Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List

An applicant will be placed in a preference category, if they appear to qualify for that category, with verification of the preference being obtained once chosen from the Waiting List. Households which qualify for a preference will be assisted before households without a preference. Recorded changes in an applicant’s preference status may change their place on a waiting list.

A computerized “lottery” program will be used. The computer system will randomly choose, within a preference, which applicants will be chosen from the waiting list to be offered rental assistance benefits, if they qualify. The selected applicant must still have the preference which allowed them to be pulled from the waiting list, at the time of selection and continue to maintain that preference through voucher issuance.

Ranking Order for Preferences

The ranking order for preferences (in order of importance) is: Resident; Disaster Assistance; Veteran or Emancipated from Foster Care; Homeless; Working Family (PH)/Disabled Family (HCV). Each of the ranking preferences has a different value. Families with more than one preference could be housed before a family with only one preference – depending on the value of the ranking of the preference(s).

Definitions

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.

How to Apply

Fairfield Metropolitan Housing Authority closed the Housing Choice Voucher Program Waiting List on March 31, 2010.

However, the Housing Authority will continue to accept applications from Veterans and Emancipated Youth during this time. Individuals meeting this classification may obtain and submit their application by the following process:

1. Click here to obtain a printable application or you may request, in writing, an application be mailed to you. Please be sure to include your return mailing address.
2. Complete the application.
3. You may return the completed application by mail or by using the FMHA Drop Box located on the outside of our office by the front door. Only applications with the required documentation listed below will be accepted, all others will be discarded.
   • A DD214, showing an Honorable Discharge
     (veterans only)
   • A copy of your referral letter from Fairfield County Child Protective Services (emancipated youth only)

Waiting List

The wait time to have your name selected from the HCV Waiting List cannot be anticipated at this time.

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.

Gross Income Table

Effective 05/31/2011

Family Members in Household	Median Income: $66,600
	Extremely Low Income Limits (30% of median)	Very Low Income Limits (50% of median)	Low Income Limits (80% of median)
1	$14,000	$23,350	$37,350
2	$16,000	$26,650	$42,650
3	$18,000	$30,000	$48,000
4	$20,000	$33,300	$53,300
5	$21,600	$36,000	$57,600
6	$23,200	$38,650	$61,850
7	$24,800	$41,300	$66,100
8	$26,400	$44,000	$70,400

The Housing Choice Voucher Process

Pre-Application

• A household in need of assistance applies for a Housing Choice Voucher by completing FMHA’s Pre-Application form.
• 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 Voucher.

Selection from the Waiting List

• Completing your Pre-Application form enables you to be placed on our Waiting List.
• In most communities, there are not enough vouchers for everyone who needs one, so there is usually a long 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 history and criminal activity.

Section 8 HCV Briefing

• 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 Briefing to learn about the rules and regulations of the program.
• The family is issued a Voucher and may begin to search for a unit to rent.

House Search

• The household then has a period of time (60 days) to find a rental unit in the community that meets Section 8 guidelines. When the family locates a home, they submit a Request for Tenancy Approval form to FMHA.
• In some cases, the household may already be living in a housing unit that meets the Section 8 guidelines and may choose to use the Voucher in the existing unit.

HQS, Rent Reasonable, and Affordability Test

• A Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection is scheduled to ensure that your rental unit is safe, decent, and of good quality.
• The rent of the unit is compared to rents of similar unassisted units in the community to ensure the rental amount is reasonable.
• The Housing Authority will determine if your income can support the rental unit you’ve chosen.

FMHA Approves the Unit

• When all paperwork is signed (i.e. lease between the family and owner; and contract between FMHA and owner), the family can move into the unit.
• At this point, the HCV rental assistance begins. The household pays between 30 and 40 percent of their income toward rent and any tenant-paid utilities. FMHA will pay the balance of the rent to the landlord. This amount is referred to as subsidy.

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. The unit is re-inspected to make sure it continues to meet Section 8 standards.

In addition to income requirements, families must provide proof of legal residence in the United States, any Social Security number to which they have been assigned, and must sign consent forms to verify the income and assets that they have reported. The Housing Authority will check on the criminal record of adult family members and check to see if any member is required to register as a lifetime sexual offender. Families that have a member or members who have engaged in violent criminal activity or drug related criminal activity are, in most cases, not eligible for housing assistance. Families with members that are required to register as a lifetime sexual offender are not eligible for Public Housing or the Housing Choice Voucher program. Please see our participant obligations page and the Criminal Activity Policy document for more information.

Renting to Relatives under Section 8 is prohibited. The regulation, 24 CFR 982.306(d) reads “The HA must not approve a unit if the owner is the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family unless the HA determines that approving the unit would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.” The owner is prohibited from living in the assisted unit, as well.