Policy and Planning 

Home Forward is a government agency and is subject to local, state, and federal regulations. Our policies align with external regulatory requirements.

We strive to use any regulatory flexibility we have to advance our organizational values and mission. If a regulation undermines our mission, organizational values, or commitment to racial equity, we will pursue regulatory changes through a combination of our Moving to Work authority and advocacy. Home Forward departments may also adopt policies that impact the work that they do.

Major Policy Documents

Administrative Plan – Outlines Home Forward’s Rent Assistance Department policies that impact participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy – Outlines Home Forward’s Property Management Company policies that impact public housing residents.

Home Forward is committed to evaluating and changing policy to support our mission, values, and to advance racial equity. Since 2022, we have taken on major policy changes and strategic initiatives.

Screening Criteria – Reducing criminal background screening factors for people who apply to Home Forward-owned properties. 

Rent Assistance Termination Policy – A workgroup centering resident and program participants developed the policy change recommendations we implemented to promote housing stability. This policy impacts when Home Forward terminates a household’s rent assistance. 

Eviction Prevention – With the help of local and state partners, alleviated all rent debt that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since adopted a non-payment of rent policy to promote residents’ housing stability.

Home Forward is one of a select group of public housing authorities across the country participating in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Moving to Work program, which allows the agency to implement innovative approaches to improve housing services and better meet community needs.

Learn more here