FACT SHEET

 

Rock Rapids Municipal Housing is accepting applications for 2, 3, & 4 bedroom apartments.

 

  • Municipal Housing is an Equal Housing Opportunity
  • Utility Allowances
  • Washer/Dryer Hook-up
  • Stove & Refrigerator
  • Newly Remodeled Units
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Rental Assistance is Available
  • Handicap Accessible
  • Air Conditioned
  • Immediate Openings!!!!!

 

 

 

Below is a list of questions and answers regarding the Public Housing program (PHA)

 

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Public housing (PHA)is limited to low-income families and individuals. An PHA determines your eligibility based on:

  1. annual gross income;
  2. whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and
  3. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, the PHA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. HAs will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project's environment.

 

PHAs use income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one PHA but not at another. The PHA serving your community can provide you with the income levels for your area and family size, or you can also find the income limits here on the internet.

 

HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for public housing, contact your local PHA. If you have trouble contacting the PHA, contact the local HUD Field Office.

 

HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
The application must be written. Either you or the PHA representative will fill it out. An PHA usually needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility:

 

  1. Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head;
  2. Your present address and telephone number;
  3. Family characteristics (e.g., veteran) or circumstances (e.g., living in substandard housing) that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences;
  4. Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family's suitability as a tenant;
  5. An estimate of your family's anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income;
  6. The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other information the PHA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition; and
  7. The PHA also may visit you in your home to interview you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of you current home.

 

After obtaining this information, the PHA representative should describe the public housing program and its requirements, and answer any questions you might have.

 

WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
Yes, the PHA representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certificates, source of income, tax returns) to verify the information given on your application. The PHA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the PHA.

 

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
An PHA has to provide written notification. If the PHA determines that you are eligible, your name will be put on a waiting list, unless the PHA is able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the PHA will contact you. If it is determined that you are ineligible, the PHA must say why and, if you wish, you can request an informal hearing.

 

WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE?
If you are offered a house or apartment and accept it, you will have to sign a lease with the PHA. You may have to give the PHA a security deposit. You and the PHA representative should go over the lease together. This will give you a better understanding of your responsibilities as a tenant and the PHA's responsibilities as a landlord.

 

ARE THERE ANY SELECTION PREFERENCES?
Sometimes there are. Giving preference to specific groups of families enables an PHA to direct their limited housing resources to the families with the greatest housing needs. Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and the local PHAs, long waiting periods are common. In fact, an PHA may close its waiting list when there are more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.

 

Each PHA has the discretion to establish preferences to reflect needs in its own community. These preferences will be included in the PHAs written policy manual. You should ask what preferences they honor so you will know whether you qualify for a preference.

 

HOW IS RENT DETERMINED?
Your rent, which is referred to as the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) in this program, would be based on your family's anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if any. HUD regulations allow PHAs to exclude from annual income the following allowances: $480 for each dependent; $400 for any elderly family, or a person with a disability; and some medical deductions for families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities. Based on your application, the PHA representative will determine if any of the allowable deductions should be subtracted from your annual income. Annual income is the anticipated total income from all sources received from the family head and spouse, and each additional member of the family 18 years of age or older.

 

The formula used in determining the TTP is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar:

  1. 30 percent of the monthly adjusted income. (Monthly Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations);
  2. 10 percent of monthly income;
  3. welfare rent, if applicable; or
  4. a $75 minimum rent or higher amount set by an PHA.

 

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PHA?
An PHA is responsible for the management and operation of its local public housing program. They may also operate other types of housing programs.

  1. On-going functions:
    1. Assure compliance with leases. The lease must be signed by both parties;
    2. Set other charges (e.g., security deposit, excess utility consumption, and damages to unit);
    3. Perform periodic reexaminations of the family's income at least once every 12 months;
    4. Transfer families from one unit to another, in order to correct over/under crowding, repair or renovate a dwelling, or because of a resident's request to be transferred;
    5. Terminate leases when necessary; and
    6. maintain the development in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition.
  2. Sometimes PHAs provide other services, that might include such things as: homeownership opportunities for qualified families; employment training opportunities, and other special training and employment programs for residents; and support programs for the elderly.

 

HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN PUBLIC HOUSING?
In general, you may stay in public housing as long as you comply with the lease.

If, at reexamination your family's income is sufficient to obtain housing on the private market, the PHA may determine whether your family should stay in public housing. You will not be required to move unless there is affordable housing available for you on the private market.