Section 512 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 requires that all non-exempt adult public housing residents must perform community service activities or participate in an economic self-sufficiency program to remain eligible for public housing assistance.

All non-exempt adult residents must do one of the following:

• Contribute eight (8) hours per month of community service (not including political activity) 
• Participate in an economic self-sufficiency program for eight (8) hours per month
• Perform a combination of both for eight (8) hours per month

Volunteering must be done at a non-profit organization. These include, but are not limited to:

• Schools, head start programs, and daycare centers
• Churches
• Hospitals
• Thrift stores
• Boys & Girls Clubs

Community Service Program Exemptions  

Residents over the age of 18 who meet one of the following are exempt from DHA’s community service requirement:

• 62 years of age or older
•  Blind or disabled
• Primary caretaker of a blind or disabled individual
•  Engaged in work activities (including employment, work experience programs, on-the-job training, job search, job readiness assistance, vocational/trade training, job skills training) 
• Exempt from work activity or under any other state welfare program
•  Resident household members of a family receiving assistance, benefits, or services under a state program

Temporary Exemptions

• Pregnancy--exempt up to six months after birth
• Death of an immediate family member
• Under the care of a physician

For more information about the Community Service program or to ask a question, please call 720-956-3816