Transcript No Slide Title

HOUSING CHOICE
VOUCHER PROGRAM
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* AGENDA *
 Introduction and Summary of Programs
 General overview of the HCV Program
 Roles and responsibilities
 Steps to participate in the program
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Summary of Rental Assistance Programs
 The Assisted Housing Department provides rental assistance to
approximately 5,900 families and 15,000 individuals each month through
various rental assistance programs.
 All rental assistance programs operate similar to the Housing Choice
Voucher Program and are outlined in the following chart.
Program
# units
Partner
Housing Choice Vouchers
5,402
Veteran’s Affairs Supportive
Housing Vouchers
405
Total Vouchers
5,807
Shelter Plus Care Grants
63
Austin Travis County Integral Care
Tenant Based Rental Assistance
65
City of Austin and Salvation Army
Total
5,935
Veteran’s Administration
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Overview of the
Housing Choice
Voucher Program
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The Housing
Choice Voucher
Program
Designed to maintain regular owner/tenant
relationships while promoting affordable rental
housing in the City of Austin
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The Housing Choice Voucher Program
 The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally
funded program.
 The program provides a rent subsidy for eligible
families to make rent affordable.
 Families select a unit of their choice in the private
rental market.
 Families pay between 30% & 40% of their income
towards rent. The Housing Authority pays the
balance directly to the property owner.
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HCV Program’s
Roles & Responsibilities
1. The Owner
2. The Housing Authority
3. The Family
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The Owner
 Screen and interview families who apply
 Maintain the property by making repairs in a timely
manner
 Collect application fees, security deposits and the
tenant’s monthly rent portion
 Manage the property and enforce the lease
 Comply with the terms of the Housing Assistance
Payment Contract
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The Owner
 Comply with fair housing laws and equal
opportunity requirements
 Notify the Housing Authority if a tenant vacates the
property
 Notify the Housing Authority of an owner change
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The Housing Authority
 Determine eligibility of program applicants
 Develop and enforce local HCV policy
 Educate owners and tenants on program
requirements
 Issue vouchers to families
 Inspect the properties for compliance with housing
quality standards
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The Housing Authority
 Send housing assistance payments to the owner
 Conduct annual re-exams of the family’s income and
composition and adjust rent portions if necessary
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The Family
 Provide the Housing Authority with complete and
accurate information
 Report changes in income or family composition
 Locate a suitable unit and pay security deposits and
application fees
 Attend scheduled appointments and return
documents on time
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The Family
 Maintain the property and repair any damages
beyond normal wear and tear
 Comply with the terms of the lease
 Pay their portion of rent on time to the owner
 Comply with all family obligations under the
Housing Choice Voucher Program
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Steps to participate
in the Housing
Choice Voucher
Program
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STEPS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM
 List a property - GoSection8.com and the
partner portal are available free of charge
 Screen and select a tenant based on your
screening criteria
 Collect application fees and security deposit
 Submit a completed Request for Tenancy
approval form which will be provided by
the tenant
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STEPS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM
 An inspector will contact you in
approximately 24 hours after receiving the
Request for Tenancy Approval to set a date
and time for an initial inspection
 The requested rent must be reasonable
compared to similar unassisted units.
 The unit needs to pass a housing quality
standards inspections (HQS). A notice with
any items needing repairs will be provided.
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STEPS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM
 After the property passes a HQS inspection,
a notice will be sent to the owner and
tenant indicating the approved contract
rent and rent portions
 The owner signs a Housing Assistance
Payment Contract (HAP) and provides a
copy of the signed lease
 The HAP contract and lease may be
emailed.
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Receiving the Housing
Assistance Payment
 The effective date of the first payment starts the day
the unit passes inspection and the tenant moves into
the unit.
 The first payment will be deposited electronically into
your bank account within 15-30 days.
 Payments thereafter will be
electronically deposited the
first of the month.
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Additional Information
Annually, the family’s income and
composition will be reviewed and the unit
will be inspected for compliance with
housing quality standards.
Families are held accountable for any
damages they cause beyond normal wear
and tear.
Repairs must be completed within 30 days
or 24 hours for life threatening deficiencies.
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PARTNER PORTAL PROVIDES EASY
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
 Partner Portal is available 24/7. The site provides
owners with access to Housing Assistance Payment
(HAP) details, inspection results, and the status of the
tenant’s re-examination.
 Partner Portal also contains quick links to various
forms, publications, and program announcements.
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Forms
1. Request for Tenancy Approval
2. W-9
3. Tax Identification
4. Direct Deposit form
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Payment Standards
Number of
bedrooms
Eff.
L/L pays all
utilities
$715
1
2
3
$876 $1,102 $1,492
4
5
$1,809
$2,081
Effective 2/1/2015
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Contact Information
Housing Authority of the City of Austin
1124 South IH-35
Austin, TX 78704
Lisa Garcia, Vice President of Assisted Housing
[email protected]
hacanet.org
512-767-7675
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The Housing Authority of the City of Austin
appreciates your support in providing rental
units to the over 5,800 Austin families in
need of quality affordable rental housing.
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THANK YOU
for your interest in the
HCV Program!
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