PRAC Operating Rent See Operating Rent (PRAC).

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Preferences Established criteria used to determine the order applicants are selected from the waiting list for housing assistance or an assisted housing unit. Preferences may be established by federal law, HUD regulations, State or local law, or written owner policy. [24 CFR 5.601; 5.655; 236.715; 880.603; 880.612a; 881.601; 883.701; 884.214; 884.223a; 886.132; 886.337; 886.329a; 891.230; 891.750]

Preliminary Application An abbreviated application form that is used by some owners when the waiting time for an available unit is extensive and requires only enough information to assess apparent program eligibility, place the applicant on a waiting list, and contact the applicant when a unit becomes available or additional information is required. Premises The building or complex or development in which the public or assisted housing dwelling unit is located, including common areas and grounds. [24 CFR 5.100] Prohibited Bases Civil rights statutes establish the demographic categories by which discrimination is prohibited. HUD refers to these categories as “prohibited bases.” For instance, under the Fair Housing Act, the prohibited bases are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. It is more inclusive and explanatory than the term “protected classes,” because it does not categorize people into sets of classes (e.g., male, female, White, Black, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist). Project Assistance Payment The payment made by HUD to the borrower for assisted units as provided in the PAC. The payment is the difference between the contract rent and the tenant rent. An additional payment is made to a family occupying an assisted unit in an independent living complex when the utility allowance is greater than the total tenant payment. A project assistance payment, known as a “vacancy payment,” may be made to the borrower when an assisted unit (or resident space in a group home) is vacant, in accordance with the terms of the PAC. [24 CFR 891.655]

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Project Rental Assistance Payment The payment made by HUD to the owner for assisted units as provided in the PRAC. The payment is the difference between the total tenant payment and the HUD-approved per-unit operating expenses, except for expenses related to items not eligible under design and cost provisions. An additional payment is made to a household occupying an assisted unit when the utility allowance is greater than the total tenant payment. A project rental assistance payment, known as a "vacancy payment," may be made to the owner when an assisted unit is vacant, in accordance with the terms of the PRAC. [24 CFR 891.105]

Prorated Assistance Partial rental assistance, or reduced housing assistance payments received by mixed families. In mixed families, the level of assistance is calculated at the ratio of eligible family members to ineligible family members.

Protected Classes Demographic categories of persons established by civil rights statutes against whom discrimination is prohibited. (See also Prohibited Bases.) Public Housing Any State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public Agency (PHA) body (or agency or instrumentality thereof) which is authorized to engage in or assist in the development or operation of public housing; Defined in Section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 a (b)(6).

PHAs include Performance-based Contract Administrators (PBCAs) and State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs).

Qualified Persons with Disabilities (Individual with An individual with disabilities (handicaps)[1] who meets the essential Handicaps)[1] eligibility requirements for participation in, or receipt of benefits from, that program or activity. "Essential eligibility requirements" include stated eligibility requirements such as income as well as other explicit or implicit requirements inherent in the nature of the program or activity, such as requirements that an occupant of multifamily housing be capable of meeting the recipient's selection criteria and be capable of complying with all obligations of occupancy with or without supportive services provided by persons other than the recipient. For example, a chronically mentally ill person whose particular condition poses a significant risk of substantial interference with the safety or enjoyment of others or with his or her own health or safety in the absence of necessary supportive services may be "qualified" for occupancy in a project where such supportive services are provided by the recipient as part of the assisted program. The person may not be "qualified" for a project lacking such services. [Relevant language excerpted from 24 CFR 8.3]

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RAP (Rental Assistance Payment) A rental assistance subsidy program established by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to provide additional rental assistance subsidy to project owners on behalf of very low-income tenants. RAP was available only to Section 236 projects and was the predecessor to the project-based Section 8 program . Recertification Anniversary Date Generally, the recertification anniversary date is the first day of the month a tenant moved into a project receiving HUD assistance. As long as an owner processes an annual recertification according to the procedures and deadlines required in Chapter 7, changes in the TTP, tenant rent, and assistance payment take effect on the recertification anniversary date.

Recertification Anniversary Date** Generally, the recertification anniversary date is the first day of the month a tenant moved into a project receiving HUD assistance. As long as an owner processes an annual recertification according to the procedures and deadlines required in Chapter 7, changes in the TTP, tenant rent, and assistance payment take effect on the recertification anniversary date.

Recipient (Section 504) Any State or its political subdivision, any instrumentality of a State or its political subdivision, any public or private agency, institution, organization, or other entity, or any person to which federal financial assistance is extended for any program or activity directly or through another recipient, including any successor, assignee, or transferee of a recipient, but excluding the ultimate beneficiary of the assistance. An entity or person receiving housing assistance payments from a recipient on behalf of eligible families under a housing assistance payments program or a voucher program is not a recipient or subrecipient merely by virtue of receipt of such payments. [24 CFR 8.3] Remaining Member of a Tenant Family See paragraph 3-15 for a discussion of the eligibility of a remaining member of a tenant family. Rent Supplement A project-based assistance program for mortgages insured by HUD. These contracts were available to Section 221(d)(3) BMIR, Section 231, Section 236 (insured and noninsured), and Section 202 projects for the life of the 40-year mortgage. The program was suspended under the housing subsidy moratorium of January 5, 1973. Owners of insured projects with Rent Supplement were allowed to convert to project-based Section 8 assistance. Residency Preference A preference for admission of persons who reside in a specified geographic area (“residency preference area”). [24 CFR 5.655 (c)(1)(ii)] Rural Housing Service (RHS) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Services.

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