Resident councils/resident management corporations. Any eligible resident council/resident management corporation as defined in subpart B of this part is eligible to participate in a program administered under this subpart.

Activities. Activities to be funded and carried out by an eligible resident council or resident management corporation, as defined in subpart B of this part, must improve the living conditions and public housing operations and may include any combination of, but are not limited to, the following:

Resident capacity building. (i) Training Board members in community organizing, Board development, and leadership training;

Determining the feasibility of resident management enablement for a specific project or projects; and

Assisting in the actual creation of an RMC, such as consulting and legal assistance to incorporate, preparing by-laws and drafting a corporate charter.

Resident management. (i) Training residents, as potential employees of an RMC, in skills directly related to the operation, management, maintenance and financial systems of a project;

Training of residents with respect to fair housing requirements; and

Gaining assistance in negotiating management contracts, and designing a long-range planning system.

Resident management business development. (i) Training related to resident-owned business development and technical assistance for job training and placement in RMC developments;

Technical assistance and training in resident managed business development through:

Feasibility and market studies;

Development of business plans;

Outreach activities; and

Innovative financing methods including revolving loan funds; and

Legal advice in establishing a resident managed business entity.

Social support needs (such as self-sufficiency and youth initiatives). (i) Feasibility studies to determine training and social services needs;

Training in management-related trade skills, computer skills, etc;

Management-related employment training and counseling;

Coordination of support services;

Training for programs such as child care, early childhood development, parent involvement, volunteer services, parenting skills, before and after school programs;

Training programs on health, nutrition and safety;

Workshops for youth services, child abuse and neglect prevention, tutorial services, in partnership with community-based organizations such as local Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Boy/Girl Scouts, Campfire and Big Brother/Big Sisters, etc. Other HUD programs such as the Youth Sports Program and the Public Housing Drug Elimination Programs also provide funding in these areas;

Training in the development of strategies to successfully implement a youth program. For example, assessing the needs and problems of the youth, improving youth initiatives that are currently active, and training youth, housing authority staff, resident management corporations and resident councils on youth initiatives and program activities; and

Homeownership Opportunity. Determining feasibility for homeownership by residents, including assessing the feasibility of other housing (including HUD owned or held single or multi-family) affordable for purchase by residents.

General. (i) Required training on HUD regulations and policies governing the operation of low-income public housing including contracting/procurement regulations, financial management, capacity building to develop the necessary skills to assume management responsibilities at the project and property management;

Purchasing hardware, i.e., computers and software, office furnishings and supplies, in connection with business development. Every effort must be made to acquire donated or discounted hardware;

Training in accessing other funding sources; and

Hiring trainers or other experts (RCs/RMCs must ensure that this training is provided by a qualified housing management specialist, a community organizer, the HA, or other sources knowledgeable about the program).