Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
Briefing
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Please no texting during the presentation.
Please provide us your full attention.
Welcome!
What You Will Learn
■ Moving Packet
● Voucher Dates
● How your rent portion is calculated
■ How to Search for a Unit
■ Next Steps Once You Find a Unit
■ Family Obligations
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Housing Choice Voucher Program
■ The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers the
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, which offers the opportunity for
low-income families to choose affordable housing.
■ The HCV program provides tenant-based assistance rather than unit-based
assistance, allowing the family to move without losing assistance.
■ Through this program, individuals and families receive a voucher, which
represents a subsidy that can be used to rent any housing that meets HCV
program requirements.
■ The rules and regulations of the HCV program are determined by HUD. SAHA is
afforded choices in the operation of the program included in SAHA’s
Administrative Plan, a document approved by SAHA’s Board of Commissioners.
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Housing Choice Voucher Program
HUD establishes
federal regulations and
provides funding to
SAHA
SAHA establishes local
HCV policies (Admin
Plan) and administers
program
HCV Household
(Tenant)
Owner
(Landlord)
SAHA issues
voucher to
household
Household pays
tenant share of
rent to owner
SAHA provides
rent subsidy to
owner
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Portability
■ Transferring your voucher to another jurisdiction is called Portability.
■ To qualify, you must be an eligible program participant in good standing.
■ You may only “port out” of SAHA’s jurisdiction:
▪ After the initial term of your lease
▪ If you have not ported within the past 12 months
■ If you are interested in porting out of SAHA’s jurisdiction, please email
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▪ Owner Packet
▪ Request for Tenancy Approval Form
(RTA)
▪ Lease Requirements
▪ Tenancy Addendum
▪ Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form
▪ W-9 Form
▪ Direct Deposit Form
▪ Family Rental History Form
Moving Packet
▪ Participant Information
▪ Housing Choice Voucher
▪ Shopping Allowance
▪ Participant Guide
▪ Are You a Victim of Housing
Discrimination Form?
▪ Things You Should Know Form
▪ Family Obligations Form
▪ VAWA Forms
Left Side
Right Side
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▪ www.gosection8.com
▪ Rental ads in the San Antonio Express newspaper
▪ Friends, family and coworkers
▪ Neighborhoods you would like to live in: “For Rent” signs
Looking for a Unit
Where To Look
How To Look
■ Call potential landlords and make an appointment to see the unit.
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▪ Read “A Good Place to Live” booklet as a guide to what the inspection will include.
▪ Take a list of previous rental history
▪ Ask the following questions during your appointment:
▪ What is the rent and what utilities will I need to pay?
▪ Who will be providing the stove and refrigerator?
▪ Are pets allowed? If so, are there any restrictions?
▪ Inspect the unit:
▪ Drive around the neighborhood during day and night.
Looking for a Unit
Viewing The Unit
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▪ When you have found a unit, meet with the
landlord to sign the Request for Tenancy Approval
(RTA) Form.
▪ The RTA Form indicates the following:
▪ Proposed Rent,
▪ Security Deposit,
▪ Date the unit is available for inspection, and
▪ Utility/Applicant Responsibility.
▪ Both you and the landlord must sign.
Request For Tenancy Approval (RTA)
RTA Form
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Request For Tenancy Approval (RTA)
RTA Form
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▪ Owner’s Certification
must be completed for
owners with properties
that have more than
four units.
Request For Tenancy Approval (RTA)
RTA Form
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▪ Upon receipt of completed owner/landlord moving packet, you must call the phone number provided
in your packet to make an RTA appointment.
▪ You must bring the following items completed to your appointment:
▪ Request for Tenancy Approval Form (RTA),
▪ Copy of Lease,
▪ Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form, and
▪ Owners certification
▪ W-9 and Direct Deposit
▪ Proof of Ownership and/or Management Agreement (if applicable)
Request for Tenancy Approval
RTA Appointment
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▪ If your Request for Tenancy Approval is approved, the landlord will be contacted to
schedule an inspection of the unit.
▪ If the unit does not pass inspection, the landlord will be notified of any items that need
repair.
▪ SAHA cannot make any Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) if the unit has not passed
inspection.
▪ If the unit does not pass inspection, it may cause delay in your assistance.
Request for Tenancy Approval
Inspection
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Costs
■ Security deposit
■ Your portion of the first month’s rent
■ Possible utility deposits and hook-up fees
■ Cost of moving
When To Move
■ Always wait to move in AFTER the unit passes inspection.
■ If the landlord refuses to make the necessary repairs to meet inspection requirements
and you have already moved in, you will need to move out and find a new unit.
Plan To Move
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▪ Who should you contact for repairs?
▪ Who should you contact in case of emergency when they’re not
available?
Moving In
Get Information From Your Landlord
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Remember!
Once you have possession of the unit:
■ You are responsible for notifying the landlord about maintenance
problems.
■ Keep a contact log with your landlord about needed repairs for your
records.
■ SAHA will get involved with maintenance issues only after you have given
written notice to the landlord with a copy to SAHA, and only if the landlord
does not respond.
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Family Obligations
■ Use the Housing Choice Voucher
■ Supply all accurate information
■ Attend all appointments
■ Allow for inspections
■ Pay your rent portion
■ Maintain Housing Quality Standards
(HQS)
■ Live in the unit for the initial year: you
may not move during this time
■ Have the unit be your only place of
residency
■ Report any changes in family
composition
■ Report any decreases in income
■ If you are an FSS, Homeownership or
Zero-Income Participant, report any
increases in income
■ Cannot be absent for greater than 45
days
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1. Report Changes in Income
■ If you have a decrease in income or if you have an increase in income (for special
participants), submit a completed “Change of Income Request Form” in person or
through email/fax within 10 business days.
2. Report Changes In Family Composition
■ Notify SAHA of any absences, or if any household member stops residing in the unit,
within 10 business days by submitting a completed “Change of Family Composition -
Remove Household Member Packet” in person or through email/fax.
■ Any additions to the household must be approved by SAHA before the household
member moves in. Submit a completed “Change of Family Composition - Add
Household Member Packet” in person or through email/fax.
“The Big Three”
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“The Big Three”
3. Visitors
■ You may have guests as long as they have a different permanent address and do
not spend more than 7 consecutive days in your unit.
■ You must follow your landlord’s rules on visitors, detailed in the lease.
■ You are responsible for the actions of anyone in your unit.
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Termination
■ When a decision is made to terminate your rental assistance, the family is sent
written notice of that decision, which states:
● the program violation;
● how to request an Informal Hearing; and
● the time frame you have to request the Informal Hearing.
■ If the family does not request a hearing within the specified time, the decision
will be upheld.
■ Hearings are conducted by an individual not involved in making the decision to
terminate.
■ The family is strongly encouraged to bring supporting documentation of their
case to the Informal Hearing.
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Fair Housing
■ Under the Fair Housing Act, it is against the law to base any housing decision on
the following:
● Race
● Color
● Religion
● Sex
● Handicap
● Familial Status
● National Origin
■ If you feel anyone has refused to rent to you for any of these reasons refer to and
or complete the Housing Discrimination Information form in your Applicant Packet.
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VAWA
■ VAWA provides protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault or stalking.
● For all individuals, regardless of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
■ You cannot be denied admission, denied assistance, terminated or be evicted from rental
housing because you are a victim.
■ If you are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, you
may request an emergency transfer.
■ SAHA may ask you to submit a written request or fill out a form where you certify that you
meet the criteria for an emergency transfer under VAWA.
■ SAHA must keep all VAWA information confidential.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
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Current Lessee
■ Must give written 30-Day Notice to your landlord. All Public Housing
residents must provide a copy when submitting your RTA
■ Turn in all keys upon moving out of your unit
■ Settle all outstanding accounts
● Not settling your account may lead to termination of your housing
assistance
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Voucher
■ Your Housing Choice Voucher indicates your
eligibility to participate in the HCV Program
and enables you to search for a decent, safe
and sanitary unit.
Housing Choice Voucher
■ Your voucher will expire in 60
days. You must find a suitable unit
within that time frame.
■ You may only request a voucher
extension with good cause.
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SAHA Jurisdiction and SAFMRs
What is a Small Area Fair Market
Rent (SAFMR)?
SAFMRs are Fair Market Rents
calculated at the ZIP code level
rather than for the entire
metropolitan region. The main
benefit is that, through setting
payment standards at more a local
level, households will be able to
afford homes in areas of high
opportunity.
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SAFMR Shopping Allowance
■ Myth: The less income I make, the more subsidy I receive!
● Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is not only determined by
income.
■ The Shopping Allowance provides your maximum family
contribution to rent.
■ You must select a unit that best suits your needs according to the
zip codes listed on your shopping estimate.
SAFMR Zip Code Map
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SAFMR Shopping Allowance
Example:
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QUESTIONS?
A question and answer session will
be held at the end of Early
Engagement Program orientation!
