The City of Utica Section 8 Program (HA) administers the Federal Housing Choice Voucher rental subsidy program for the City of Utica. 

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.  Since the rental assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find and lease privately owned housing including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.  The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. 

Eligibility

Eligiblity for the program is determined by the HA based on the total annual gross income and family size. Families must be at or below the Very Low Income to be eligible, however 75% of new admissions must be below the Very Very Low Income Limits.

Income Limits 

Family Size	Very Very Low	Very Low	Low
1	10,000	16,650	26,650
2	11,400	19,050	30,450
3	12,850	21,400	34,250
4	14,300	23,800	38,100
5	15,400	25,700	41,150
6	16,550	27,600	44,150
7	17,700	29,500	47,200
8	18,850	31,400	50,250

• The family selects a housing unit and signs a lease with the landlord.
• May be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord.
• Comply with lease and the program requirements.
• Pay its share of rent on time.
• Maintain the unit in good condition and notify the HA of any changes in income or family composition.

Landlord Role

• Screen families who apply to determine if they will be good renters.
• Comply with Fair HOusing Laws, and not discriminate against any family.
• Maintain the housing unit by making necessary repairs in a timely manner.
• Comply with the terms of the Housing Choice Voucher Contract with the HA.
• Collect the rent due by the family and otherwise enforce the lease.

HA Authority Role

• Administers the Program.
• Provide a family with the rental assistance that enables the family to seek out suitable housing.
• enters into a cointract with the landlord to provide rental assistance payments on behalf of the family.

The Following is a list of programs that provide applicants with Section 8 assistance and with services once they receive assistance:

Family Unification Program (FUP)

The FUP 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. Eligible families are referred to the Section 8 Program from the Department of Social Services. In addition to meeting the Social Service criteria, the families selected for FUP assistance must meet basic housing choice voucher eligibility requirements.

Mainstream Housing for Persons with Disabilities

This Voucher funding provides rental assistance for 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.  Housing choice vouchers are available to eligible disabled families regardless of the type of disability; preferences based on type of disability are prohibited.  Recipients for this assistance are selected from the Waiting List.  

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program ( click for more information)

The FSS program is intended to promote the development of local strategies for coordinating the use of housing choice vouchers with public and private resources to help eligible families achieve economic independence.

Participation in the FSS program is voluntary for families and is open to current housing choice voucher program participants.  Families entering the FSS program work with a case manager to develop goals that will, over a 5-year period, lead to self-sufficiency.  The goals may include education, specialized training, job readiness and job placement activities, and career advancement objectives. 

When the family meets its goals and completes its FSS contract, the family becomes eligible to receive funds deposited in an escrow account on the families behalf throughout the family's participation in the FSS program.  The amount credited to the family's escrow account is based on increases in the family's earned income during the term of the FSS contract.