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In the Philadelphia Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, families
are given vouchers that help them pay their rent with private landlords.
Families usually pay 26% to 28% (depending on how many are in the
family) of their before-tax income for rent and essential utilities
(gas, electric, water). The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) pays
the remainder of the family 's rent directly to the landlord. In order
to participate in the Section 8 program, a tenant family must meet PHA
's eligibility guidelines. Similarly, a landlord must be approved by PHA
and the house or apartment (unit) must meet federal Housing Quality
Standards (HQS).
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Philadelphia
Section 8 Guides from the Housing Authority
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PHA,
the Landlord and Tenant: Have different roles and
responsibilities in the Section 8 voucher program. The result is
a triangular relationship with each side relying on the other
two to work.
PHA
and Tenant: The tenant signs an agreement with PHA that
outlines the family obligations under the Section 8 voucher
program.
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PHA and the Landlord: PHA signs a Housing Assistance
Payments (HAP) contract with the landlord that sets rent subsidy
and establishes the landlord 's obligations under the program.
- Landlord and Tenant: The landlord and the tenant
enter into a written lease for the unit creating a
landlord-tenant relationship. Many of the key terms of the
lease, such as how much rent the tenant must pay, and who must
pay for the utilities, are prescribed by PHA This should be
clear in the lease..
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Reasons for Termination
In
general, PHA can terminate a tenant from the Section 8 Voucher
Program for violating a family obligation. Under federal law,
there are certain cases in which PHA must terminate a
tenant (these terminations are mandatory) and other cases in
which PHA may terminate a tenant (these are cases in
which PHA has discretion in the decision making). In either
case, before terminating a tenant from the program, PHA must
provide the tenant with a notice that includes the reason that
PHA is terminating the tenant and an opportunity for the tenant
to request a hearing.
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