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SAFMR — Small Area Fair Market Rents

Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are fair market rents calculated at the ZIP code level instead of for an entire metropolitan area. In the Housing Choice Voucher program, SAFMRs let payment standards follow neighborhood-level market rents — HUD adopted them through rulemaking as a tool to expand housing choice, requires their use in certain HUD-designated metropolitan areas, and allows other agencies to opt in. The governing methodology and designation requirements are set by regulation and by HUD publication, so verify current requirements and designated areas against the primary sources below.

Primary sources

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SAFMR requirements live inside the Housing Choice Voucher program, so this hub tracks HCV-tagged guidance.

2026-20390Federal RegisterActiveOct 6, 2026

Statutorily Mandated Designation of Difficult Development Areas and Qualified Census Tracts for 2027

This HUD notice designates the 2027 Difficult Development Areas (DDAs) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) used to determine eligibility for increased Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) basis. It explains the data and methodology HUD uses to identify these areas based on 2020 Census data, FY 2026 income limits and Fair Market Rents, and ACS income/poverty data. The 2027 lists take effect for credit allocations or bond-financed projects after December 31, 2026, which matters for housing agencies and developers applying for LIHTC allocations in designated high-cost or low-income areas.

LIHTCHCV
Primary source Status & dates
2026-20086Federal RegisterActiveOct 1, 2026

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing is establishing a new Privacy Act system of records called the Enterprise Voucher Management System (eVMS), which automates monthly Housing Assistance Payment calculations for the Housing Choice Voucher Program using family-level data from IMS/PIC. The system displays Head of Household names and unmasked Social Security Numbers to authorized HUD and PHA users to support payment tracking, reconciliation, and fraud/waste/abuse prevention. PHA staff should be aware that PHAs must apply for user IDs to access eVMS, and the public may submit comments on this notice before it takes effect for routine uses.

Comments close in 14 days
HCV
Primary source Status & dates
2026-20042Federal RegisterActiveSep 30, 2026

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing is modifying the Privacy Act system of records notice for IMS/PIC and HIP, which are national repositories tracking PHA, TDHE, and HUD-assisted family data. The update adds three new routine uses (numbers 19, 20, and 21) and incorporates two previously added ones (17 and 18), updates the system manager and contact information, and clarifies categories of records, record sources, and electronic collection methods. PHA staff should be aware that this affects how tenant and program data in IMS/PIC and HIP may be shared and used, and comments on the changes are being accepted through October 30, 2026.

Comments close in 11 days
Public HousingHCVFSS
Primary source Status & dates
PIH 2026-25PIH NoticeActiveSep 29, 2026

Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families

This notice establishes how HUD will award Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) to convert all Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) families under lease as of September 30, 2026 into the Housing Choice Voucher program by December 31, 2026, as required by the 2027 Continuing Resolution. PHAs will receive estimated award amounts around October 1, 2026, must correct any errors by October 15, 2026, and will receive one round of EHV-TPV funding in December 2026 covering one month of assistance, with future renewals subject to appropriations. These TPVs cannot be reissued upon turnover, and PHAs must track and report them separately through IMS/PIC and VMS.

HCVPBVEHV
Primary source Status & dates
2026-17777Federal RegisterActiveSep 1, 2026

Revision of Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program

This notice revises HUD's Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program, which was last published August 28, 2020 with technical revisions in March 2025. The revisions cover funding flexibility, program administration, special purpose vouchers, and multiple MTW waivers in Appendix I and II, including changes to stepped rent, imputed income, work requirements, and local non-traditional activity limits. HUD is soliciting public comments on these revisions, with a 60-day comment period followed by an additional 30-day period.

Comments close in 14 days
HCVPBVPublic HousingHOTMA+4 more
Primary source Status & dates
2026-17891Federal RegisterActiveSep 1, 2026

Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program, and Other Programs, Fiscal Year 2027

This HUD notice publishes the Fiscal Year 2027 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) used to set payment standards under the Housing Choice Voucher Program and other HUD programs, effective October 1, 2026. It explains the methodology used to calculate base rents, inflation and trend factors, bedroom adjustments, minimum rents, and Small Area FMRs, and it describes the process by which PHAs or other interested parties can submit comments or request a reevaluation of specific area FMRs by the comment deadline. PHA staff should review their area's FY 2027 FMRs and, if needed, submit data supporting a reevaluation request by October 1, 2026.

HCVHOTMAOther
Primary source Status & dates

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