Waiting List Preferences

1. Resident:
   Residents of Fairfield County; OR a household member is working, or has been notified that they have been hired to work in Fairfield County. This preference does not deny or delay admission to the program based on race, color, ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, or age of any member of an applicant family.
2. Disaster Programs:
   Approved to participate in, or participating in a HUD-approved and operated disaster assistance program.
3. Veteran:
   A household that contains a person who served in the active military of the United States and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; OR a household that contains a person serving in the active military of the United States. Each applicant for financial assistance, under the Veteran definition, shall be a veteran, as defined above, or active-duty member; or dependent spouse, surviving spouse, dependent parent, minor child, or ward of a Veteran or deceased Veteran, as defined above, or deceased persons who were so serving at the time of the death, or an active-duty member.
4. Emancipated from Foster Care:
   The applicant(s) must be ages 18-22, have been in foster care and have been referred from Fairfield County Child Protective Services.
5. Homeless:
   The applicant must be participating in a Fairfield County Transitional Housing Program and has been participating for a consecutive period of not less than 6 months; OR is a resident of an Emergency Shelter.
6. Working Family:
   (Public Housing Program ONLY) The head of household or spouse is employed, working an average of 20 hours a week for a period of 6 weeks consecutively (active pay status), OR if the head of household AND spouse are age 62 or older OR if the head of household AND spouse are persons with disabilities.
7. Disabled:
   (Housing Choice Voucher ONLY) A household that include a person with a disability.

Lottery System

A computerized “lottery” program will be used to select names, within preferences, from the Waiting List. To retain your preference, the selected applicants must still have the preference(s) which allowed them to be pulled from the Waiting List at the time of selection and continue to maintain that preference(s) through the process until you receive your voucher.

How to Apply

You may apply for the Public Housing programs in the following manner:

• To apply online with our secure pre-application form, click here.
• To check your status, click here.

Updating Your Waiting List
Pre-Application Form

Remember it is your responsibility to keep the Waiting List information current at all times. If you fail to report a new address or other changes, we may not be able to contact you when your name is pulled from the Waiting List. Please note that FMHA will contact all applicants by mail.

Click here to download a PDF format copy of the Waiting List Change form to report changes and then mail to FMHA, PO BOX 2568, Lancaster, OH 43130.

Waiting List

The wait time for Public Housing depends on when a vacant unit is available. This program has additional requirements for background checks and landlord references. Applicants pulled for Public Housing will be verified for eligibility and then placed on a “Unit Waiting List” until the next unit becomes available.

If you need affordable housing while you wait for assistance, please see our Subsidized Housing information. If you need emergency assistance, click here for a list of shelters in Fairfield County.

Maximum Gross Income Table

Effective 05/31/2011

The Public Housing Process

Pre-Application

• A household in need of assistance applies for a Public Housing unit by completing FMHA’s Pre-Application form online.
• If the Waiting List is “open,” FMHA will accept your pre-application form.
• If the Waiting List is “closed,” no one can apply for a unit.

Selection from the Waiting List

• Completing your Pre-Application form enables you to be placed on our Waiting List.
• The FMHA computer software uses a lottery system to select applicants from the Waiting List.

Eligibility and Verifications

• When a family is selected, the household will be required to supply documentation that verifies their eligibility for the program.
• FMHA will also screen for applicant rental history and criminal activity.

Public Housing Preoccupancy Class

• When a household is pulled from the Waiting List and is determined to be eligible for the program, the household is asked to attend a Preoccupancy Class to learn about the lease, rules and regulations of the program.

Unit Offer

• If more than one unit is available, the first unit to be offered will be the first unit that is ready for occupancy. If the offer is rejected, the unit will be offered to the next eligible person on the Ready-to-be-housed Waiting List.
• Upon rejection of the unit, the applicant will be placed in the back of the line for another unit, until another unit offer is able to be made. If the applicant rejects the second offer, they will be withdrawn from the Public Housing Waiting List and must reapply.

Rent Determination

• Public Housing families have the choice of paying either a flat rent or an income-based rent.
• This choice is given to the families on an annual basis.

Occupancy

• Lease signing – FMHA and the family will review and sign the lease.
• Initial inspection – FMHA and the family will inspect the premises prior to occupancy in order to verify the condition of the unit

Interim Reporting

It is essential for the family to report any changes in the household within 10 calendar days. These changes include household composition, income increases or decreases, etc.

Annual Reexamination

Annually, the family must reestablish eligibility for the program.