[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 24, Volume 4] [Revised as of April 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 24CFR964.205] [Page 465-466] TITLE 24--HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER IX--OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PART 964_TENANT PARTICIPATION AND TENANT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING--Table of Contents Subpart C_Tenant Opportunities Program Sec. 964.205 Eligibility. (a) Resident councils/resident management corporations. Any eligible resident council/resident management corporation as defined in subpart B of this part is eligible to participate in a program administered under this subpart. (b) Activities. Activities to be funded and carried out by an eligible resident council or resident management corporation, as defined in subpart B of this part, must improve the living conditions and public housing operations and may include any combination of, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Resident capacity building. (i) Training Board members in community organizing, Board development, and leadership training; (ii) Determining the feasibility of resident management enablement for a specific project or projects; and (iii) Assisting in the actual creation of an RMC, such as consulting and legal assistance to incorporate, preparing by-laws and drafting a corporate charter. (2) Resident management. (i) Training residents, as potential employees of an RMC, in skills directly related to the operation, management, maintenance and financial systems of a project; (ii) Training of residents with respect to fair housing requirements; and (iii) Gaining assistance in negotiating management contracts, and designing a long-range planning system. (3) Resident management business development. (i) Training related to resident-owned business development and technical assistance for job training and placement in RMC developments; (ii) Technical assistance and training in resident managed business development through: (A) Feasibility and market studies; (B) Development of business plans; (C) Outreach activities; and (D) Innovative financing methods including revolving loan funds; and (iii) Legal advice in establishing a resident managed business entity. (4) Social support needs (such as self-sufficiency and youth initiatives). (i) Feasibility studies to determine training and social services needs; (ii) Training in management-related trade skills, computer skills, etc; (iii) Management-related employment training and counseling; (iv) Coordination of support services; (v) Training for programs such as child care, early childhood development, parent involvement, volunteer services, parenting skills, before and after school programs; (vi) Training programs on health, nutrition and safety; (vii) Workshops for youth services, child abuse and neglect prevention, tutorial services, in partnership with community-based organizations such as local Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Boy/Girl Scouts, Campfire and Big Brother/Big Sisters, etc. Other HUD programs such as the Youth Sports Program and the Public Housing Drug Elimination Programs also provide funding in these areas; (viii) Training in the development of strategies to successfully implement a youth program. For example, assessing the needs and problems of the youth, improving youth initiatives that are currently active, and training youth, housing authority staff, resident management corporations and resident [[Page 466]] councils on youth initiatives and program activities; and (5) Homeownership Opportunity. Determining feasibility for homeownership by residents, including assessing the feasibility of other housing (including HUD owned or held single or multi-family) affordable for purchase by residents. (6) General. (i) Required training on HUD regulations and policies governing the operation of low-income public housing including contracting/procurement regulations, financial management, capacity building to develop the necessary skills to assume management responsibilities at the project and property management; (ii) Purchasing hardware, i.e., computers and software, office furnishings and supplies, in connection with business development. Every effort must be made to acquire donated or discounted hardware; (iii) Training in accessing other funding sources; and (iv) Hiring trainers or other experts (RCs/RMCs must ensure that this training is provided by a qualified housing management specialist, a community organizer, the HA, or other sources knowledgeable about the program).