Chapter 1 - San Diego Housing Commission

Chapter 14 – Self-Sufficiency Action Plan
The final results of the Administrative File Review process must be provided in writing to the
participant within twenty (20) business days from the date of the receipt of the request for review.
The results shall include a brief statement of the basis for the decision, including the policies and/or
regulation(s) governing the decision. If the participant does not agree with the determination of the
Administrative Review, the participant may request an Informal Hearing.
Request for Informal Hearing
An Informal Hearing may be requested by a participant who disagrees with the decision of the
Administrative File Review. The results of the Administrative File Review will include a hearing notice
and an explanation of the hearing process. The hearing notice will advise the participant they must
request an informal hearing within 17 work days from the date of mailing of said notice.
Should the participant submit a request for a hearing on an untimely basis (later than 17 work days
from the date of mailing of the hearing notice by the SDHC), staff will inform the participant by mail
within ten calendar days of such receipt that the participant is not entitled to a hearing. However, a
participant who has submitted an untimely hearing request within one year from the date the
hearing notice was issued, and has shown good cause, may be granted an informal hearing.
The participant may withdraw his or her hearing request at any time by informing SDHC in writing.
After a hearing date has been scheduled, the family may request to reschedule, only one time, upon
showing "good cause," which is defined as an unavoidable conflict that seriously affects the health,
safety or welfare of the family. If the participant fails to appear without notice, the hearing will be
considered abandoned and SDHC shall follow through with the intended action. A hearing is deemed
abandoned if the participant fails to appear within 30 minutes of the scheduled hearing.
Prior to the Informal Hearing, the FSS participant may review his or her FSS file and receive copies of
any pertinent information or documentation. SDHC must also be given the opportunity to examine
any participant documents that are directly relevant to the hearing. Any documents the participant
wishes to be considered during the hearing must be submitted to the FSS Program within three (3)
business days of the date of the scheduled hearing. SDHC must be allowed to copy any such
documents that the participant submits. Any documents not made available for examination on
request by either party prior to the hearing may not be presented at the hearing.
As necessary, and if requested in advance, special accommodations such as interpreters or
translators or special venues will be arranged in order to accommodate participants with
communication and/or accessibility barriers. The Informal Hearing will be conducted by any person
designated by the SDHC, other than a person who made or approved the decision under review or a
subordinate of that person. A Hearing Officer appointed by SDHC will regulate the conduct of the
hearing. The participant has a right to counsel, at his/her own expense. Both SDHC and the
participant must have an opportunity to present evidence and/or witnesses as provided in the
approved Section 8 Administrative Plan for SDHC and the approved SDHC Admissions and Continued
Occupancy Plan for conventional Public Housing.
The Hearing Officer shall make a determination as to whether the rules or regulations were correctly
or incorrectly interpreted or applied based only on the information submitted at the hearing. A
Notice of Hearing Findings shall be provided, in writing, to the participant within twenty (20)
business days from the conclusion of the hearing.
The SDHC hearing policies and procedures as contained in the Section 8 Administrative Plan, shall be
the adopted policy and procedures for the FSS Program.
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