Community Service

HUD regulations pertaining to the community service requirement are contained in 24 CFR 960 Subpart F (960.600 through 960.609). PHAs and residents must comply with the community service requirement, effective with PHA fiscal years that commenced on or after October 1, 2000. The PHA Plan must contain a statement of how the PHA will comply with the community service requirement, including any cooperative agreement that the PHA has entered into or plans to enter into.

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 political activities. In administering community service requirements, the PHA must comply with all nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements.

Each adult resident of the PHA, who is not exempt, must

• Contribute 8 hours per month of community service; or
• Participate in an economic self-sufficiency program (as defined in the regulations) for 8 hours per month; or
• Perform 8 hours per month of combined activities (community service and economic self-sufficiency programs).

An individual may not skip a month and then double up the following month, unless special circumstances warrant it. The PHA will make the determination of whether to permit a deviation from the schedule. Individuals who have special circumstances which they believe will prevent them from completing the required community service hours for a given month, must notify the PHA in writing within 5 business days of the circumstances becoming known. The PHA will review the request and notify the individual, in writing, of its determination within 10 business days. The PHA may require those individuals to provide documentation to support their claim.

For a full overview of the community service requirements, please visit our office at 450 Walker Street, Cleveland TN 37311.