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EVENTS
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PARTICIPANT
INFORMATION
What is the Section 8
Housing Choice Voucher Program?
Section 8 is a free-choice approach to
assisted housing. You are free to choose any type dwelling
unit as long as it meets certain requirements for rent limits,
rent reasonableness and Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The
landlord retains private property rights, including
management, tenant selection and maintenance. The U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determines
the rules and regulations for the Section 8
Program.
Choosing a
Dwelling Unit: In choosing a unit you should consider the
following:
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Condition of
the
unit; |
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Cost of
utilities and whether the unit is energy
efficiency; |
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Location of
unit in proximity to schools, public transportation,
employment, shopping, etc.;
and |
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Whether the
rent is reasonable. |
In your packet you
will find a list of owners/landlords with available units.
This list also includes landlords with units designed to meet
the needs of disabled tenants.
Bedroom Size
Requirements: Vouchers
for a given bedroom size are assigned according to the
following
requirements:
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No more than
two persons are required to occupy a bedroom; |
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Persons of
different generations, the opposite sex (other than
spouse), and unrelated adults are not required to share
a
bedroom; |
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Children, with
the exception of infants (under twelve (12) months of
age), are not required to share a bedroom with persons
of different generations including their parents; |
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A child is not
required to share a bedroom with another child five (5)
years of age or older who is of the opposite sex;
however, children of the same sex and generation are
required to share a bedroom regardless of age; |
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A voucher for a
one-bedroom unit will be assigned to a single-person
household only when there are no zero-bedroom units are
available. |
Exceptions to
these standards are considered on a case-by-case basis upon
written request by the participant.
The term of the
voucher, or initial amount of time you have to find a
unit, is 60 calendar days. MHA may grant you an extension for
up to a maximum of 120 days based on hardship. However, it is
your responsibility to contact your representative and submit
a written request.
After you are
approved by the owner/landlord, you and landlord complete the
Request for Tenancy Approval (Form HUD-52517) included in your
briefing packet. It must be completed in entirety and signed.
The Request for Tenancy Approval and the lease (if applicable)
must be returned to MHA immediately. We will review the signed
Request for Tenancy Approval and determine if the rent
is affordable based on your family’s income and if the rent is
reasonable when compared to units in the private market
(Rent Reasonableness).
How do we
figure your rent? Your
portion of rent is calculated as…
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The greater of
30% of monthly adjusted income,
or |
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or 10% of
monthly unadjusted gross income,
or |
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a minimum rent
of $25.00, whichever is greater, minus any
applicable utility allowance plus any amount that
Gross Rent exceeds the applicable payment
standard. |
Your portion of
rent plus any applicable utility allowance equals the
Total Tenant Payment. You cannot rent a unit if your
Total Tenant Payment exceeds 40% of your
monthly-adjusted income if rent is above payment standard. If
the unit is not determined affordable or the unit does not
meet Rent Reasonableness requirements, you and the landlord
will be notified in writing.
Responsibilities
of the Maywood Housing
Authority
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Verify and
review family composition and income to determine
eligibility; |
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Explain the
rules of the program to the family and
owner/landlord; |
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Issue a Voucher
to the family; |
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Perform HQS
inspection to ensure unit meets minimum standards
(initially, annually and
interim); |
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Sign contract
with owner/landlord on behalf of the family when the
selected unit meets HQS requirements; |
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Make housing
assistance payments to the owner/landlord in a timely
manner; |
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Ensure
owner/landlord and family continue to comply with
program rules; |
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Provide family
and owner/landlord with prompt, courteous, accurate and
professional service. |
Responsibilities
of the Owner/Landlord
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Comply with
fair housing laws and equal opportunity
requirements; |
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Comply with the
terms of the Housing Assistance Payments Contract (Form
HUD-52641), |
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Ensure the unit
continues to meet HQS
requirements; |
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Cooperate with
the tenant by responding promptly to request for needed
repairs; |
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Notify MHA of
any program violations; |
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Enforce
the lease, collect the rent due, any security deposit
and charges for damages to unit by
the family; |
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Screen families
for suitability as renters; |
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Provisions of
modification to a dwelling unit occupied or to be
occupied by a disabled person. (MHA can help with
referrals to agencies that make funds available for
modifications to units for disabled persons.) |
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Notify MHA in
writing of any address or telephone number change;
and |
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Notify MHA in
writing of changes in ownership (selling property) or
agents. |
MHA must provide your current and
previous landlord name and address to a prospective landlord
upon request.
The owner/landlord
determines whether to require a Security Deposit and
the amount of the deposit. If the owner/landlord collects a
deposit, the amount collected may not be in excess of private
market practice, or in excess of amounts charged to unassisted
tenants.
Responsibilities
of the Family
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Provide MHA
with complete and accurate information; |
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Comply with the
Family Obligations listed on the Voucher; |
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Cooperate in
attending all appointments scheduled by MHA; |
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Locate a unit
that is suitable for the family, meets HQS requirements,
and meets rent reasonable requirements (as determined by
MHA when compared to similar unassisted units in
immediate vicinity) |
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Keep the unit
safe and sanitary; |
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Comply with the
terms of the lease with the owner/landlord; |
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Notify MHA of
any changes in income or family composition within 30
days of change; |
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Cooperate with
the owner/landlord by informing him/her in writing of
any necessary repairs; |
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Notify MHA of
any known program
violations. |
Grounds for
Termination: MHA may, at
any time, deny/terminate program assistance for the following
reasons:
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Violation of
family obligations under the program; |
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If any member
has been evicted from Public Housing; |
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If any member
of the family has been terminated from any federal
housing program; |
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If any member
of the family commits drug-related criminal activity, or
violent criminal activity; |
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If any member
of the family commits fraud, bribery or any other
corrupt or criminal act in connection with any federal
housing program; |
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If the family
owes an amount to MHA or another federal housing
program; |
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If the family
has not reimbursed MHA for amount paid to an owner under
the HAP contract; |
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If the family
breaches an agreement to repay amounts owed to
MHA; |
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If a family
participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
Program fails to comply, without good cause, with the
FSS Contract; and |
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If the family
has engaged in or threatened abusive or violent behavior
toward housing agency
personnel. |
Your Right to
Appeal: If MHA denies or
terminates your assistance for any of the above reasons, you
have the right to request an informal hearing. The family will
be notified in writing of the denial or termination with
reason(s), and must call the designated MHA Representative
within ten (10) calendar days to request an informal
hearing.
Portability: Is
the ability of the family to move from the current housing
agency's jurisdiction to another housing agency's
jurisdiction. Voucher families who are eligible may move
anywhere in the United States where a housing agency is
administering the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. In
order to "port" to another housing agency you must have been a
resident of Maywood at least one (1) year. If you decide you
would like to move to another jurisdiction outside the Maywood
city limits, you should contact your MHA Representative and
they will provide the necessary information and procedures.
The following is the responsibility of the family requesting a
portable move:
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Sign and date a
statement requesting to relocate outside MHA's
jurisdiction stating the receiving housing agency's name
and address; |
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Issue the
current landlord a proper notice to vacate the unit
(applies to current participants only); |
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Submit a
Request for Tenancy Approval with the receiving housing
agency by the established deadline. The receiving
housing agency's payment and occupancy standards will
apply when the family chooses to relocate which may
change the bedroom size of the voucher. |
The following are
housing agencies bordering Maywood:
Oak Park Bellwood
Westchester Broadview etc.
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