10400 Detrick Avenue Kensington, Maryland 20895 (240) 773-9344 www.hocweb.org

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Krimer Yancy July 1, 2003 301-962-6724 HUD TO REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE FROM PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS BEGINNING JULY 1 Employed Residents, Residents in Employment Training, Elderly and Handicapped Persons Exempt As of July 1, HUD (the federal agency which oversees public housing) is requiring that residents of public housing perform eight hours of community service per month. This requirement applies to all household members, ages 18-61, who are unemployed; not enrolled in an educational/vocational class; or not enrolled in the HOC Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) or another recognized job preparation program. Household members exempt from doing community service are those who are working full or part time, blind or disabled persons, primary caretaker for a disabled or handicapped family member, residents who are enrolled in an education/vocational class(es), residents participating in the FSS or other Welfare to Work Program and those 62 years of age and over. This requirement will be effective with all recertifications and certifications beginning July 2003. At least 30 days prior to the effective date of a public housing resident’s annual recertification, proof of compliance with this requirement must be provided to HOC. Families who fail to comply with the service requirement may be subject to the non-renewal of their leases. For more information regarding this new requirement, as well as community service opportunities, contact: Gail Gunod-Green at: 301-929-5677.