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Landlord's
Obligations: The role of the landlord in the voucher
program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a
tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the
program's housing quality standards and be maintained up to
those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance
payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the
services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant
and the contract signed with the PHA.
Tenant's
Obligations: When a family selects a housing unit, and
the PHA approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease
with the landlord for at least one year. The tenant may be
required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the
first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the
family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease.
The Housing
Project concept failed for the most part, and the government has
realized that a better approach was to assist by
“mainstreaming” the disadvantaged into an area they may be
able to live a healthier, more productive life and have access
to more opportunities.
Its purpose
is to assist eligible elderly, or disabled or very-low income
households (as defined by HUD)
to secure decent, safe and sanitary housing.
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Because
Section 8 is not an entitlement program (like Social Security,
for example), there is a waiting list. Per federal regulations,
applications for the waiting list are available periodically
when the estimated waiting period is not so long as to give
applicants false hope of receiving assistance in the near
future.
A Section 8
office assists eligible households by paying a portion of their
rent. This housing assistance payment (HAP) is sent to property
owners (Landlords) monthly. The tenant pays the balance. For an
explanation of how tenant share is calculated, see the Voucher
sections on HUD. For each county HUD has a set standard payment
schedule for Studio – 4 Bedroom Homes.
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Tenants
coming into the program are given a voucher and typically 60
days to find an apartment. They may elect to remain in their
current apartment if the landlord accepts Section 8 or they may
move. If the recipient needs additional time to secure an
apartment, the voucher may be extended up to sixty (60)
additional days. The recipient must submit documentation to the
Housing Authority that he/she has been actually searching for a
residence. The apartment must pass inspection to ensure it meets
the HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS, or HQS, set by the federal
government. The authority providing the payments requires an
inspection of the home yearly.
All Section
8 participants (tenants) are reviewed annually (re-certified) to
determine any changes in family income, deductible allowances
and family composition.
Habitat for
Humanity
Local
Religious Groups
Civic
Organizations
See more
on Section 8
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