A Memorandum of Understanding (or even MOU, for short) can be a written agreement. In the instance of community housing, an MOU is an authorized arrangement involving a renter organization and also a housing jurisdiction. Some times an MOU can also be Referred to as a Memorandum of agreement (or even MOA). MOUs and MOAs will be exactly the very same thing.

An MOU spells out a frequent understanding of the functioning relationship involving a renter organization and also a housing authority. It explains what kind of service a housing authority will offer a tenant group and creates meaningful approaches for renters to participate. Here is what a number of residents in Community home explained about the way their MOU aided their tenant association:

Exactly why is an MOU significant?

'' there certainly are a range of grounds A memorandum of understanding is important and worth pushing , even though the negotiation process does take some time.

Sets a better tone to get tenant participation

Even though regulations require tenant participation and recognize it is beneficial to the running of public home, producing an MOU makes both renters and housing authorities longer familiar with regulations. Negotiating an MOU increases a home authority's awareness regarding its own authorized responsibilities to call tenants in forming home ability policies. It also provides tenants the chance to define involvement in ways which are genuinely meaningful for the renter neighborhood.

Builds a working relationship

The procedure for actually negotiating an MOU helps renters and home governments construct a greater working partnership , better listening skills, and also more empathy for the conditions that one other group faces. Tenants develop more thorough understanding of exactly what challenges housing authorities need to deal together --for instance, the way to assist limited funding. Housing governments create a better understanding of what issues tenants are having and also their thoughts for solutions that will work in their area.

Sets up a structure to get a partnership

A memorandum of understanding places written down what the partnership among a renter organization and a housing ability will be. It supplies a composition to get an operating romance. As an example, although laws state the home jurisdiction needs to meet"often" with renters, an MOU can establish a regular schedule for your own home authority and the renter set to generally meet --sayonce per few months.

Clarifies how Laws will undoubtedly be interpreted

Although legislation offer a frame for resident participation, an MOU can clarify the way your home authority will take out its obligations under law. As an example, regulations state a home authority must ensure"open up communications" together with the tenant organization. An MOU could clarify that"open communications" signifies: use of certain documents, progress note of any adjustments in coverages, and replies from writing from the home authority to written opinions submitted by tenants.

Protects a renter company's rights over time

Your present renter association can have a fantastic working relationship together with the current director, but imagine if your brand new director is available in who is less open to renter involvement? Or suppose if the direction at the tenant association changes and it is not as democratic? An mou protects renter groups during time as it claims that the tenant group has certain rights regardless of that runs the authority or the renter group. Could give national and state tenants exactly the same rights

If your housing authority has both federal and state community housing, an MOU has been a chance to get country and national public housing renters covered by identical guidelines. Some times you will find gaps between both national and state regulations and laws, and some times these differences could be monetized in an MOU so that state and federal renters have the exact legal rights.