(1) Each LHA shall
administer its operations in a fair and consistent manner. Such administration shall
include but not be limited to;
(a) creating and
maintaining a website or web page and keeping and posting key information on its
website, in its central office and on the wall of the community center or other
conspicuous location for each of its developments in accordance with the
Department's guidelines, so that tenants, applicants, local and state officials and
the general public have a reasonably convenient means to communicate with the LHA
and to take steps necessary to access the LHA's programs and opportunities.
Information to be posted by the LHA shall include: LHA office hours, the names,
addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other means of contact for the LHA's
Executive Director and Assistant Director (if any), all LHA board members, and
senior staff; information for tenants on how to report maintenance problems; copies
of its Annual Plan, and; any other items required under
760 CMR 4.00.
(b) properly maintaining its property within
budget.
(c) using administrative and
financial procedures and policies prescribed in the Department's
guidelines.
(d) posting in a conspicuous
place in the LHA's central office and on its website or webpage, a notice stating
that any individual who believes he or she has been denied employment or housing,
discharged, or has suffered discrimination in compensation or in the terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment or housing on the basis of race, color,
religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic
information, age, ancestry, disability, marital status, veteran status, membership
in the armed forces, presence of children, or political beliefs, receipt of public
assistance rental assistance or housing subsidy or any other basis prohibited by
law, has the right to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against
Discrimination (MCAD).
(e) adopting and
enforcing appropriate anti-discrimination policies, which meet the requirements of
applicable law, including, a policy against sexual and other discriminatory
harassment, a language access plan, and a policy for reasonable accommodation on
account of disability.
(f) giving to an
applicant or tenant, who is known not to speak English, information in commonly
spoken foreign languages that states that "this is an important document, please
contact the (name of the local housing authority) at (phone number of local housing
authority) for language assistance".
(g)
participating in the Capital Assistance Program as described in
760 CMR
11.08: Capital Assistance
Program, when required to do so or when such participation would be
beneficial to the operation of the LHA.
(2) The LHA shall post and shall keep posted in a
conspicuous place in its central office, on its website or webpage, and, if
practical, in each development, all rules and policies of the LHA and the
regulations of the Department which affect the rights, status, duties or welfare of
tenants and their households, together with such other information as required to be
posted by Department guidelines. All posted rules and policies shall state the date
of last revision and identify a contact person and the means of contact. If postings
are repeatedly removed, destroyed or defaced, the LHA shall take reasonable
alternative measures to make the material conveniently available to tenants. Absence
of a posting shall not affect the validity or applicability of rules, policies or
regulations. Upon request, a tenant shall, without charge, be provided with one copy
of an applicable rule, policy or regulation; the LHA may charge a reasonable fee for
providing a duplicate copy or copies to the tenant.
(3) From time to time the Department may develop
and issue guidelines and/or standard forms to be used by the LHA in connection with
the provisions of
760 CMR 4.00,
5.00: Eligibility and
Selection Criteria, 6.00: Occupancy Standards and Tenant
Participation for State-aided Housing, 8.00: Privacy and
Confidentiality, 11.00: Modernization and Development of
State-aided Public Housing, 49.00: Massachusetts Rental Voucher
Program and 53.00: Alternative Housing Voucher Program and
with reports required by the Department. Each LHA shall employ the current
guidelines and the current forms.
