SECTION 8 PROGRAM
TENANT BASED ASSISTANCE
The Section 8 Tenant Based Program administered by the
Muskogee Housing Authority (MHA) is funded by the US Dept. of Housing &
Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of
the program is to make decent, safe and sanitary housing affordable to very-low
income households in the private rental market. Households that meet eligibility requirements normally pay approximately
30% of their adjusted monthly income toward the monthly rent and utility
cost. The program pays the balance of
the rent directly to the owner of the rental property or to their appointed
agent, up to the published HUD maximum amounts.
Eligible Section 8 participants are issued a voucher to be
used toward Rental Assistance Payments made payable directly to their chosen landlord.
AVAILABLE VOUCHER PROGRAMS
MHA has specific vouchers available to qualifying families,
such as:
- Family Unification Program vouchers - available to families with a referral letter from DHS stating the family is in jeopardy of losing the children due to a lack of suitable housing.
- Mainstream vouchers - available to handicapped or disabled persons between the ages of 18 and 62 years.
- VASH vouchers - available to homeless Veterans.
- Regular vouchers - available to all low-income qualifying persons/families.
APPLICATIONS
Applications are available on-line, or may be obtained by
contacting our office located at 220 North 40th Street, Muskogee,
OK. Questions regarding the application
process should be addressed to our application specialist at extension 225.
SECTION 8 INSPECTIONS
All Section 8 assisted housing must meet the minimum HQS
(Housing Quality Standards) and the rent must be reasonable according to local
market conditions for the tenant's income. When a family submits a request for tenancy approval, MHA will schedule
an HQS inspection with the landlord. This inspection is required to ensure that the unit meets the housing
quality standards set by HUD before the subsidy can begin. If there are any failed items discovered
during the inspection, the landlord will be notified in writing of the specific
fail items for correction with a deadline date for repairs to be complete. No subsidy can be paid and no retroactive
payments will be made for any time period before the unit passes inspection.
The HQS inspection covers such items as electrical, windows,
ceilings, hot water heaters, lead paint, smoke detectors, heating equipment,
and fire exits. MHA has a certified
inspector on staff and all inspections are performed in a timely manner. Please refer to the handbook at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/forms/files/593pih.pdf
for details regarding inspection requirements.
FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY
For eligible participants of the Section 8 program, the
Family Self-Sufficiency program provides guidance and assistance in enabling a
family to increase its income. The program offers a savings account which accrues as income increases, a five-year
personal goal plan and objectives, individualized support services, and a
resource and referral service. To be classified as eligible, one family member must be able and willing to work
sometime within the next five years and the family must become free from
welfare assistance for 12 consecutive months before the expiration of the
five-year program.
LINKS
