Housing Authority act provided for two resident-elected board seats

The emergency act called for a nine-member Housing Authority board with two elected commissioners and seven mayoral appointees. Residents of Authority housing properties would vote for the two elected seats. The Council had to approve the Mayor’s appointees. Elected commissioners had to live in public housing when elected but could finish their terms after moving out unless removed. A person with nine or more years of Authority board service could not join. The act scheduled the elected members to take office by December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2026. The act could last no longer than 90 days.

The Housing Authority had to train the citywide resident advisory board and seek its views on changes affecting residents. These duties concerned the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board and changes to policies or programs that affect residents. The Authority had to develop the training with public housing residents and housing professionals. Commissioners had to invite the advisory board to report and answer its concerns in writing. Commissioners had to invite a report at least once each quarter and respond to concerns within 45 days of that meeting.

The act stated when the Authority could end a public housing lease and when it had to give notice about a lease violation. These provisions concerned residents covered by the Authority’s public housing resident bill of rights. Under the Authority’s rules, lease termination was limited to serious or repeated violations of key lease terms. The notice exception applied only when the Authority determined that the household head had died and no household members remained. The 30-day notice applied before action to correct a lease violation or require a resident to leave.

The act stated stipend limits for Housing Authority commissioners during the board transition. The transition limits applied to Housing Authority commissioners serving under the temporary board arrangements. District government employees serving as commissioners could not receive board stipends. The transition section ended once all commissioners of the new board took office. The caps applied before January 1, 2026, while the transition section remained in force. That section ended when all new commissioners took office.