Program Summary



Responsibilities



Specific Programs

Summary

The Housing Choice Voucher (formerly section 8 Rental Assistance) Program is administered by the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning on behalf of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) and the New York State Housing Finance Agency. This is a FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Funds paid to participating owners, renters, and administration fees utilized to administer the program come from the Federal Government.

The objective of the rental assistance program is to provide income eligible participants with decent, safe and sanitary housing at an affordable cost. The program assists participating families and individuals that fall below the 50% of median income for their family size. Participants pay between 30 to 40% of their monthly-adjusted income towards their rent and the cost of utilities. The remaining unmet rent and possibly utility costs, is then paid by our rental assistance program.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program generates money for both county property owners as well as eligible residents, and improves housing throughout the county. Rental units participating in this program must meet with housing quality standards that are determined by HUD. Many times owners make improvements to their properties in order to be involved in the program, thus, improving the housing stock throughout our communities.

In 2006, our office had assisted 415 families throughout the County, with the majority of the program consisting of families that are headed by a single female parent between the ages of 40-49 with an average family income of between $5,000 and $9,999 per year. Our office created revenue of $176,939 for the County which included a grant in the amount of $14,590 to pay for a part-time Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator position. Our program has paid County rental property owners a total of $1,240,186 in rental subsidies and a total of $16,994 in utility reimbursements to assist participants in meeting their utility bills. (In some cases, the program pays for the entire rent of a family and determines the family eligible for assistance with their utility costs, which is known as a utility reimbursement. The utility reimbursement is either sent directly to the family or in many cases to National Grid or other utility provider on the family's behalf.)

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Oswego County Housing Assistance Program as the administrator of the Housing Choice Voucher Program under contract with DHCR (which, in turn, DHCR is under contract with HUD) include:

• Determining family eligibility and reexamining family income;
• Maintaining a waiting list and selecting families for admission;
• Calculating of family share of the rent and the amounts of housing assistance and possible utility reimbursement payments;
• Assisting in the establishment of utility allowances;
• Conducting outreach to owners, with special attention to those with units outside of areas of poverty or minority concentration;
• Assisting persons with disabilities in finding satisfactory housing;
• Approving rental units, including assuring compliance with housing quality standards set forth by HUD and determining the reasonableness or rent;
• Conducting informal reviews and hearings at the request of applicants and participants challenging administrative decisions;
• Administering the Family Self-Sufficiency Program;
• Administering the Home Ownership Program;
• Complying with fair housing and equal opportunity requirements;
• Complying with HUD regulations and requirements;
• Completing grant applications for program funding;
• Remain current with changing program funding;
• Complying with HUD-approved applications for program funding; and
• Complying with DHCR's administration plan, federal state and local lows.

Specific Programs

The Oswego County Housing Assistance Program also runs programs within the HCV Program to better serve the needs of the participating families. These programs include:

• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
• HCV Homeownership Vouchers
• Project-Based Assisted Housing
• Family Unification
• Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
• New Horizons Fair Housing Project

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program- seeks to help HCV participants become economically independent. To accomplish this goal, the program combines needed educational and social services with traditional housing assistance. The incentive of an escrow account: a special bank account that increases as the earned income in the household increases is also provided for possible future homeownership.

For 2006, our office was in receipt of a Federal grant in the amount of $14,590 to support our part-time Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator position. In addition, $9,642 was disbursed to three families; one of which purchased a home with their escrow monies.

HCV Homeownership Vouchers - Allows our Section 8 HCV rental assistance participants to become first-time homeowners with their monthly homeownership expenses. The home must pass initial housing quality standards inspecition conducted by our office and an independent home inspection before our office may approve the purchase by the family. Our office has been authroized to implement five vouchers so that some of our neediest residents may now be given the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of owning their own home.

Project-Based Assisted Housing - Minetto Senior Housing Complex has 27 units that are subsideized through this program for disabled and elderly families. The Gilbert's Grove Apartments complex (formerly known as Pathfider Courts) has 34 project-based family units available. Unlike the remainder of the program, which is tenant-based subsidy stays with the project, not with the tenant.

Family Unification - allocations are provided to assist families who have lost, or are in danger of losing, their children to foster care, but who may be able to retain custody of their children or reunite the family if they can obtain adequate housing. In order to access this program, applicants must be referred to our office through the Department of Social Services.

Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities - enables elderly and non-elderly persons with disabilities, who often face difficulties locating suitable and accessible housing on the private market, to lease affordable housing of their choice.

New Horizons Fair Housing Project - a HUD program developed to help communities plan and carry out comprehensive fair housing strategies. It is funded through administration fees of successful Community Development Block Grants and community donations.

Questions about Oswego County Housing Assistance Program?