Free CSPH Practice Questions

Question 1

A public-housing rent worksheet lists annual income of $31,200 and adjusted annual income of $28,800. The PHA uses the standard income-based rent calculation, with a $50 minimum and no welfare rent, proration, or other adjustment. The scheduled monthly utility allowance is $135; the family's latest utility bill is $170. How much monthly tenant rent is payable to the PHA?

Accepted Answer

$585

Answer

$550

Answer

$645

Answer

$720

Question 2

A reviewer recommends permanently denying a public-housing applicant because of a nine-year-old conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine. The offense occurred in a privately owned home that received no federal housing assistance. For offenses on such premises, the PHA's written policy considers this conduct only during the preceding seven years. There has been no subsequent criminal activity, and all other admission requirements are satisfied. Which action follows from these facts?

Accepted Answer

Proceed with admission under the PHA's stated screening policy.

Answer

Apply the federal permanent bar regardless of the offense location.

Answer

Defer admission until the conviction is expunged.

Answer

Request a HUD exception to the permanent bar before admitting the family.

Question 3

When a two-bedroom apartment with a roll-in shower becomes vacant, two households need its features. Elena already occupies a nonaccessible two-bedroom apartment in the same public-housing project. Morgan is a qualified applicant at the top of the waiting list. Both needs are verified, both households fit the unit, and no other priority affects the vacancy. Who receives the first offer?

Accepted Answer

Elena, the current resident who needs the features.

Answer

Morgan, because waiting-list priority takes precedence over a resident transfer.

Answer

Whichever household applied first.

Answer

Either household, selected by a lottery between the two qualified families.

Question 4

Water is pouring from a locked public-housing apartment into the occupied unit below. Maintenance has reasonable cause to believe a pipe has burst. The household is away, no adult can be reached, and waiting will worsen the damage. Which entry procedure applies to this emergency?

Accepted Answer

Enter for emergency repairs; leave the date, time, and purpose in writing.

Answer

Wait until the ordinary two-day notice period has expired.

Answer

Enter for repairs and give only an oral explanation after the household returns.

Answer

Continue trying to reach an adult household member and enter only after obtaining permission.

Question 5

At a 2026 public-housing admission examination, the head's verified annual wages are $31,800. Her 15-year-old dependent earns $4,200 and receives $3,600 in Social Security survivor benefits. Her 20-year-old dependent is a full-time student earning $8,400. These are the household's only receipts. The PHA has fully implemented HOTMA, and the applicable annual dependent amount is $500. What annual income is used before rent deductions?

Accepted Answer

$35,900

Answer

$35,400

Answer

$40,100

Answer

$43,800

Question 6

Storm damage leaves a public-housing unit unsafe and substantially reduces its usable living space. The family reports it promptly and did not cause the damage. Repairs have not been completed within a reasonable time, and the PHA has no standard alternative accommodations available. Full rent continues to appear on the ledger. What relief is required?

Accepted Answer

Abate rent in proportion to the damage and loss of use.

Answer

Suspend late fees while continuing to charge the contract rent.

Answer

Defer any rent credit until a court finds the PHA negligent.

Answer

Credit rent after the PHA receives insurance proceeds covering the unit's loss of use.

Question 7

Four months after choosing flat rent, a resident's necessary child-care costs rise substantially while her earnings stay the same. She requests income-based rent. The PHA verifies that the increased expense creates a financial hardship making flat rent unaffordable and that income-based rent would be lower. How should the PHA implement her request?

Accepted Answer

Permit an immediate switch to income-based rent for the verified hardship.

Answer

Keep flat rent until the next annual choice.

Answer

Subtract the added child-care expense from flat rent.

Answer

First require the resident to qualify for a separate minimum-rent hardship exemption.

Question 8

For a 2026 public-housing examination under fully implemented HOTMA, a family's only asset is a $38,000 savings account earning $190 a year. The applicable exclusion threshold for combined non-necessary personal property is $52,787. No separate income exclusion applies to the interest. Which treatment correctly separates asset value from income?

Accepted Answer

Exclude the balance from net family assets; count the actual interest.

Answer

Exclude the account balance and its interest from the asset and income calculations.

Answer

Count the balance in net family assets and include the actual interest as income.

Answer

Exclude the balance; use imputed rather than actual interest.

Question 9

A tenant requests a reserved parking space for her visiting nurse. Her mobility disability is already documented, but neither the request nor the existing record explains why the available accessible parking fails to meet her needs. What additional information may the PHA reasonably seek?

Accepted Answer

Information showing how the reserved space addresses her disability-related need.

Answer

Updated confirmation that she has a qualifying disability.

Answer

A diagnosis explaining why nursing visits are required.

Answer

No additional information, because the documented disability is sufficient to grant this parking request.

Question 10

A public-housing property receives a final NSPIRE score of 93. The ordinary HUD inspection cycle applies, with no waiver or special assessment arrangement. Which statement correctly pairs the ordinary HUD inspection cycle with the PHA's self-inspection duty?

Accepted Answer

HUD every three years; the PHA inspects every unit at least annually.

Answer

HUD every three years; the PHA inspects a representative sample of units annually.

Answer

HUD every two years; the PHA inspects all occupied and vacant units annually.

Answer

HUD annually; the PHA inspects each unit once every three years.

Free CSPH Practice Questions

Domain 1: Evaluating eligibility and income.

Question 1

Question 2

Domain 2: Calculating rents and utility allowances accurately.

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 3: Understanding the tasks and processes associated with the public housing occupancy cycle.

Question 5

Question 6

Domain 4: Effective interviewing and screening.

Question 7

Question 8

Domain 5: Maintaining waitlists.

Question 9

Domain 6: Understanding lease and grievance procedures.

Question 10

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