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| Tuesday, August 11, 2009 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2009
HUNTSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY SECTION 8 PROGRAM GETS HIGH SCORE
HUNTSVILLE - The Huntsville Housing Authority (HHA) announced today that it received high marks on its official report card from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP). HHA received a score of 97 out of 100.
SEMAP measures the performance of the public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer the housing choice voucher program in 14 key areas. SEMAP helps HUD target monitoring and assistance to PHA programs that need the most improvement.
The 14 key indicators of PHA performance are:
1. Proper selection of applicants from the housing choice voucher waiting list
2. Sound determination of reasonable rent for each unit leased
3. Establishment of payment standards within the required range of the HUD fair market rent
4. Accurate verification of family income
5. Timely annual reexaminations of family income
6. Correct calculation of the tenant share of the rent and the housing assistance payment
7. Maintenance of a current schedule of allowances for tenant utility costs
8. Ensure units comply with the housing quality standards before families enter into leases and PHAs enter into housing assistance contracts
9. Timely annual housing quality inspections
10. Performing of quality control inspections to ensure housing quality
11. Ensure that landlords and tenants promptly correct housing quality deficiencies
12. Ensure that all available housing choice vouchers are used
13. Expand housing choice outside areas of poverty or minority concentration
14. Enroll families in the family self-sufficiency (FSS) program as required and help FSS families achieve increases in employment income.
What is Section 8?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8, is a type of Federal assistance provided by HUD dedicated to sponsoring subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals.
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing sites.
“This is the 3rd consecutive year that Huntsville Housing Authority has received high marks for our Section 8 Program. This report card validates what we’ve been saying all along – that HHA provides quality housing for its residents. That we push our residents to move toward self-sufficiency by requiring Section 8 participants to take part in our Self-Sufficiency programs. I credit a dedicated staff that is committed to making a difference in people’s lives. And our city benefits by offering affordable housing to its residents,” said Michael Lundy, Executive Director/CEO, Huntsville Housing Authority.
HHA mission is to provide quality affordable housing products and services which promote self-sufficiency and advances the de-concentration of poverty. Currently, the HHA provides housing opportunities for approximately 3,880 residents in public housing and 3,580 residents through the Section 8 program.
For more information about the Huntsville Housing Authority call Paige Rucker at 256.539.3520 or email at paige@driscollruckergroup.com. You can also visit the HHA’s web site at www.huntsvillehousing.org.
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