|
As of June 23, 2008, CHA will use SCHousingSearch.com to list available units for Section 8 voucher holders.
Click here to read a letter from Executive Director Gilbert Walker.
ABOUT
THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM
Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs offer rental assistance to
persons with low-income who wish to live in homes in the private
rental market, but cannot afford market rental rates. Section 8
participants pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent and
utilities. The Housing Authority Assistance Payments Program
subsidizes the balance of rent for the property owner.
CHA administers approximately 3,100 Vouchers and
Moderate Rehabilitation Certificates. With a Certificate or
Voucher, a family is able to select a home in the private rental
market.
If the family chooses to move, the
assistance is transferable. All housing must be inspected by the CHA staff
and meet Housing Quality Standards.
For more information about Columbia
Housing Authority's Section 8 program, please call (803) 254-3886, ext.
235.
Back to Section 8
MODERATE
REHABILITATION PROGRAM (MOD REHAB)
The Mod Rehab program is a
project-based rental assistance program for low-income families. The
housing units consist of apartments and homes owned by private
landlords that have been moderately renovated. The assistance is
tied to the unit.
When vacancies occur, families are
selected from the Mod Rehab waiting list.
The family selected for the unit will
be responsible for paying approximately 30% of their adjusted
monthly income for rent and utilities.
Back to Section 8
STATUS OF THE SECTION 8 WAITING LIST
CHA's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed and will remain closed until further notice.
When the list is reopened, CHA will advertise the opening 30 days prior in The State newspaper.
Back
to Section 8
QUESTIONS
COMMONLY ASKED BY LANDLORDS
Q: What are the
requirements for my unit to be rented to an assisted family?
A: The unit must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards and
the rent must be fall within HUD Fair Market Rents and market rate
comparables.
Q: How do I make a unit
available to certificate and voucher holders?
A: You may call the Section 8 office at 254-3886 ext. 235
to have the unit posted on our list of available units. You may also
advertise in the newspaper with the phrase "will accept Section
8." Our families look for those listings.
Q: Who pays the rent?
A: The tenant pays 30% of his/her monthly income less
utilities toward the rent. You collect the tenant's portion of the rent
from the tenant. The CHA pays the assistance (difference between the
tenant rent and the contracted rent amount) directly to you.
Q: Can I collect a
security deposit?
A: Yes, you may collect whatever you normally charge, up
to a full month's rent. You cannot charge an assisted tenant more than you
charge an unassisted tenant.
Q: What is the term of
the lease and contract?
A: After one year, the term is open-ended as long as the
tenant remains eligible and the unit is maintained to Housing Quality
Standards. The tenant may vacate with 30-day notice after the first year;
however, the landlord must have good cause to terminate the lease and
evict the tenant.
Q: What do I do when a
certificate or voucher holder is interested in my unit?
A: Here are the steps to follow:
- Step 1: Landlord screens tenants - you
must screen the prospective tenant carefully to insure you are making
a good selection. When one of our families contacts you, we can only
certify to you their income eligibility for the program.
- Step 2: Request for Tenancy Approval -
When you have selected a tenant, he/she will have a "Request for
Tenancy Approval" form for you to complete. When the tenant submits
the form to our office, with a copy of your proposed lease, an
inspector will contact you to schedule an inspection. Please note that
the utilities must be on for the inspection.
- Step 3: Inspection and rent - The unit
will be inspected to insure that it meets HUD Housing and Quality
Standards. Required repairs and rent amount will be discussed with you
by the inspector.
- Step 4: Lease and contract - After the
unit passes inspection and the rent has been approved, the landlord
and tenant enter into a lease. The CHA and the landlord sign a Housing
Assistance Payments Contract through which the rent is assisted on
behalf of the tenant.
Back to Section 8
PORTING
VOUCHERS TO COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
- Once your portability forms have
been received from the initial Housing Authority, you will be
assigned to a group briefing within seven (7) business days
after client contacts our office. It is your responsibility to
contact this office to see if your voucher has been received.
- You must have an appointment to be
seen, as it is sometimes impossible to assist walk-ins. Please
make sure your initial Housing Authority has transferred your
paperwork before contacting John Spann. His contact
information is as follows: Phone number (803) 254-3886 Ext. 210;
Fax number: (803) 376-6182; Mailing address: 1917 Harden St
Columbia, SC 29204
- It is required that you provide
the Portability Officer with birth certificates for everyone
under 18, social security cards for all family members, and
picture identification for everyone 18 years of age and older.
Family members 18 or older must be present for the briefing.
- You must also provide the
Portability Officer with written verification of all household
income (pay stubs are not acceptable), savings account
statement, and childcare payments.
- Once the clearance is approved,
the voucher and Request for Tenancy Approval forms will be
issued. Your voucher will expire on the date your Housing
Authority indicated on the portability paperwork.
- Once the Portability Officer
receives the Request for Tenancy Approval, a physical inspection
of the unit will be scheduled within 5 to 10 working days of
receiving form. The Request for Tenancy form will not be
accepted if there is any missing information on the Request,
this will cause a delay in processing.
- After the unit passes inspection,
you will receive a call from the Portability Officer giving you
the approval to sign the lease with the landlord. Once you sign
a lease, you must contact the Portability Officer for an
appointment to sign other documents for rental assistance
payments to start. No rent will be paid on your behalf until
this is done. If you do not hear from the Portability Officer
within three (3) business days after the unit passed inspection,
call 254-3886 ext 210.
- Most landlords in Columbia require
a full month security deposit as well as a credit check payable
by the tenant. You will be responsible for your security
deposit, which could be up to the one-month rent. You will also
be responsible for your portion of the 1st month
rent.
- It is not unusual for a
portability family to have to pay a full month rent (in addition
to the security deposit) in order for an owner to take a unit
off the rental market.
Back to Section 8
|
