AHP Neighborhood

AHP Vol.2 | Issue 01

Inside This Issue Page 2 Breaking the Cycle Page 3 Texas NAHRO Scholarships Page 3 Homeless Services Voucher Program Page 4 Administrative Plan Revisions Page 6 Frequently Asked Questions

Winter 2015

neighborhood Letter From Deborah Flach

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the Assisted Housing Programs (AHP) Department’s latest newsletter and the first of 2015!

We hope you’ve been keeping warm and enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. As we spring off the holidays, the AHP Department is ready to meet your every need as a program participant or landlord.

The AHP Department annually releases an Administrative Plan detailing the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program policies. Although the revisions to the Administrative Plan are extensive, a summary of changes which may affect the program process for participants and landlords is available on page 4 of this newsletter. You can read the full Administrative Plan on the SAHA website.

If you are looking to set goals for 2015, SAHA offers programs like the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and the Homeownership Program to aid families in reaching financial independence. Latasha Holloway, the program participant interviewed for the article, “Breaking the Cycle,” has set the FSS Program as one of her 2015 resolutions.

In addition to our extensive programs, you can take advantage of the Texas NAHRO Scholarships being offered for Texas high school senior students. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 13, 2015.

We appreciate your time and hope to continue providing important announcements through the AHP Neighborhood to keep you regularly updated with the HCV Program.

Have a great year!

Deborah Flach Director of Assisted Housing Programs

Next Page: Breaking the Cycle

Breaking the Cycle Latasha Holloway, 34, is using her place in the Assisted Housing Program’s Homeless Services Voucher Program to not only survive, but progress in life for herself and her children.

Latasha Holloway, her seven siblings and their “As a single parent, being able to pay rent, support mother grew up in the Sutton Homes apartments, a my children, and still be able to pay for football and SAHA Public Housing property. “I wouldn’t necessarily important things like that is great,” says Holloway of call it a childhood, because when I was living with my 9-and-10-year-old Elijah and Christopher’s high grades mom I had to take care of my younger brothers and and participation in an after-school football league. sisters, since my mom was always gone or we couldn’t “I learned a long time ago that family doesn’t have find her. I had to look for food or steal food for my to be blood-related. Our church is our family. Just brothers and sisters,” says Holloway. knowing that my kids are in a safe environment and At age eight, Holloway and her siblings moved knowing that my kids have someone they can call into the foster care system where Holloway moved ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa,’ regardless of their skin color, through three group homes and three foster homes. just gives me peace of mind.”

“I wouldn’t change it for anything. There are people Holloway graduated Dec. 19 from the Presa in my life from the foster care Community Center with a system that are still my support “History won’t repeat itself and Community Health Worker system today,” she says.

Certification. Along with the I’m really excited about that.” group of graduates, Holloway Holloway attended Winston Churchill High School, where she presented a study on the took part in cheerleading, basketball, volleyball and outcome of individuals “aging out” of the foster care track. During her senior year, Holloway earned school system. Over 60 individuals attended the presentation, credit working half-days at her foster mother’s daycare, which introduced the “Circle of Support” program for Bridgewater Learning Academy, as part of her school’s foster care children about to reach adulthood.

Worker’s Program.

In addition to advancing programs for foster care After graduating in 1999, Holloway continued her children, Holloway intends to join the Family Selfeducation at St. Philips College, where she decided to Sufficiency Program and save for a down payment on pursue a Social Work degree. a house.

Holloway was married in 2002, and had two children, “Don’t just be on the [Housing Choice Voucher] Elijah and Christopher. “I got divorced in 2007 and program, but set goals and work towards those goals, became homeless with my two kids. We were at the so that you’re moving forward,” says Holloway. “SAHA Battered Women and Children’s Shelter and got into has great programs, but I want my kids to know that SAHA’s Homeless Services Program through them,” because ‘Mom’ was on it, they were able to have the says Holloway. education they have and play football all those years.”

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Deadline: February 13, 2015 The Texas Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (TXNAHRO) is a professional membership organization consisting of agencies and individuals who administer housing and community development in the state of Texas.

Scholarships include the $2,500 Jim Hargrove Scholarship and several $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

Eligibility Requirements: 1. Be a resident of public housing or participant in the Section 8 Program.

2. Be a graduating high school senior (You can not have graduated in the previous year or be in college already for this scholarship).

3. Demonstrate exceptional school attendance.

4. Demonstrate high academic achievement.

5. Demonstrate leadership and/or high level of motivation.

6. Be a resident or client of a Housing Authority/CD agency that is in good standing with TXNAHRO. For the application checklist and to apply, please visit the Programs page on www.txnahro.org

Texas NAHRO Scholarships

The Homeless Services TheSetAsideHomeless Voucher Program: Voucher Program: The Homeless Services Voucher (HSV) Program provides rental voucher assistance to homeless individuals through a collaborative referral process.

Haven for Hope screens the applicants to ensure they have met all criteria and then forward the referral packet to SAHA. A total of 400 vouchers have been allocated for the HSV program. Case Management and Supportive Services are provided

by Haven for Hope. Individuals interested in the program should contact a Haven for Hope Intake Representative at 210-220-2100.

The Set Aside Homeless Voucher Program (SHVP) provides rental voucher assistance to homeless individuals through collaboration with the San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (SAMM) and the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), who screen applicants to ensure they meet all eligibility criteria and then forward a referral packet to SAHA. A total of 200 vouchers have been allocated for the Set Aside Homeless Voucher Program (SHVP) program. Case Management and Supportive Services are provided by CHCS and SAMM. Individuals interested in the program can contact Cecil King at the CHCS, 210-220-2166, or Orlando Montoya at SAMM, 210-321-5695

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Example: 3.2.A. - Chapter 3, Section

2014-2015 Administ Income 3.2.A. Extremely low income family. A family whose annual income does not exceed the higher of: • The Federal poverty level, or • 30 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted for family size.

6.3.A. • Rents based on a claim of zero income are limited to 90 days.

• After 90 days, zero-income interim rents expire and rent reverts to the applicable minimum rent. However, if zero income is declared by the participant prior to the 90-day review date, the zero-income rent will remain.

• Households are required to provide sufficient documentation to support zero rent, including completion of a Family Expense Summary.

• Households paying rent based on a claim of zero income must report any new income within 10 business days from the day they begin receiving the income.

• Households that request an extension for zero rent may apply for a Hardship Waiver.

6.3.D. The utility allowance for the family must be the lower of • The utility allowance amount for the voucher size, or • The utility allowance amount for the unit size of the unit rented by the family.

Voucher 5.2.B.

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SAHA will assign one bedroom per two persons within the household, except in the following circumstances: • The head of household will be assigned one bedroom.

• Persons of the opposite sex other than the head of household, spouse, and children under age 5, will be allocated separate bedrooms.

• Live-in aides will be allocated a separate bedroom. No additional bedrooms are provided for the attendant’s family.

• Single person families will be allocated one bedroom.

• Foster children will be included in determining unit size only if they will be in the unit for more than six months.

The 2014-2015 Administrative Plan is

2, Sub-Section A of the Admin Plan

trative Plan Revisions 5.2.E.

A request for an extension must be submitted to SAHA within 10 business days of the voucher expiration date.

SAHA will grant an extension of the initial voucher term upon the family’s request.

SAHA may grant additional voucher extensions for the following reasons only: • Extenuating circumstances such as hospitalization or a family emergency for an extended period of time that has affected the family’s ability to find a unit within the initial 60-day period. Verification is required.

• SAHA is satisfied that the family has made a reasonable effort to locate a unit, including seeking the assistance of SAHA, throughout the initial sixtyday period. A completed search record may be required.

• The family was prevented from finding a unit due to disability accessibility requirements or large size bedroom unit requirement.

Eligibility 3.3.C. SAHA will deny assistance to an applicant family if any PHA has ever terminated housing assistance under the program for any member of the family in the past five years.

Moves 9.1.B.

For units located in unincorporated areas of the City of San Antonio, the lease agreement must include a provision stating: • The owner is responsible for providing trash removal service; • The owner will pay all costs associated with trash removal services; and • Trash will be removed from the unit at least once a week.

Inspections 8.2.F.

In lieu of conducting a physical reinspection to verify corrections of five or fewer HQS owner deficiencies that are not considered life-threatening, SAHA will require a self-certification of repairs signed by the landlord and tenant.

Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) 13.2.C. If the owner obtains a court judgment allowing the owner to evict the tenant, SAHA will terminate HAP to the owner on the earlier of the following dates: • The last day of the month in which the eviction judgment was ordered, or • The last day of the month in which the family vacated the unit.

available to read on the SAHA website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q

When do you need a new HAP Contract?

A new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract is needed for the following reasons: • If the owner or family requests a new lease; • If there is a change in lease requirements governing family or owner responsibilities for utilities or appliances; or • If the family moves to a new unit even if the new unit is in the same complex.

Q

What if a participant wants to move at the end of their lease?

If a participant wants to move at the end of their lease, they need to submit a NonRenewal form with the proper lease end date. A Recertification by Mail Packet (RBM) is sent to participants four months prior to their recertification date. The RBM packet contains either an Request for Tenancy Approval form or a Non-Renewal form that the Landlord and participant must complete and submit to SAHA within 10 business days.

Once we receive the completed packet and Non-Renewal form, the Housing Assistance Specialist schedules a moving appointment with the participant to issue a voucher to move.

Q

What is rent simplification?

SAHA is a Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration site, which provides the agency with the opportunity to design and test innovative strategies that use federal funding more efficiently, help residents find employment and become self-sufficient, and/or increase housing choices for low-income families. Rent simplification is an MTW initiative where rent calculation will be based on 28% of the participant’s monthly gross income with no allowances or deductions and three-year recertification schedules rather than annual recertifications. The initiative is meant to simplify participants’ interactions with SAHA staff and allow participants to keep more of their earnings. Testing for rent simplification will begin in early 2015.

Owner’s Orientation Schedule for 2015 SAHA Boardroom First Tuesday of the Month 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

January 6

May 5

September 1

February 3

June 2

October 6

March 3

July 7

November 3

April 7

August 4

December 1

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ATTENTION LANDLORDS: Landlord Corner Update Landlords can now view information on moving, initial inspection results, status, etc., underneath the Units tab after signing in.

Have a question about the Housing Choice Voucher Program or a comment on the AHP Neighborhood newsletter? Send your comments or questions to Kristen_Carreon@saha.org