The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is amending its Annual Plan to reflect the introduction of a streamlined and revised Reasonable Accommodation Policy (RAP) that governs the review of reasonable accommodations by all departments responsible for the BHA’s housing programs. The RAP was drafted with the following intentions:
 

• Create a unified policy governing how BHA reviews requests for reasonable accommodations rather than have two separate policies as is currently the case (one for the BHA’s Leased Housing Division, the other for the Occupancy and Operations Departments);

• Make it simpler to navigate and understand than the policies currently in use; and

• Implement changes and additions to better assist individuals with disabilities and clarify their rights.

            The RAP contains the two following major policy changes and additions:

• The establishment of a Reasonable Accommodation Review Committee (RARC) for the review of all proposed reasonable accommodation denial letters (decisions addressed in court excluded). The RARC will decide whether a given denial is acceptable and, if not, what corrective steps are needed.

• Having a centralized review committee will improve BHA’s ability to identify and address any inconsistencies in how its various departments handle reasonable accommodation requests.

The creation of an Assistance and Service Animal Policy to govern how BHA reviews requests to keep and/or receive medical deductions for such animals. 

The draft RAP will be available for public comment for a 45-day period from August 10, 2015 –September 24, 2015.  The draft can also be viewed in the Planning Department of the Boston Housing Authority at 52 Chauncy Street. Public hearings will be held on September 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the Training Room at the Amory Street Development at 125 Amory Street, Boston. After the public comment period, the RAP will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval.
 
Questions or concerns may be sent to Doug Wilcox, Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator, by email at or phone at 617-988-4377. Written comments should be submitted by email or delivered to 52 Chauncy Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 by no later than 5 p.m. on September 24, 2015.
 
The BHA also distributes news and public review information through its online mailing list; if you would like to join this list, please go to Constant Contact.