Section 3


Section 3 Mission Statement

Promoting economic self-sufficiency and advancement through training, job placement and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Section 3 Certification

Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 that requires recipients of certain HUD financial assistance (Public Housing Authorities) to help low-income residents gain the skills and jobs needed to become self-sufficient.

Business concerns can become Section 3 certified if they meet one (1) of the following HUD guidelines:

  1. Business owned (51% or more) by individuals whose household incomes are NO GREATER THAN 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Please reference http://www.houstontx.gov/housing/sec3.html  to determine if employee is less than 80% of the current area median income;
  2. 30% (or more) of a business's full time, permanent employees have household incomes that are NO GREATER THAN 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), or within three years of the date of first employment with the business concern were Section 3 residents; or
  3. Subcontracting more than 25% of contract with a qualified business that is either 51% owned by Section 3 residents or 30% or more of its employees are Section 3 residents.

 

HHA maintains a list of certified and recertified Section 3 Business Concerns and will add businesses to the list if they provide sufficient evidence to deem them Section 3 compliant.  This list is shared with the City of Houston's Section 3 Coordinator and also made available on HHA's website to any business, contractor, or subcontractor interested in work related to HUD sourced projects.

Furthermore, HHA Section 3 certified business concerns will be forwarded request for proposals and request for quotes for contracts that of which vendors specialize.

How to Become Certified

The Housing Authority of Houston will certify you as a Section 3 Business upon receipt of a completed and notarized Section 3 Business Certification.  In addition your firm must retain documentation of your Section 3 status in a project file for each HHA awarded project. The Houston Housing Authority considers this form adequate documentation of Section 3 status; however additional documentation verifying Section 3 compliance may be requested by the Authority at a later date.

List of HHA Section 3 Certified Vendors

Section 3 Policy