Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/905

 PUBLIC LAW 101-625—NOV. 28, 1990 104 STAT. 4227 "(J) any other services and resources appropriate to assist eligible families to achieve economic independence and self- sufficiency. "(3) TERM AND EXTENSION.—Each family participating in a local program shall be required to ful^l its obligations under the contract of participation not later than 5 years after entering into the contract. The public housing agency shall extend the term of the contract for any family that requests an extension, upon a finding of the agency of good cause. "(4) EMPLOYMENT AND COUNSELING. — The contract of participation shall require the head of the participating family to seek suitable employment during the term of the contract. The public housing agency may, during such period, provide counseling for the family with respect to affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in the private housing market and money management counseling. "(d) MAXIMUM RENTS AND ESCROW SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. — "(1) MAXIMUM RENTS. —During the term of the contract of participation, the amount of rent paid by any participating family whose monthly adjusted income does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income for occupancy in the public housing unit or dwelling unit assisted under section 8 may not be increased on the basis of any increase in the earned income of the family, unless the increase results in an income exceeding 50 percent of the area median income. The Secretary shall provide for increased rents for participating families whose incomes are between 50 and 80 percent of the area median income, so that any family whose income increases to 80 percent or more of the area median income pays 30 percent of the family's monthly adjusted income for rent. Upon completion of the contract of participation, if the participating family continues to qualify for and reside in a dwelling unit in public housing or housing assisted under section 8, the rent charged the participating family shall be increased (if applicable) to 30 percent of the monthly adjusted income of the family. "(2) ESCROW SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.— For each participating family whose monthly adjusted income is less than 50 percent of the area median income, the difference between 30 percent of the adjusted income of the participating family and the amount of rent paid by a participating family shall be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account established by the public housing agency on behalf of the participating family. For families with incomes between 50 and 80 percent of the area median income, the Secretary shall provide for escrow of the difference between 30 percent of the family income and the simount paid by the family for rent as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1). The Secretary shall not escrow any amounts for any family whose adjusted income exceeds 80 percent of the area median income. Amounts in the escrow account may be withdrawn by the participating family only sifter the family is no longer a recipient of any Federal, State, or other public assistance for housing. "(e) EFFECT OF INCREASES IN FAMILY INCOME.— Any increase in the earned income of a family during the participation of the family in a local program established under this section may not be considered as income or a resource for purposes of eligibility of the family for other benefits, or amount of benefits payable to the family, under

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