Local preferences must rest on local housing needs, and selection among equal applicants must leave an audit trail

ph.waiting_list.local_preferences_and_selection_method · v1.0.0

A PHA may adopt a system of local preferences for selection of families admitted to its public housing program, but the system must be based on local housing needs and priorities determined by the PHA using generally accepted data sources, including public comment on the PHA plan and on the consolidated plan. The PHA must inform all applicants about available preferences and must give applicants an opportunity to show that they qualify. Adoption and implementation of local preferences is subject to HUD requirements on income-targeting, deconcentration and income-mixing, and the selection preferences for developments designated for elderly or disabled families and for mixed population developments. Residency requirements are prohibited; a residency preference is permitted only in accordance with non-discrimination and equal opportunity requirements, may use no area smaller than a county or municipality, must be stated in the PHA annual plan or supporting documents, must not be based on how long an applicant has resided or worked in the area, and must treat as residents applicants who work in or have been notified they are hired to work in the area. To select among applicants on the waiting list with the same priority the PHA must use either date and time of application or a drawing or other random choice technique, and the method must leave a clear audit trail that can be used to verify that each applicant was selected in accordance with the method specified in the PHA plan.

Confidence

high

Effective from

2001-05-24

Consequence model

agency finding with cure

Last reviewed

2026-08-30