Who Qualifies as a Targeted Section 3 Worker in HUD-funded projects?

pbarcelona8
Jul 16
2 min read

Updated: Jul 27

Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 ensures that employment, training, and contracting opportunities generated by HUD-funded projects are directed—to the greatest extent feasible—to low- and very low-income individuals and the businesses that employ them.

🧩 Who Qualifies as a Targeted Section 3 Worker?

A Targeted Section 3 worker is a Section 3 worker who meets additional HUD-defined criteria based on housing status, residency, or employer.

🏢 Public Housing Financial Assistance

For public housing financial assistance, the definition of a Targeted Section 3 worker is a Section 3 worker who is also:

A worker employed by a Section 3 business concern; or
A worker who currently is, or who was when hired, as documented within the past five years: a resident of public housing or Section 8-assisted housing; a resident of other public housing projects or Section 8-assisted housing managed by the PHA that is expending assistance; or a YouthBuild participant.

🏘️ Housing and Community Development Financial Assistance

Includes programs such as CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA, and LHCHH. A Section 3 worker is considered “targeted” if they:

Are employed by a Section 3 business concern
Currently fit—or when hired within the past five years fit—at least one of the following:
- Live within the service area or neighborhood of the project —within one mile of the work site, or within a radius that includes 5,000 residents
- A YouthBuild participant

If you have questions about Section 3, please contact our compliance team: