HUD HCV Guidebook § 4.1

Eligible families are homeless veterans and their families that are referred to participating PHAs by
the PHAs' partnering VAMCs or CBOCs. Before making referrals to PHAs, VA staff screen families
according to the VA's screening criteria and in compliance with federal non-discrimination and civil
rights laws.3 The VA also generally follows the prioritization order outlined in Notice CPD-14-012
when making referrals; veterans experiencing chronic homelessness are the given the highest
priority for admission into the program.
When the PHA receives a referral from the VA, the PHA may only screen the family for the criteria
below4:
      •   Income eligibility5;
      •   Citizenship; and
      •   Subjectivity to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration
          program.

For example, a PHA may not screen for criminal background other than to determine if a household
member is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration
program. As another example, PHAs cannot deny admission to an otherwise eligible HUD-VASH
family that previously participated in the PHA’s HCV or public housing program that left owing money
or otherwise not in good standing.

If a family member is subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program,
the remaining family members may be served if the family agrees to remove the sex offender from its
family composition. This is true unless the family member subject to lifetime registration under a
state sex offender registration program is the homeless veteran, in which case the family would be
denied admission to the program.

When new family members are added after the veteran is a participant, regular PHA eligibility criteria
apply. Other than the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child, the addition of any other
family member must be approved by the PHA in accordance with the PHA’s policies.6
PHAs must also accept DD-214 certificates and VA-verified Applications for Health Benefits as
verification of social security numbers and birthdates. VA identification cards must be accepted as
government-issued photo identification, and they can also be used to verify social security numbers
and birthdates.7

3 See 24 CFR § 5.105(a) and 24 CFR § 982.53
4 HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, Section A, “Family Eligibility and Selection.”
5
    PHAs may not deny admission to a family with zero income.
6 HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, Section A, “Family Eligibility and Selection.”
7 HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, Section A, “Family Eligibility and Selection.”