General Information

The City of Utica Section 8 Program

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

Eligibility 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.

LINK to updated Income Limits: http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il.html. The program is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. If the HA determines that your family is eligible, the HA will put your name on a waiting list, and contact you when funds are available to issue you a Voucher.

Rental Subsidy

A rental subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the HA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. The maximum amount of the family's assistance is calculated by subtracting 30% of their adjusted monthly income from the lower of the program Payment Standard or the gross rent.  The amount that the family will pay depends upon the total rent for the unit and the family's voucher size compared to the unit size. The HA cannot allow a family to use the Section 8 voucher in a unit if renting that unit would cause the family to pay more than 40% of the household's monthly adjusted income towards rent and utilities for the first year of the tenancy.

Tenant Role

• 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 contract with the landlord to provide rental assistance payments on behalf of the family.