
hours per
per month
month (see
(see 24
24 CFR
CFR 960.603(a)).
960.603(a)). The
requirements can also be met by performing a combination of 8 hours of community service and
participation in an economic
economic self-sufficiency
self-sufficiency program. The required
program. The required community
community service or self-sufficiency
2
activity may be completed at 8 hours
hours each
each month
month or
or may
may be
be aggregated
aggregatedacross
acrossaayear.
year. Any blocking of
hours is acceptable as long as 96 hours is completed by each annual certification.
5. Administrative Provisions: PHAs must develop a local policy for administration of the CSSR for public
housing residents (see 24 CFR 960.605(a)) within the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies
Elementsofofthe
(ACOP). Elements theCSSR
CSSRpolicy
policyinclude,
include,but
butare
arenot
not limited
limited to,
to, the
the PHA
PHA responsibility
responsibility to administer
the requirement; eligible and non-eligible activities; exemptions from the requirement; and compliance
review standards. These
These elements
elements are
are described
described further in this document.
PHAs may administer qualifying community service and self-sufficiency activities directly, or make the
activities available to residents through a contractor or partnership with qualifying organizations (including
resident organizations), community agencies, or institutions (see 24 CFR 960.605(b)). In administering the
CSSR, a PHA may provide names and contacts of agencies offering opportunities for residents, including
persons with disabilities, to fulfill their community service
service obligations.
obligations. In administering the CSSR, PHAs
may choose to coordinate with social service agencies, local schools and human service offices to develop a
referral list of names and agency contacts. PHAs that
contacts. PHAs that administer
administer a ROSS or Family Self-Sufficiency
program may wish to engage the Program Coordinating
Coordinating Committee
Committee inin this
this endeavor.
endeavor. PHAs are encouraged
to create agreements with local organizations, including faith-based and community organizations, to assist
Specifically, such
CSSR. Specifically, such agreements
agreements would
would allow
allow local
local organizations
organizations to advertise their programs, assist
with transportation, child-care or other barriers to CSSR attainment and verify hours within individual
monthly logs. HUD HUD strives
strives to
to provide
provide maximum
maximum flexibility
flexibility to PHAs to allow successful CSSR
implementation without adding excessive costs or administrative burdens (see 24 CFR 960.605(b)).
6. Community Services: Eligible community service activities include, but are not limited to, serving at:
A. Local public or nonprofit institutions, such as schools, Head Start Programs, before-or after-school
programs, childcare centers, hospitals, clinics, hospices, nursing homes, recreation centers, senior
centers, adult daycare programs, homeless shelters, feeding programs, food banks (distributing either
donated or commodity foods), or clothes closets (distributing donated clothing);
B. Nonprofit organizations serving PHA residents
residents or
or their
their children,
children, such
such as:
as: Boy or Girl Scouts, Boys or
Girls Club, 4-H Clubs, Police Activities League (PAL), organized children's recreation, mentoring, or
education programs, Big Brothers or Big Sisters, Garden Centers, community clean-up programs,
beautification programs;
C. Programs funded under the Older Americans Act, such as Green Thumb, Service Corps of Retired
Executives, senior meals programs, senior centers, Meals on Wheels;
D. Public or nonprofit organizations dedicated to seniors, youth, children, residents, citizens, special-needs
populations or with missions to enhance the environment, historic resources, cultural identities,
neighborhoods or performing arts;
E. PHA housing to improve grounds or provide gardens (so long as such such work
work does
does not
not alter
alter the
the PHA’s
PHA's
insurance coverage); or work through resident organizations to help other residents with problems,
including serving on the Resident Advisory Board, outreach and assistance with PHA-run self-
sufficiency activities including supporting computer learning centers; and,
F. Care for the children of other residents so parents may volunteer.
PHAs may form their own policy in regards to accepting community services at profit-motivated entities,
acceptance of volunteer work performed at homes or offices of general private citizens, and court-ordered or
probation-based work.
Pursuant to 24 CFR 960.609, no PHA may substitute community service activity performed by a resident
for work ordinarily performed by a PHA employee. However, residents may do community service on PHA
employee. However,
property or with or through PHA programs to assist with or enhance work done by a PHA employee.
3
Self-Sufficiency: Eligible self-sufficiency activities include, but are not limited to:
7. Self-Sufficiency:
A. Job readiness or job training while not employed;
B. Training programs through local One-Stop Career Centers, Workforce Investment Boards (local entities
administered through the U.S. Department of Labor), or other training providers;
C. Higher education (junior college or college);
D. Apprenticeships (formal or informal);
E. Substance abuse or mental health counseling;
F. Reading, financial and/or computer literacy classes;
G. English as a second language and/or English proficiency classes;
H. Budgeting and credit counseling.
CSSRPartnerships:
8. CSSR Partnerships: PHAs with a ROSS Service Coordinators program or Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
program may coordinate Individual Training
Training and
and Services
Services Plans
Plans (ITSPs)
(ITSPs) with
with CSSR.
CSSR. The ITSP is a tool to
plan, set goals and track movement towards self-sufficiency through education, work readiness and other
supportive services such as health, mental
mental health
health and
and work
work supports.
supports. Specific CSSR activities may be
included in ITSPs to enhance
enhance aa person’s
person's progress towards self-sufficiency. Regular meetings with PHA
self-sufficiency. Regular
coordinators may satisfy CSSR activities and PHA Service Coordinators or FSS Program Coordinators may
verify community service hours within individual monthly logs.
ExemptResidents:
9. Exempt Residents: PHAs are required to set out in their Admissions and Continuing Occupancy Policy
(ACOP) how the PHA determines if an individual is exempt from the CSSR and the documentation needed
to support the exemption. Exemptions
Exemptions for
for adult
adult residents,
residents, as
as codified
codified at 24 CFR 960.601, include persons
who are:
A. 62 years or older;
B. 1. Blind or disabled, as defined under 216(i)(1) or 1614 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section
416(i)(1); Section 1382c), and who certify that, because of this disability, she or he is unable to comply
with the service provisions of this subpart, or
2. is a primary caretaker of such individual;
C. Engaged in work activities (see Notice
Notice PIH
PIH 2003-17
2003-17 (HA)).
(HA)). In order for an individual to be exempt
from the CSSR requirement because he/she is “engaged
"engaged in work activities,"
activities,” the person must be
participating in an activity that meets one of the following definitions of “work
"work activity”
activity" contained in
Section 407(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 607(d)):
1. Unsubsidized employment;
1.
2. Subsidized private-sector employment;
2.
3. Subsidized public-sector employment;
3.
4. Work experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if
sufficient private sector employment is not available;
5.
5. On-the-job-training;
6.
6. Job-search;
7. Community service programs;
8.
8. Vocational educational training (not(not to
to exceed
exceed 12
12 months
months with
with respect
respect to
to any
any individual);
9.
9. Job-skills training directly related to employment;
10. Education directly related to employment in the case of a recipient who has not received a high
10.
school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency;
11. Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general
11.
equivalency, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such
a certificate;
4
D. Able to meet requirements under a State program funded under part part A
A of
of title
title IV
W of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) or under any other welfare program of the State in which PHA is
located including a State-administered Welfare-to-Work program; or,
E. A member of a family receiving assistance, benefits, or services under a State program funded under
IV of
part A of title W of the
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.), or under any other welfare
State1 in which the PHA is located, including a State-administered Welfare-to-Work
program of the Stater
program, and has not been found by the State or other administering entity to be in noncompliance with
such a program.
PHAs are encouraged to use 30 hours per week as the minimum number of hours for a work activity as
described in Section 407(d) of the Social Security Act, and implementing regulations 45 CFR
PHAs can
261.31(1)(a)(1). PHAs can use
use reasonable
reasonable guidelines
guidelines in
in clarifying
clarifying this statutory list of work activities in
coordination with the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) agency, as appropriate (see Notice
PIH 2004-17(HA)).
PM 2004-17(HA)).
PHAs must describe in its CSSR policy the process to determine which family members are exempt from
the requirement, as well as the process for determining any changes to the exempt status of the family
PHAs provide
member. PHAs provide the
the family
family aa copy
copy of
of CSSR
CSSR policy
policy at initial application and secure certification of
receipt as shown in Attachment A, (see 24 CFR 960.605(c)(2)).
PHAs make the final determination whether to grant an exemption from the community service
requirement. IfIf aa resident
resident does
does not
not agree
agree with the PHA's
PHA’s determination,
determination, the
the resident may dispute the
decision through the PHA’s Grievance Procedures (see 24 CFR Part 966 Subpart B, 24 CFR 960.607(b).
PHA's Grievance
10. Resident Responsibilities at Lease Execution or Re-examination: At lease execution or re-examination,
after the effective date of the adopted policy, all adult members (18 or older) of a public housing resident
family must:
A. Provide documentation, if applicable, that they qualify for an exemption; (Documentation provided by
the tenant will be used by the PHA to determine whether the tenant is exempt from the CSSR) and,
B. Sign a certification (examples provided in Attachments A and B) that they have received and read the
policy and understand that if they are not exempt, failure to comply with the community service
nonrenewal of
requirement will result in nonrenewal of their
their lease,
lease, per
per 24
24 CFR
CFR 966.4(1)(2)(iii)(D).
966.4(l)(2)(iii)(D).
When a non-exempt person becomes exempt, it is his or her responsibility to report this to the PHA and
provide documentation. When
When anan exempt
exempt person
person becomes
becomes non-exempt,
non-exempt, it is his or her responsibility to
report this to the PHA as soon as possible.
11. Documentation of CSSR Completion: PHAs must include in the CSSR policy that exemption/CSSR
completion is verified annually by the PHA.
PHA. AtAt least
least 30
30 days
days before
before the annual reexamination and/or lease
expiration, the PHA reviews the exempt or nonexempt status and compliance of non-exempt family
members (see 24 CFR 960.605(c)(3)). At At each
each regularly
regularly scheduled
scheduled rent re-examination, each non-exempt
family member presents a signed certification on a form provided by the PHA of CSSR activities performed
over the previous twelve (12) months. PHAs
PHAs must
must obtain
obtain third-party
third-party verification of CSSR completion
administered through outside organizations. Each PHA
organizations. Each PHA develops
develops a standardized form with places for
signature confirmation by supervisors, instructors, or counselors certifying the number of hours contributed.
Additional supporting documentation may be requested of the resident to verify CSSR participation or
1
1 HUD has determined that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) qualifies as a welfare program of the state.
Therefore, if a tenant is a member of family receiving assistance under SNAP, and has been found by the administering State to be in
compliance with the program requirements, that tenant is exempt from the CSSR.
5
exempt status. Copies
Copies of
of the
the certification
certification forms
forms and
and supporting
supporting documentation must be retained in PHA
files.
12. Noncompliant Residents: PHAs may not evict a family due due to
to CSSR
CSSR non-compliance.
non-compliance. However, if PHA
finds a tenant is non-compliant with CSSR, then the PHA must provide written notification to the tenant of
the noncompliance which must include:
A. A brief description of the finding of non-compliance with CSSR.
B. A statement that the PHA will not renew the lease at the end of the current 12-month lease term unless
the tenant enters into a written work-out agreement with the PHA or the family provides written
assurance that is satisfactory to the PHA explaining that the tenant or other noncompliant resident no
longer resides in the unit. Such
Such written
written work-out
work-out agreement
agreement must include the means through which a
noncompliant family member will comply with the CSSR requirement.
The tenant may request a grievance hearing on the PHA determination, in accordance with 24 CFR Part
966, subpart B, and the tenant may exercise any available judicial remedy to seek timely redress for the
PHA’s nonrenewal
PHA's nonrenewal of
of the
the lease because of such determination.
13. Enforcement Documentation: Should a family member refuse to sign a written work-out agreement, or
fail to comply with the terms of the work-out agreement, PHAs are required to initiate termination of
tenancy proceedings at the end of the current 12-month lease (see 24 CFR 966.53(c)) due to the fact that the
family is failing to comply with lease requirements.
requirements. When
When initiating
initiating termination of tenancy proceedings,
the PHA will provide the following procedural safeguards:
A. Adequate notice to the tenant of the grounds for terminating the tenancy and for non-renewal of the
lease;
B. Right of the tenant to be represented by counsel;
C. Opportunity for the tenant to refute the evidence presented by the PHA, including the right to confront
and cross-examine witnesses and present any affirmative legal or equitable defense which the tenant
may have; and,
D. A decision on the merits.
14. 50058 Coding: The Instruction Booklet for Form HUD 50058 contains information on coding CSSR
At the
status. At the time
time of
of program
program admission,
admission, enter either 3 or 4. At
At each
each annual
annual re-examination,
re-examination, enter code 1,
2, or 4. See below:
1 - PHA determines resident is not exempt and is in compliance with CSSR
2 - PHA determines resident is not exempt and not complying with CSSR
3 - PHA is in the process of verifying CSSR compliance
4 - PHA determines resident is exempt
5 - Do not use this code for “not
"not applicable”
applicable" under any circumstance
15. Monitoring: HUD has re-instated the generation of the Community Service and Self-Sufficiency
monitoring report on a quarterly basis. The monitoring report includes tenants that have reported Wage or
Welfare incomes on the HUD-50058. The The monitoring
monitoring report
report does
does not
not exclude
exclude tenants
tenants with
with disabilities.
disabilities. The
report will be posted on the REAC web site
site and
and access
access will
will be
be provided
provided to
to all
all affected
affectedPHAs.
PHAs. REAC will
be sending an e-mail to each PHA listed on the CSSR report advising them of the content of the report and
explaining the steps necessary to make corrections and changes in PIC as appropriate.
The Department requests through this Notice that all PHAs review the 50058 coding reported for CSSR in
the PIC system for their residents and update
update any that
that do
do not
not conform
conform to
to these
these instructions.
instructions. PHAs must be
6
supply adequate
prepared to supply adequate supporting
supporting documentation
documentationasaslisted
listedininSection
Section99—
– Exempt
Exempt Residents, Section
– Noncompliant
12 — NoncompliantResidents
Residents and
and Section,
Section, and 11 –—Resident
ResidentResponsibilities
Responsibilitiesatat Lease
Lease Execution
Execution or Re-
examination above in the case of a review or audit.
16. Sanctions Against PHAs: Section 6(j)(4)(A) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 provides sanctions
16.
against any housing authority failing to comply substantially with any provision of the Act relating to the
public housing program. Sanctions
Sanctions include,
include, but
but are
are not
not limited
limited to, terminating, withholding, or reducing
assistance payments. These
These sanctions
sanctions are
are applicable
applicable to
to housing
housing authorities failing to substantially comply
with the CSSR requirement.
17. Further Information: Direct inquiries to Todd Thomas of the Office of Public Housing and Voucher
17.
Programs at (678)732-2056.
18.
18. Paperwork Reduction: The information collection requirements contained in this Notice have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3520) and assigned OMB control numbers 2577-0083 and 2577-0226.
/s/
Lourdes Castro Ramírez
Ramirez
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Public and Indian Housing
7
Attachment A
Community Services and Self-Sufficiency Requirement Certification
For Non-Exempt Individuals
Entrance Acknowledgement
Date:
Participant Name:
I have received and read the Community
Community Services
Services and
and SelfSelf Sufficiency
SufficiencyRequirement.
Requirement. I
understand that as a resident of public housing, I am required by law to contribute 8 hours per
month (96 hours over the course of a year) of community service or participate in an economic
self-sufficiency program. II further
further understand
understand that
that ifif II am
am not exempt, failure to comply with
CSSR is grounds forfor lease
lease nonrenewal.
nonrenewal. MyMysignature
signature belowbelow certifies
certifies II received
received notice of this
requirement at the time of initial program participation.
Signature: ______________________________________
Date of Signature: _______________________________
8
Attachment B
Community Services and Self-Sufficiency Requirement Certification
For Non-Exempt Individuals
Annual Renewal
Date:
Participant Name:
I understand that as a resident of public housing, I am required by law to contribute 8 hours per
month (96 hours over the course of a year) of community service or participate in an economic
self-sufficiency program.
Signature: ______________________________________
Date of Signature: _______________________________
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English
PIH Notice 2015-12 establishes the Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirement (CSSR), which requires most non-exempt adult residents of public housing to contribute eight hours per month—or 96 hours per year—of community service or participation in an economic self-sufficiency program. Certain adults are exempt, including those aged 62 or older, individuals with qualifying disabilities, and those already engaged in defined work activities. Non-compliance does not result in eviction directly, but can lead to lease non-renewal if a resident fails to enter into or fulfill a written work-out agreement with the housing authority.
Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 7, 2026
Plain English — not legal advice.
For Property Managers
Public housing authorities (PHAs) operating under PIH Notice 2015-12 are expected to incorporate CSSR policies into their Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies (ACOP), distribute those policies to residents at initial application, and collect signed certifications acknowledging receipt. Compliant PHAs verify each non-exempt adult's community service or self-sufficiency hours annually—at least 30 days before lease reexamination—using third-party-verified logs and standardized forms. When a resident is found non-compliant, PHAs issue written notice and offer a work-out agreement before initiating any termination of tenancy proceedings; PHAs that fail to substantially comply with CSSR requirements themselves may face sanctions under Section 16 of the Notice, including termination, withholding, or reduction of HUD assistance payments.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For Tenants
Under PIH Notice 2015-12, non-exempt adult public housing residents have both a responsibility to complete 96 hours of community service or self-sufficiency activity per year and a right to be informed of that requirement in writing at move-in and each annual renewal. If a PHA determines a resident is non-compliant, the resident has the right to request a grievance hearing through the PHA's grievance procedures (24 CFR Part 966, Subpart B) and may pursue available judicial remedies to challenge a lease non-renewal. Residents who believe they qualify for an exemption—such as those with disabilities, those aged 62 or older, or those engaged in qualifying work activities—can present documentation to the PHA and, if they disagree with the PHA's determination, may dispute it through those same grievance procedures or seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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