The annual plan is a public document that must be prepared in consultation with residents through one or more Resident Advisory Boards (RABs). RABs must represent the interests of both public housing residents and Section 8 residents. PHAs must make resources available to the RAB so that it may have meaningful input into the drafting of the plan. PHAs must hold public hearings to gather input from interested individuals and organizations. After the public hearings, the PHA is supposed to continue to work in partnership with the RAB in deciding whether to modify the plan after the hearings.
The annual plan is about the operations, programs, and services which the PHA will have for the upcoming fiscal year. It must contain 18 specific topics, describe discretionary policies that apply to public housing and Section 8 tenants, and describe all other rules and policies of the PHA. The one-year plan must have all the information that HUD requires and must be consistent with information and data available to HUD and the PHA, with the local Consolidated Plan, and with civil rights and other federal laws.