Section 3

HUD Section 3

The purpose of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 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 toward low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low-income persons.”

RHA works to ensure the provision of employment, training, contracting, and other economic opportunities to its residents and other low-income persons. In doing so, RHA utilizes Section 3 as a means of promoting stability and self-sufficiency to Section 3 Residents.

Section 3 Job Bank

RHA has created a Job Bank for residents of the Rockford Housing Authority and residents of the metropolitan area to self-certify as low-income or very low-income.

Once you self-certify through our site you will then receive job alerts from our contractor/vendor base. You will also be notified of other Section 3 opportunities in our community. Signing up for the RHA Job Bank is easy! If this opportunity interests you, then click the button below to begin:

*You will be prompted to create an RHA Section 3 Account upon completion of the Section 3 Self-Certification Form.

Download Section 3 Forms Required For Contractors Only

Section 3 Vlogs

Over the last eight decades HUD has evolved itself to continuously meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable families, which extend beyond the boundary of providing a safe, clean and affordable place to call home. Programs like section 3 were created as a strategy that would empower residents of government-funded affordable housing programs and low-income workers to a life of self-sufficiency and independence.

Section 3 advocates for local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement and individual self-sufficiency, requiring that HUD funded contractors to the greatest extent feasible, provide job training employment opportunities and contracting opportunities for low or very low-income residents in our community.

This series is an inside look at how folks approached the future through Section 3, with a forward-focused mindset, as something to be created and nurtured in the present moment. The takeaway for today: make choices and commitments, and take action, with tomorrow in mind.

Applicability

Section 3 requirements apply to all projects and activities funded in whole or in part with covered funds. If any HUD funding is used for the project/activity, then the entire project budget is subject to Section 3 regulations.

Section 3 requirements do not apply to projects and activities of RHA that do no receive any HUD funding, such as non-subsidized market rate developments owned by RHA. Section 3 requirements do not apply to any agreement or contract for the purchase of supplies and materials only.

View the RHA Section 3 Policy

View Local Section 3 Employment Opportunities

If you have completed the Section 3 Self-Certification form, then you have authorization to utilize the RHA Section 3 Job Bank to apply for area jobs provided by RHA Contractors and Vendors.

Forgotten the Password to Your Account? Click Here.

Who Qualifies as Section 3?

Section 3 is a HUD regulation which states that any entity that receives section 3 covered funding must be section 3 compliant. Section 3 compliance is achieved by providing education, training, and/or employment opportunities to Section 3 person(s).

A Section 3 person is an income-eligible* individual who resides in the service area of the housing authority, is a public housing resident, housing choice voucher resident, or youth build participant.

Section 3 Income Limit

$39,000

*If a person earns at or below $39,000, they are qualified as Section 3.

What is a Section 3 Business Concern?

A Section 3 business concern is a business:

That is fifty-one (51%) or more owned by Section 3 residents; or
Whose permanent, full-time employees includes persons, at least 30 percent of whom are current Section 3 residents, or within three years of the date of first employment with the Section 3 business concern were Section 3 residents; or
That provides evidence of a commitment to subcontract a minimum of 25 percent of the total contract award amount (including any modifications) to Section 3 business concerns that meet the requirements described in 1 or 2.

Please email section3@rockfordha.org with any questions.