How the Public Housing Selection Process Works?
Application Process:
Persons interested in participating in the public housing program must take the following steps:
Fill out a pre-application: A pre-application can be picked up at SAHA’s main office, or downloaded from www.saha.org. Applicants may also have the form mailed to them by calling (210) 477-6196. Once completed, forms must be submitted to SAHA.
Placed on the waiting list: Applicants will be placed on one waiting list (family or elderly/disabled). An elderly mix family (age 62 years or older or disabled) has the option to select either a development designated for elderly mix or a development for families.
Final application/screening process: When the applicant’s name comes up on the waiting list, they will be contacted by mail and given an appointment to begin the process of completing the final application. The information provided to SAHA by the applicant will then be verified for accuracy and eligibility.
Unit Offer:
Once the screening process is completed, SAHA will offer all available units in the appropriate bedroom size on a first come first served basis.
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for public housing, an applicant must meet the following federal guidelines and SAHA applicant screening criteria:
8 Be a family as defined in SAHA’s Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy
8 Meet HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status
8 Meet the applicant selection criteria and complete a full application appointment
8 Meet the screening requirements related to criminal activity and have accepted prior rental history.
8 Not have any family members engaged in any criminal activity that threatens the life, health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents, and not have any family members engaged in any drug-related criminal activity
8 Pay any money already owed to SAHA
8 Have an annual income that does not exceed income limits established by HUD (must not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) based on family size). A current income limit chart is available on SAHA’s website or at the main office.
How Long a Wait for Public Housing?
As of June 30, 2007 the waiting list contains 11,601 applicants. The list is subject to availability. Applicants are placed on a waiting lists (family, elderly/disabled) according to unit size, and date and time of application.
The Recertification process:
Re-determination of Continued Eligibility - Residents of SAHA’s family and elderly public housing communities will have all matters regarding their residency handled at the property management office in their community. The on-site staff will handle the following:
Annual Re-certifications – will determine the family’s continued eligibility for housing under HUD/SAHA guidelines to include appropriate unit size, and monthly rent based on family income, and household composition.
Up-front Income Verification (UIV) The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) utilizes the Up-front Income Verification (UIV) system to validate income information reported by participants in both the Public Housing and Section 8 programs. The UIV system electronically utilizes independent sources, such as those maintained by the Social Security Administration, State Wage Information Collection Agencies, and private vendors, to confirm income figures provided at application and re-certification. Knowingly underreporting income may result in the assessment of back charges, termination of assistance, and/or prosecution through the District Attorney’s office.
Changes of Income and/or Family Composition - All changes in family income, composition or status must be reported to the Property Manager within 10 calendar days of occurrence. Failure to report changes can result in retroactive rent increases or lease terminations. Additional household members may not be allowed to move-in until they are approved by SAHA.
Requests for Transfer- All requests for emergency, unit size, and/or special needs transfers should be made to the Property Manager. The Manager will verify circumstances and/or documentation to ensure compliance with regulations.
Resident Obligations:
All adult household members must attend the re-certification appointment and sign necessary forms required by SAHA/HUD;
8 All adult family members must provide proof of income;
8 Must meet the HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status;
8 Must provide Social Security Card, or application for Social Security Number, for household members, age 6 and older;
8 Not owe SAHA monies from either the Public Housing or Section 8 Voucher Program;
8 Not have had a lease terminated by SAHA in the past 12 months.
Community Service Requirement:
As of October 2003, adult members of families residing in public housing are required to contribute eight hours of community service each month, or participate in eight hours of training, counseling, work, classes and/or other activities which help an individual toward self-sufficiency and economic independence.
All adults must complete Community Service Requirements, or be determined exempt. This new community service requirement is a result of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. Exemptions include those who:
8 work at least 20 hours per week;
8 are 62 years of age or older;
8 are full-time caretakers of a disabled person;
8 present disability documentation to verify a disability;
8 participate in a Welfare to Work program;
8 engage in work activity; or provide verification that they are participating in a Self-Sufficiency Program, such as job training, economic development or an educational program for a minimum of eight hours per month.
Many community services can be conveniently performed at the public housing developments and the allowable activities are listed at each development. These community service efforts may include neighborhood clean-up campaigns, participation in resident associations, helping elderly residents run errands, cleaning, mowing lawns, etc. Other allowable service sites include schools, universities, childcare centers, youth organizations and churches, but the activities may not include for-profit or political activities.
To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, residents must report their community service annually, at the time of re-certification, and advise housing authority management of any change in exempt or non-exempt status.
Should a family member be found to be noncompliant at re-certification, he/she and the head of household will have to sign an agreement with SAHA to make up the deficient hours over the next 12-month period, or face possible termination of their public housing assistance.
SAHA Obligations:
Provide residents with access to their records upon request and allow an opportunity to contest data provided (employer, SWICA, and/or SSA) in case of discrepancies.
Notify family in writing of any changes in rental amounts, through a Notice of Rent Adjustment, 30 days prior to any increase in rent.
Families failing to respond to the initial re-examination appointment will be issued a final appointment. Failure to respond to the final request can result in lease termination.
Any questions concerning the above procedures should be directed to the Property Manager, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
All federally assisted housing is intended to provide a safe place to live and raise families, not a place to commit crime, to use or sell drugs, or to terrorize neighbors. SAHA’s intent is to fully endorse and implement a policy designed to:
8 Create and maintain a safe and drug-free community;
8 Keep our residents free from threats to their personal family safety;
8 Support parental efforts to instill values of personal responsibility and hard work;
8 Maintain an environment where children can live safely, learn and grow up to be productive citizens; and
8 Assist families in their vocational/educational goals in the pursuit of self-sufficiency.
All screening and eviction procedures shall be administered fairly and in such a way as not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, religion, age, sex, familial status, disability other legally-protected groups, and not to violate right to privacy. Furthermore, to the maximum extent possible, SAHA will involve other community and governmental entities, as well as resident organizations, in the promotion and enforcement of this Policy. This Policy will be posted on the Authority’s bulletin board and copies made readily available to residents and/or applicants upon request.
Cause for Termination – Definitions Any Drug-related criminal activity – the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of a drug, or the possession of a drug with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute of use of the drug [as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S. C 802)]. The Authority considers an individual to have engaged in drug-related activity if there is evidence of drug-related criminal activity, possession and/or use of narcotic paraphernalia (which did or did not result in an arrest and/or conviction).
Other considerations are:
Pattern – more than one (1) incident during the previous twelve (12) months,
Recent history or engaging in/engaged in – an incident within the past five (5) years.
Violent criminal activity – any criminal activity that has as one of its elements the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force substantial enough to cause, or be reasonably likely to cause, nontrivial bodily injury or property damage.
Informal Hearings. If the applicant disputes information received that would cause the Housing Authority to deny or terminate assistance, and the family disputes the information in a timely manner, he/she shall be given an opportunity for an informal hearing for denials according to the Section XII of the Authority’s Admissions and Occupancy policy.
For information regarding informal hearings, please contact your Property Manager.
To Report General Fraud
Call 477-6287
or by e-mail fraud@saha.org
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