The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) is a central part of HUD's strategy to preserve and improve affordable rental housing. RAD is designed to provide stable public funding to assisted housing projects, increase the ability of those projects to access private capital, and enhance the long-term viability of converted projects. RAD also provides certain tenant protections, such as prohibiting the rescreening of residents after the conversion; the right-to-return to an assisted unit if residents need to be temporarily relocated during rehabilitation or construction; and requiring rent increases above a certain threshold that result from conversion to be phased in gradually. In addition, RAD tenants have a right to exercise a "Choice Mobility" option, which makes them eligible to obtain a tenant-based Section 8 Voucher after residing at a RAD property for a minimum period. PD&R has supported research on RAD since its authorization, with reports completed in 2014, 2016 and 2019. This second comprehensive evaluation of RAD, conducted between 2019 and 2023, included five components: (1) Implementation and Impact of the Choice Mobility Option; (2) Long-Term Preservation and Financial Viability; (3) Asset Management of RAD-Converted Properties; (4) Rental Affordability; and (5) Organizational Change of Public Housing Agencies. Four final reports were published in 2024 and are available here. The fifth report is expected by early 2025.

Note: The status of this project is ongoing.