Section 3 and Contract Compliance
The Contract Compliance Unit monitors federal and state prevailing wage requirements, the Minority and Women’s Participation Policy, and Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Read the BHA Section 3 Policy and the BHA Minority and Women’s Participation Policy.
Section 3 Information
Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons.
For details on how the BHA is implementing the Section 3 provision, please access the BHA Section 3 Policy (2021) here.
Who benefits from the Section 3 provision?
BHA and BHA vendors or recipients must employ, train, and contract Section 3 Workers, Targeted Section 3 Workers, and Section 3 Business Concerns.
- Section 3 business concern means:
- A business concern meeting at least one of the following criteria, documented within the last six-month period:
- It is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by low- or very low-income persons;
- Over 75 percent of the labor hours performed for the business over the prior three-month period are performed by Section 3 workers; or
- It is a business at least 51 percent owned and controlled by current public housing residents or residents who currently live in Section 8-assisted housing.
- The status of a Section 3 business concern shall not be negatively affected by a prior arrest or conviction of its owner(s) or employees.
To self-certify as a Section 3 business concern, please click
here.
- Section 3 Worker is a worker that currently fits, or when hired within the past five years fit one of these categories:
- Worker’s income for the previous or annualized calendar year is below the income limit of the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA and Rockingham County, NH area.
- Worker is employed by a Section 3 business concern
- Worker is a YouthBuild participant
To self-certify as a Section 3 Worker for BHA job opportunities, please click
here.
- Targeted Section 3 Worker is a Section 3 Worker who:
- Is employed by a Section 3 business concern
- Currently fits or when hired fit one of these categories, as documented within the past five years:
- A resident of public housing or Section 8-assisted housing
- A resident of BHA or participant of BHA’s leased housing program
- A YouthBuild participant
To self-certify as a Targeted Section 3 Worker for BHA job opportunities, please click
here.
Where can individuals find job opportunities?
Individuals who are Section 3 Workers and Targeted Section 3 Workers should visit the following:
- HUD’s Section 3 Opportunity Portal and create a profile, click here.
- BHA’s Current Job Posting Page, click here.
- Sign up for BHA’s mailing list, click here.
- Resident Opportunity & Self-Sufficiency Program Job Fairs, click here.
- BHA Residents can check their Development’s Bulletin Boards.
- The Bay State Banner –Jobs, click here.
- MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center, click here.
Where can businesses find contract opportunities?
Section 3 Business Concerns should visit the following:
Recommended Training or Education Programs
- Building Pathways, click here or pdf.
- YouthWorks, click here.
- Training Opportunities Program, click here.
- Visit a One-Stop Career Center in Massachusetts, click here.
- Visit BHA’s Skills Training and Educational Opportunities page, click here.
Section 3 Forms
Additional Resources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 3 Landing Page
- Search for a HUD Section 3 Business
- BidNet