CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SECTION 8 RENTAL PROGRAM?
The Section 8 Rental Voucher Program increases affordable housing choices for very low-income households by allowing families to choose privately owned rental housing. The Paterson Housing Authority (PHA) generally pays the landlord the difference between 30 percent of household income and the PHA determined payment standard-about 80 to 100 percent of the fair market rent (FMR). The rent must be reasonable.
The household may choose a unit with a higher rent than the FMR and pay the landlord the difference or choose a lower cost unit and keep the difference.
Several assistance programs exist under Section 8. Together, the voucher and certificate programs help more than 1.4 million households in the United States. The administering PHA or governmental agency inspects the housing units to make sure they comply with HUD quality standards.
The voucher program is similar to the Section 8 certificate program but gives households more choices, especially in high-demand markets where landlords may be reluctant to accept HUD's FMR level .
WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE?
Through the Section 8 Rental Voucher Program, the administering housing authority issues a voucher to an income-qualified household, which then finds a unit to rent.
If the unit meets the Section 8 quality standards, the PHA then pays the landlord the amount equal to the difference between 30 percent of the tenant's adjusted income (or 10 percent of the gross income or the portion of welfare assistance designated for housing) and the PHA-determined payment standard for the area. The rent must be reasonable compared with similar unassisted units.
WHO ARE ELIBIBLE GRANTEES?
PHAs may apply for funding to operate Section 8 programs. Since the start of the Indian Housing Block Grant program, Indian housing authorities are no longer eligible for Section 8 programs.
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS?
HUD contracts with housing authorities to provide Section 8 voucher assistance to very low-income households, households already assisted under the Housing Act of 1937 and households with incomes up to 80 percent of area median that qualify to receive a voucher in connection with other HUD programs.
HUD determines median income levels for each area annually.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES?
A system of "portability" allows families to use the assistance outside the boundaries of the PHA that originally admits a family. HUD pays the administering agency an administration fee to cover costs of running the program, including accepting and reviewing applications, recertifying participants, and inspecting the rental units for quality.
Vouchers could be used for homeownership under Section 8(y), but this has not yet been implemented.
WHAT THE CURRENT FUNDING STATUS?
Currently, HUD is not accepting new applications; it is only extending expiring commitments and vouchers dedicated for special purposes.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Additional information can be obtained by contacting HUD's Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Assisted Housing Operations, Office of Rental Assistance. Or direct your research within http://www.hud.gov/.
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Programs Offered to First Time Homebuyers:
Hello everyone! My name is Lissette Garcia. I'm the Housing Counselor for the Paterson Housing Authority and my job is to teach individuals how to buy a home. The Authority has an innovative program to assist first-time homebuyers: Section 8 Homeownership Program, geared towards assisting individuals in achieving their dream of buying a home.
If you are a Section 8 participant, you can participate in the Section 8 Homeownership Program. Section 8 recipients may be able to use their voucher to purchase a home, rather than rent an apartment.
It works just as the rental program wherein the Housing Authority pays a portion of the mortgage and the Section 8 recipient pays the remainder of the payment amount.
For more information regarding these programs, please contact me at 973 345-5085.
