This part lets up to 25 more housing agencies join a long-running test program. The new group has a name and a set of rules it must follow. Some of the usual waivers may not be granted. Reports to Congress must show what the test does to tenants. Those reports must stay online for at least five years.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“the Secretary may add up to an additional 25 public housing agencies that are designated as high performing agencies under the Public Housing Assessment System or the Section 8 Management Assessment Program to participate in a new cohort as part of the Moving to Work demonstration.”
The section lets the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, after the initial report required by the section is complete, add up to 25 more public housing agencies rated high performing under the Public Housing Assessment System or the Section 8 Management Assessment Program to a new cohort of the Moving to Work demonstration, to be called the Economic Opportunity and Pathways to Independence Cohort.
What the document actually says
“the Secretary may add up to an additional 25 public housing agencies that are designated as high performing agencies under the Public Housing Assessment System or the Section 8 Management Assessment Program to participate in a new cohort as part of the Moving to Work demonstration.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may add up to 25 more housing agencies. Each must be rated as high performing. They join a new group in a long-running test program.
What this is about
Moving to Work lets a housing agency bend some federal rules. The new group has its own name. It may be formed only after a first report is done.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“the authority of the Secretary to grant waivers to agencies admitted to the Moving to Work demonstration under this section or to designate policy changes as part of a cohort design under this section shall be limited to the Moving to Work waivers codified as of January 2025”
The section limits the Secretary's power to grant waivers or designate policy changes for the new cohort to the Moving to Work waivers codified as of January 2025 in Appendix I of the Department's Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2020, as amended by the technical revisions notice published on March 20, 2025.
What the document actually says
“the authority of the Secretary to grant waivers to agencies admitted to the Moving to Work demonstration under this section or to designate policy changes as part of a cohort design under this section shall be limited to the Moving to Work waivers codified as of January 2025”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may grant only the waivers already on the books. That set was fixed as of January 2025. The same limit covers changes made as part of the group's design.
What this is about
A waiver lets a housing agency skip a federal rule. This set comes from two notices in the daily paper of the government. Nothing outside that set may be granted.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “may not”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary may not waive the safe harbor requirements that apply to the Moving to Work waivers described in paragraph (1) or modify those waivers in any other way for the purposes of the new cohort under this section.”
The section bars the Secretary from waiving the safe harbor requirements attached to the Moving to Work waivers, or otherwise modifying those waivers, for the new cohort.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary may not waive the safe harbor requirements that apply to the Moving to Work waivers described in paragraph (1) or modify those waivers in any other way for the purposes of the new cohort under this section.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may not set aside the safe harbor rules. It may not change the waivers in any other way for this new group.
What this is about
A safe harbor is a limit built into a waiver. It marks how far the waiver may go. Here those limits are locked in place.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “may not”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“the Secretary may not grant waiver 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1k, 1l, 1o, 1p, 1q, 6, 7, 9a, 9h, or 12 in the document described in paragraph”
The section names fourteen waivers in the Operations Notice that the Secretary may not grant to the new cohort, including any modification of them or waiver of their safe harbor requirements. Where the Secretary grants waiver 10 or 11, resident participation in any program run under those waivers must be optional for the new cohort.
What the document actually says
“the Secretary may not grant waiver 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1k, 1l, 1o, 1p, 1q, 6, 7, 9a, 9h, or 12 in the document described in paragraph”
That sentence, in plain words
Fourteen waivers are named and ruled out. The housing agency may not grant any of them to this group.
What this is about
Each number points to a waiver in a Federal Register notice. That notice is not indexed here. Two other waivers may be granted only if joining stays a tenant's choice.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“the Secretary may consider policy options to provide opt-out savings or escrow accounts and report positive rental payments to consumer reporting agencies (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a)) with resident consent.”
The section lets the Secretary consider policy options for the new cohort that provide opt-out savings or escrow accounts and that report positive rental payments to consumer reporting agencies, as defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, with resident consent.
What the document actually says
“the Secretary may consider policy options to provide opt-out savings or escrow accounts and report positive rental payments to consumer reporting agencies (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a)) with resident consent.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may look at two ideas. One is savings accounts a tenant is in unless they opt out. The other is telling credit bureaus when rent is paid on time. The tenant must agree first.
What this is about
A credit report shapes what a person can borrow. Rent paid on time usually does not show up there. Reporting it can build a record.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: public housing agencies in the new cohortHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“Public housing agencies in the cohort authorized under this section may expend not more than 5 percent of the amounts those public housing agencies receive in any fiscal year for housing assistance payments under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) for purposes other than such housing assistance payments.”
The section lets a public housing agency in the new cohort spend no more than 5 percent of the money it receives in a fiscal year for section 8(o) housing assistance payments on other purposes, and requires those other uses to comply with all other applicable requirements.
What the document actually says
“Public housing agencies in the cohort authorized under this section may expend not more than 5 percent of the amounts those public housing agencies receive in any fiscal year for housing assistance payments under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) for purposes other than such housing assistance payments.”
That sentence, in plain words
An agency in this group may move some of its voucher money. The share it may move is no more than 5 percent. The rest must pay rent as usual.
What this is about
Voucher money normally pays landlords for rent. The 5 percent can fund other work instead. All other rules still apply to it.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“shall be determined according to the same funding formula applicable to public housing agencies that do not participate in the Moving to Work demonstration, except that the Secretary shall provide public housing agencies funding to renew any funds expended under this subsection, with an adjustment for inflation.”
The section provides that renewal funding for section 8(o) housing assistance payments follows the same formula as for agencies outside the demonstration, except that the Secretary must fund the renewal of anything spent under the 5 percent flexibility, adjusted for inflation. Administrative fees, public housing operating subsidies, and capital funding also follow the ordinary formulas.
What the document actually says
“shall be determined according to the same funding formula applicable to public housing agencies that do not participate in the Moving to Work demonstration, except that the Secretary shall provide public housing agencies funding to renew any funds expended under this subsection, with an adjustment for inflation.”
That sentence, in plain words
The money is worked out the same way as for agencies outside the test. The one difference is that money moved to other uses is renewed. That renewal rises with prices.
What this is about
Without this, moving money could shrink next year's share. That would punish an agency for using the flexibility. This keeps the share whole.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“No public housing agency shall be granted this designation under this section that administers more than 27,000 aggregate housing vouchers and public housing units.”
The section requires the Secretary to choose agencies through a competitive process. No agency running more than 27,000 vouchers and public housing units combined may be chosen. Of those chosen, no more than 12 may run 1,000 or fewer units, no more than 8 between 1,001 and 6,000, and no more than 5 between 6,001 and 27,000. Selection must ensure geographic diversity among Moving to Work agencies, and within those limits the Secretary must prioritize agencies serving families with children and youth aging out of foster care at above the national rate.
What the document actually says
“No public housing agency shall be granted this designation under this section that administers more than 27,000 aggregate housing vouchers and public housing units.”
That sentence, in plain words
A very big housing agency may not be picked. The line is 27,000 vouchers and public homes put together.
What this is about
The group must also mix small, middling, and larger agencies. Caps are set for each size band. The agencies must be spread across the country.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: public housing agencies in the new cohortHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“(1) ensure that not less than 75 percent of the families assisted are very low-income families, as defined in section 3(b)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(B));”
The section requires an agency chosen for the new cohort to ensure at least 75 percent of the families it assists are very low-income, to set a reasonable rent policy encouraging employment and self-sufficiency such as by excluding some earned income when setting rent, to keep assisting substantially the same number of eligible low-income families, to keep a comparable mix of family sizes, and to make sure assisted housing meets housing quality standards the Secretary sets or approves.
What the document actually says
“(1) ensure that not less than 75 percent of the families assisted are very low-income families, as defined in section 3(b)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(B));”
That sentence, in plain words
Most families helped must be very low-income. The share is at least 75 percent. An older housing law says what that means.
What this is about
Four other duties come with joining. The agency must serve about the same number of families. It must keep the same mix of family sizes. The homes must meet quality standards.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“If a public housing agency cannot be brought into compliance under the process developed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall remove the participating public housing agency from the cohort and replace it with a similarly qualified public housing agency currently not in the cohort”
The section requires the Secretary to make a determination of noncompliance where an agency in the cohort does not meet the section's requirements, to develop a process to bring it into compliance, and, where that fails, to remove it and replace it with a similarly qualified agency chosen the same way. On removal the Secretary must immediately notify the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services and report on the steps being taken to replace the agency.
What the document actually says
“If a public housing agency cannot be brought into compliance under the process developed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall remove the participating public housing agency from the cohort and replace it with a similarly qualified public housing agency currently not in the cohort”
That sentence, in plain words
Some agencies cannot be brought back in line. Those must be dropped from the group. Another agency of like standing takes the place.
What this is about
First the housing agency must try to fix the problem. Removal comes only if that fails. Two committees in Congress must be told at once.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary shall continue ongoing research investigations commenced as part of the assessment of the cohorts established under section 239 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 114-113), make public all products completed as part of those investigations, and keep such products online for at least 5 years.”
The section requires the Secretary to carry on the research investigations begun in assessing the earlier cohorts, publish everything they produce, and keep it online for at least five years. The Secretary must also work with the advisory committee established by that earlier Act to set up a research program evaluating, for all Moving to Work agencies, whether the waivers achieve greater cost effectiveness and administrative capacity, encourage families toward self-sufficiency, and increase housing choice, along with the extra flexibilities granted and how they were used.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary shall continue ongoing research investigations commenced as part of the assessment of the cohorts established under section 239 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 114-113), make public all products completed as part of those investigations, and keep such products online for at least 5 years.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency must keep the research going. It must publish everything that comes out of it. The work must stay online for at least five years.
What this is about
The research began with an earlier group of agencies. An advisory committee helps shape the questions. The aim is to see whether the waivers work.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that contains the following for each Moving to Work demonstration cohort”
The section requires the Secretary to report within 180 days of enactment and each year after, to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services, on every Moving to Work cohort. The report must carry each agency's annual administrative plan and assessments of long-term data comparing trends before and after designation, covering tenant effects such as eviction rates, hardship policy use, the share of rent a household covers, turnover, reasons for leaving, and who is served, agency operations such as unit counts and sizes, waitlist length and wait times, capital backlog and reserves, conversions and demolitions, the mix of project-based and tenant-based vouchers, and a set of yearly voucher measures, and effects on staffing and capacity. It must also carry legislative recommendations on flexibilities that could be extended to all agencies.
What the document actually says
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that contains the following for each Moving to Work demonstration cohort”
That sentence, in plain words
A report goes to two committees in Congress. The first is due within 180 days. After that one is due every year. It must cover every group in the test program.
What this is about
The report tracks what happens to tenants and to agencies. It compares the years before and after joining. It also suggests changes for Congress to weigh.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 505 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary shall maintain all reports submitted pursuant to this section in a manner that is publicly available, accessible, and searchable on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for not less than 5 years.”
The section requires the Secretary to keep every report submitted under it publicly available, accessible, and searchable on the Department website for at least five years, and to publish each agency's annual Moving to Work plan, section 8 administrative plan, and admission and continued occupancy policy in one place for at least five years. The Secretary may also set up a searchable database tracking which flexibilities agencies have taken up or been granted, broken out by year.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary shall maintain all reports submitted pursuant to this section in a manner that is publicly available, accessible, and searchable on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for not less than 5 years.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency must keep every report on its website. People must be able to find and search them. They must stay up for at least five years.
What this is about
Three kinds of agency plan must also be posted. They go in one place, not scattered. The agency may build a database of the waivers in use.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Each distinct thing the section does: the added cohort and its name, the limits on waiver authority and the waivers that may not be granted, the policy options the Secretary may consider, the 5 percent spending flexibility and the funding formula, the selection process and its size and geography rules, the requirements on selected agencies, the noncompliance process and the notice to Congress, the continuing research, the annual comprehensive report, and the duty to keep reports and plans public for five years.
The long list of data points the annual report must carry is summarized rather than quoted item by item.
The Moving to Work demonstration is authorized by section 204 of a 1996 appropriations Act and expanded by section 239 of a 2016 appropriations Act, and the waivers are set out in a Federal Register notice. None of those is indexed here, so nothing is recorded about what any numbered waiver does.
