On November 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs announced a new letter about criminal background screenings for residents in HUD-assisted housing. The letter, published on November 25, 2025, rescinds previous HUD documents, including Notice 2015-19 and earlier guidance on using criminal records in housing decisions. This update affects public housing agencies (PHAs) and property owners.
The letter outlines the responsibilities of HUD, PHAs, and owners to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing. It describes requirements for screening criminal history before admission, monitoring current residents, and implementing security measures. The guidance also explains regulations for denying admission or ending assistance based on criminal activity. The policy continues the ‘One Strike’ approach first introduced in 1996…