|
Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Information
What type of help is available?
The
housing authority has two different programs. They are:
1.
Public Housing
2.
Section 8 Rent Subsidy
Each
of these programs has its own separate waiting list and separate
application form. You may apply for either program - or
for both programs by filling out both applications.
[back]
What is the difference between
the two programs available?
Public Housing Program
The
Public Housing Program consists of 24 apartments which are owned
and managed by the housing authority. The housing
authority is the landlord. There are 12 public housing
units in Castle Dale and 12 in Ferron. There are no other
public housing units in any other towns in the county.
Qualified individuals pay rent to the housing authority based on
their income and family size. The waiting list for public
housing averages about 4 months - but can vary depending on how
quickly apartments become vacant. Public housing
applicants are screened before admittance, and will be denied
admittance if they do not receive satisfactory references from
previous landlords and law enforcement officials.
Participants in public housing sign a continuous (non-expiring)
lease but may terminate the lease with a 15-day prior notice.
[back]
Section 8 Rent Subsidy Program
The
Section 8 Rent Subsidy Program allows qualified families to
"shop" for a rental anywhere in the county and when applicant is
admitted to the program they will be offered a voucher which
will enable applicant to only have to pay a part of the full
rent. Once a rental is selected, it must be inspected by
the housing authority and it must fall within affordable limits.
If the rental qualifies, a contract will be signed between the
housing authority and the landlord of the rental, under which
the housing authority will pay a portion of the full rent
directly to the landlord. This amount is determined by the
income and family size of the tenant. The balance of the rent
not paid by the housing authority is paid by the tenant directly
to the landlord of the rental. The waiting list for rent
subsidy program averages about 24 months - but can vary
depending on how fast families leave the program and their
"slots" become available to the next families on the waiting
list. There are only 68 slots (Vouchers) available in
Emery County. Participants sign a one year lease.
[back]
What makes a family or person eligible
for housing assistance?
Those affected by the following circumstances are eligible for
consideration for admission to public housing and/or rent
subsidy:
-
Families, disabled persons, or elderly persons who are
displaced by government action or natural disaster.
-
Families, disabled persons, or elderly persons who spend more
than 50% of their income for rent and utilities (excluding
telephone).
-
Families, disabled persons, or elderly persons who currently
live in substandard housing and have inadequate income to
move, or
-
Families, disabled persons, or elderly persons who do not have
a place of their own (homeless).
Those who have more than one of these conditions do not receive
any additional priority over those with only one. Since
almost all applicants to the housing authority programs qualify
for at least one of these circumstances, those who have none are
very unlikely to move to the top of the waiting list.
[back]
What happens after I apply?
The
Emery County Housing Authority accepts all applications that
meet eligibility requirements without discrimination toward
race, sex, color, religious beliefs, or national origin.
Applications are placed on the waiting lists in the order in
which they are received in the housing authority office.
When
an applicant's name nears the top of the waiting list, the
housing authority contacts them by mail and/or telephone.
If there is no response to the contact, or the applicant does
not accept a unit or a voucher when it is offered, the
applicant's name is removed from the waiting list, and that
person will need to re-apply if assistance is desired at a later
time.
[back]
|
