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HOW CAN I APPLY FOR SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
Applications for rental assistance can be picked up at the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority’s office located at 1276 W. River St. Suite 300, Boise, ID 83702 (208) 345-4907 or can be downloaded by clicking the following link: Rental Assistance Application. Persons requiring assistance with completing their application should contact the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority.
To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, a family’s annual gross household income must not exceed 50% of the area median income.
Due to the large demand for rental assistance in the community, and a limited amount of funding, applicants are placed on a waiting list for assistance. The waiting list for assistance runs from approximately 36-48 months, depending upon the amount of funding received by the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority.
Currently, we are serving families who applied in February 2007.
I NEED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. DO YOU OFFER EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
Unfortunately, the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority does not offer emergency rental assistance.
HOW IS MY APPLICATION PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST?
Your application is placed on the waiting list as of the date and time your application is submitted to the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority and is date-stamped into our office. Consistent with Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority Agency Plan, the HA will select families based on the following preferences that are based on local housing needs and priorities:
- Public housing residents under or over-housed. (Must also meet one or more of the categories described below #5-#9)
- Applicants with a Family Unification Program referral from the Department of Health & Welfare. (Must also meet one or more of the categories described below #5-#9)
- Applicants with a Homeless Program referral from one of the BC/ACHA recognized referring agencies. (Must also meet one or more of the categories described below #5-#9)
- Applications with a CATCH program referral from the City of Boise. (Must meet one or more of the categories below #5-#9).
- A household whose head or co-head (or at least one adult member) is working at least 20 ours per week, with verifiable income or whose head or co-head is participating in a BC/ACHA recognized job preparedness/self-sufficiency program or a household whose head or co-head is either elderly (62 or older), and/or handicapped and unable to work.
- A household whose head or co-head is attending school full time.
- A household consisting of one adult head of household and a child(ren) in the household under the age of 6.
- A one or two-person elderly, disabled or displaced household.
- A household whose head or co-head is fleeing their home due to domestic violence.
All other households on the waiting list without a local preference will be considered non-preference families and will be assisted in the order of the date and time of their application only after ALL local preference households have been assisted.
WHAT KIND OF UNIT CAN I RENT?
You can rent virtually any kind of decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling unit. Units can include apartments, duplexes, single family homes and manufactured homes.
HOW MUCH WOULD I CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS RENT?
Section 8 participants generally contribute between 30% and 40% of their monthly adjusted gross income towards rent and utilities. The Housing Authority pays the balance directly to the owner.
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO STAY ON THE WAITING LIST?
In order to stay on the waiting list you must keep your letter from the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority notifying you that you have been placed on the waiting list. This is your proof that your application has been placed on the waiting list.
You must also notify us in writing, within ten (10) days, if you move so we may update your mailing address on your application.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY NAME REACHES THE TOP OF THE WAITING LIST?
When your name reaches the top of the waiting list, you’ll be notified in writing and will be required to attend a Top of the List Meeting. Your Local Preference, if applicable, will be verified at this meeting along with your household composition and income.
In addition, the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority will conduct a criminal background check on all adult household members age 18 or older.
The applicant household must have at least one family member who is a U.S. Citizen or has eligible immigration status.
I’VE GOT MY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER AND HAVE LOCATED A UNIT TO RENT. THE OWNER HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. WHO CAN THE OWNER CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?
You will be given information about the Program at your Housing Choice Voucher Briefing that you should give to your owner. If he/she has additional questions, please have them contact the Housing Programs Manager at (208) 287-1051 or they can e-mail their questions to kkilgrow@bcacha.org, or refer them to the Landlord benefits link on this web site.
ONCE I AM A PARTICIPANT ON THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES?
The summary of the family obligations are listed below:
- The family must supply any information determined necessary in the administration of the program.
- The family must disclose and verify social security numbers for each household member over the age of six.
- The information supplied by the family must be true and complete.
- The family is responsible for any Housing Quality Standards (HQS) breach cause by the family.
- The family must allow BC/ACHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice.
- The family may not commit any serious or repeated lease violations, which may include damage to the unit caused by program participants or their guests (beyond normal wear and tear).
- The family must notify BC/ACHA and the owner before the family moves out of the unit, or terminates the lease with notice to the owner.
- The family must promptly give BC/ACHA a copy of any eviction notice.
- The family must use the assisted unit for residence by the family. The unit must be the family’s only residence.
- The composition of the assisted family residing in the unit must be approved by BC/ACHA and the landlord.
- The family must promptly notify BC/ACHA if any family member no longer resides in the unit.
- The family must not sublease or let the unit.
- The family must promptly notify BC/ACHA of any extended absence from the unit.
- The family must not own or have any interest in the unit.
- The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program.
- The members of the family may not engage in drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity or other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises.
- An assisted family may not receive Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving any other housing subsidy.
It is the policy of BC/ACHA that all changes of family income and/or composition be reported, in writing, within ten (10) days of the change.
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