Effective October 1st, 2025, the Garfield County Housing Authority will be implementing the new inspection protocol, NSPIRE, for the Housing Choice Voucher and Project Based Voucher Program. NSPIRE will replace the current inspection protocol, Housing Quality Standards. The following items will still be required to meet the 2024 deadline.
- The NSPIRE standard for carbon monoxide alarms will still apply during this extension because it implements Congressional requirements already in effect.
- HUD will soon update the NSPIRE smoke alarm standard to include either hard wired or sealed, 10-year batteries smoke alarms. PHAs will be required to comply with this new standard before December 23, 2024, even if they are still under the previously defined HQS standard.
- The visual assessment standard for potential lead-based paint hazards still applies, as NSPIRE did not revise the existing requirement.
NSPIRE's Mission is to ensure that all residents live in safe, habitable dwellings, the items and components located inside the building, outside the building, and within the units of HUD housing must be functionally adequate, operable, and free of health and safety hazards.
The goals of NSPIRE:
- Align housing quality expectations across HUD programs
- Prioritize health and safety of residents
- Less focus on appearance
- Increased emphasis on the unit
- Modernize HUD's inspection process
- Decrease administrative burden on PHA's
- Streamline appeal process in PH and MF
- Improve service delivery
HOW TO READ THE NSPIRE STANDARDS
Each standard is organized into two sections that present key components of an inspectable element under the NSPIRE program. The front matter at the beginning of the standard describes attributes of the inspectable item and summarizes the defects that are citable as deficiencies. The second section provides further detail on each applicable deficiency by its inspectable location(s).
You can view and download HUD’s Standards Template Guide which provides an overview of how the NSPIRE standards are structured. The guide describes each section of the NSPIRE standard and lists all the rationale codes and descriptions.
For more information on how to read the NSPIRE Standards, CLICK HERE.
How to Navigate NSPIRE Standards
HUD’s template guide offers a structural overview of the NSPIRE standards. Each standard is organized into two (2) sections that present key components of an inspectable element under the NSPIRE program. The first section describes attributes of the item and identifies each deficiency to be evaluated. The second section provides further detail on each applicable deficiency by its inspectable location(s). Review the template guide here or learn more about how to read the NSPIRE standards.
Try the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) NSPIRE Inspection Tool and Checklist
Agencies administering HUD's Section 8 voucher programs can use this checklist in MS Excel and two PDF formats to conduct an NSPIRE inspection. The HCV checklist is an optional tool to help inspectors that use a paper-based checklist in areas without electronic tools or internet connectivity. REAC will issue an NSPIRE software application for voucher programs in the coming months. Note: agencies that participated in the NSPIRE Demonstration may continue using the app they were already using to conduct NSPIRE inspections.
NSPIRE Checklist PDF (for printing and manual completion)
