The public housing operating fund (PH opfund) provides operating subsidies to housing authorities (has) to assist in funding the operating and maintenance expenses of their dwellings, in accordance…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Public and Indian Housing Office awarded the City of Waukesha Housing Authority (operating as New Berlin Housing Authority) $173,566 under the Public Housing Operating Fund (CFDA 14.850) on January 1, 2026, for the period through December 31, 2032.

The award funds day-to-day operational and maintenance expenses for public housing dwellings serving low-income residents in Vernon, Wisconsin and the Waukesha area. Eligible activities include management and operations, routine and preventative maintenance, anti-crime and security initiatives, energy costs, resident supportive services, insurance, debt service, and administrative program implementation costs required under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The Housing Authority also has access to web-based platforms providing real-time data on funding levels, occupancy rates, and families served.

This is a formula grant distributed to approximately 6,000 public housing agencies nationwide under statutory formulas reflecting inventory characteristics and operational need, rather than through competitive application. The Public Housing Operating Fund provides operating subsidies to help housing authorities maintain services and operate minimum reserves across approximately 902,436 households nationally, serving roughly 1.59 million public housing residents.

Activities

Operating funds are used to fund day-to-day operational expenses associated with public housing as well as the administrative and program implementation expenses that public housing agencies (PHAS) are required to undertake under the 1937 housing act and program regulations. Such activities include management and operations, routine and preventative maintenance, anti-crime, anti-drug and security activities, operating costs for privately owned public housing units within mixed-finance projects, energy costs, resident supportive services, insurance, debt service and costs associated with administration and program implementation. Turnkey III projects are funded for units under the final lease purchase agreement for closing out the program. To support these activities, there is continued modernization of the information technology platforms. PHAS have access to web-based platforms that utilize real-time data to provide insight into their portfolios. PHAS can obtain metrics on their funding levels, occupancy rates, and the number of families served through rental assistance.

Expected outcomes

As a result of the activities performed, this program is expected to assist in funding the operating and maintenance expenses. This may include increased occupancy in public housing, decreased energy costs through regular maintenance and energy performance contracting and leverage federal resources. In addition to addressing the department's strategic goals of: • addressing the need for quality affordable rental homes by maintaining or improving upon the 96% occupancy rate of habitable units; • promoting housing as a platform to improve quality of life through supportive services, crime prevention efforts and resident engagement activities; and • helping to build inclusive communities free from discrimination by facilitating the implementation of affirmatively furthering fair housing measures.

Intended beneficiaries

The operating fund provides for the operation and maintenance of low-income housing projects to phas/projects. IT was created to assist housing authorities in providing decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families or individuals, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. A HA determines eligibility based on 1) annual gross income; 2) a person on who is elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and 3) U.S. Citizenship or eligible immigration status.

Subrecipient activities

The subrecipient activities are unknown at the time of award.