The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires all non-exempt adults over 18 years old to complete eight hours of community service and/or self-sufficiency activities per month.
County Housing will give every family a copy of the Community Service Policy when they first sign their lease, as well as send them a letter indicating which family members must complete community service.
If a family member needs to complete community service, the letter will have a list of places the service can be completed. Upon completion, the family member will fill out a form to be signed by the volunteer organization.
Informal Hearing
Request
Here are some eligible self-sufficiency activities (including but not limited to):
- Job readiness or job training
- Training programs through local one-stop career centers, workforce investment boards, or other training providers
- Employment counseling, work placement, or basic skills training
- Education, including higher education (junior college or college), GED classes, or reading, financial, or computer literacy classes
- Apprenticeships (formal or informal)
- English proficiency or English as a second language (ESL) classes
- Budgeting and credit counseling
- Any other program necessary to ready a participant to work (such as substance abuse or mental health counseling)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exempt from this requirement?
- Individuals aged 62 years or older
- Blind or disabled individuals who certify they are unable to comply with the service requirements due to their disability
- Primary caregivers to someone 62 or older, blind, or disabled
- Individuals engaged in work activities, including training programs (minimum of 20 hours per week)
- Individuals who meet the requirements of being exempted under a state program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the state of Missouri, including a state-administered welfare-to-work program. Exemption applies to anyone whose characteristics or family situation meets the welfare agency exemption criteria and can be verified
- Individuals who are a member of a family receiving assistance, benefits, or services under a state program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of Missouri, including a state-administered welfare-to-work program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and has not be found by the state or other administering entity to be in non-compliance with such a program
What counts as community service?
Community service is voluntary work:
- That has a public benefit
- Improves quality of life
- Enhances resident self-sufficiency
What is not considered community service?
- Employment
- Political activities
- Any community services at profit-motivated entities
- Volunteer work performed at homes or offices of general private citizens
- Court-ordered or probation-based work
What eligible activities are included?
Activities for local public or not-for-profit institutions such as:
- Schools
- Head Start programs
- Before or after-school programs
- Childcare centers
- Adult daycare programs
- Homeless shelters
- Feeding programs
- Food banks
- Clothes closets
Not-for-profit organizations serving County Housing residents or their children:
- Boy or Girl Scouts
- 4-H Clubs
- Police Assistance League (PAL)
- Organized children’s recreation
- Mentoring or education programs
- Big Brothers or Big Sisters
- Garden centers
- Community clean-up programs
- Neighborhood beautification programs
Programs funded under the Older Americans Act:
- Green Thumb
- Service Corps of Retired Executives
- Senior meals programs
- Senior centers
- Meals on Wheels
Activities
- Public or not-for-profit organizations dedicated to seniors, youth, children, residents, citizens, special-needs populations or with missions to enhance the environment, historic resources, cultural identities, neighborhoods, or performing arts
- Improving grounds or providing gardens at Authority properties (so long as such work does not alter the County Housing’s insurance coverage); or work through resident organizations to help other residents with problems, including serving on the Resident Advisory Board (RAB)
- Care for the children of other residents so parents may volunteer