Clarksburg-Harrison Regional Housing Authority

SECTION 8

Rental Assistance Program

The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program enables public housing authorities to offer expanded opportunities for rental assistance to lower-income families by utilizing existing housing units. It also provides a mechanism for lower-income families to obtain housing in non-impacted areas, thus avoiding concentration of assisted housing. (Non-impacted areas are those areas with a substantially lower proportion of lower-income residents that the surrounding area.) It is tailored to meet the individual needs of families by offering them freedom of choice in finding in the local market a unit suitable to their needs and desires.

The unit selected must be determined by CHRHA to meet the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) prescribed for the program and the rental rate must fall within the applicable Fair Market Rate (FMR) limitations. If the unit and rental rate are acceptable, the CHRHA enters into a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the owner of the unit to make up the difference between what the family can afford to pay the total Contract Rent. The Clarksburg-Harrison Regional Housing Authority utilizes the Existing Housing Program to enable renter households to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing. The program enables low and moderate income households to raise their living standards by lowering their rent payment, thus allowing more money for food and clothing. The Authority approaches this program as a means to provide better housing choices for very low and lower income families at rents they can afford. The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program can be a key element in the maintenance and improvement of the existing housing stock, neighborhood preservation and avoidance of displacement in areas undergoing revitalization activities and involvement of owners who have not previously participated in federally subsidized programs. The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program is an Equal Opportunity Program. Families are eligible to receive assistance based on income, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, creed or national origin.

SECTION 8
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS ?
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, elderly persons and persons with disabilities to rent decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets program requirements and in which the landlord is willing to participate in the program.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
A family issued a rental voucher is responsible for finding and selecting a suitable unit. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety. After a unit is approved, a rental subsidy is paid directly by CHRHA to the landlord on behalf of the family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Section 8 is limited to low-income families and individuals. Eligibility is determinued by CHRHA based on total annual gross income and family size. Additionally, the family will have to provide verification of household and income information which will be used to determinue eligibility and the amount of the rental assistance payment.

HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for Section 8, you may apply by visiting the CHRHA office at 433 Baltimore Avenue, Clarksburg during the hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

WILL I NEED TO PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
      Yes. Please bring the following information when applying for Section 8 Rental Assistance:
     1. Birth certificates for each member in the household.
     2. Social Security cards for each member in the household.
     3. Verification of any type of income in the household (i.e. pay stubs for
          at least 90 days in possible or a paper with letterhead from employer
          stating gross pay per week/or bi-weekly, a printout from Social Security if
          receiving any benefits from Social Security Administration or from the
          Department of Health and Human Resources). If there is no income at all
          you must sign a form, provided by Clarksburg-Harrison Regional Housing Authority
          stating there is no income.

HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
Applications must be in writing. When you have completed an application, a CHRHA representative will discuss the application with you, including reviewing the information important to determining your eligibility, as well as providing with additional information on the Section 8 program.

HOW AND WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
After your application has been completed, your name will be placed on our waiting list. Once your name has reached the top of the waiting list, CHRHA will contact you by letter and provide you with instructions for further processing. You are asked to update your application at least every six months or when your situation changes, so that you can be contacted at the appropriate time for processing. If your application as not been updated every six months, it will be dropped from the waiting list.

CAN I MOVE AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SECTION RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
A family's housing needs change over time with changes in family size, job locations and other reasons. The voucher program allows families to move without the loss of rental assistance, as long as the families properly notifies the CHRHA, terminates its existing lease with the appropriate provisions and finds acceptable alternate housing. A family that wishes to move outside the CHRHA jurisdiction must consult with CHRHA to verify the procedures for moving.

WHAT IS THE TENANT'S ROLE IN THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM?
When a family selects a unit, and the unit and lease is approved by CHRHA, 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 require a new lease, or may permit the family to remain in the housing on a month-to-month lease. A tenant is expected to comply with the lease and Section 8 program requirements, pay its share of the rent on time and maintain the unit in good condition.

WHAT IS THE LANDLORD'S ROLE?
The landlord's role in the Section 8 program is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The unit must pass housing quality standards and be maintained at those standards for the lenghth of the Section 8 contract. Also, the landlord is expected to comply with his portion of the lease.

WHAT IS CHRHA'S ROLE?
CHRHA administers the voucher program. CHRHA enters into a contract with the landlord to provide rental assistance payments on behalf of a family. If a landlord fails to meet his obligations under the lease or Section 8 program requirements, CHRHA has the right to terminate the assistance payments.