TMHA Housing Programs Information

In this entire issue of the Owner Update, TMHA staff have decided to share some basic information about TMHA programs as well as some statistical information that we feel may be of interest to our landlords.

The Voucher program is TMHA’s largest in numbers and funding. Eligible families must be “very low income” or 50% of the area median income. For a family of four, the ceiling is $25,900. Families receive a voucher for rental assistance which can be used anywhere in Tuscarawas Co. on a privately owned rental unit with an owner who will execute a contract with TMHA. Families pay 30-40% of their income for rent and utilities. TMHA sends a housing assistance payment to the owner for the remainder of the rent. The Housing Assistance Payments budget for 2006 is $1,790,841.

In December, 2006, TMHA assisted 557 families with rent. There is constant turnover of assisted families, with families leaving the Voucher program, and new families coming under assistance. In 2006, TMHA has directly assisted 696 families.

Some statistics about the families currently assisted on TMHA’s Voucher Program:

Categories of Assisted Families
Elderly/Disabled Families (head/spouse disabled) - 52%
Families with Children - 44%

Income Sources: (Families may fall into multiple categories)
Families Receiving Social Security or SSI — 54%
Families with Employment Income — 36%
Families Receiving Welfare Assistance (Ohio Works First) - 11%

Families with employment income can enter TMHA’s Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program. By working, these families can save money through an Escrow Savings Account which will help them become economically self sufficient when they leave the program. See page 2 of this issue for more information on the FSS Program.

Waiting List: TMHA maintains a waiting list for families who have requested (and are income eligible for) rental assistance. These families are served as families receiving assistance leave the program, thereby freeing up the funding to serve new families. The current number of families on the waiting list has grown from 372 families in December 2005 to 621 in December, 2006 because of constrained funding from HUD. Any family who signed up on the TMHA waiting list after August 30th, 2005 is still on the waiting list.

Tuscarawas MHA Owners:
Private owners or landlords are a vital part of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. These individuals and companies own and operate rental housing on the open market in the Tuscarawas Co. area. They voluntarily enter into a contractual agreement with the housing authority to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for program families. They maintain the rental housing to TMHA’s inspection standards, and otherwise comply with the landlord obligations of Ohio Revised Code.

Currently TMHA has active contracts with 250 owners. Housing subsidies of approximately $158,000 per month are remitted by the housing authority to owners on behalf of assisted families. Since 95% of TMHA owners are located in Tuscarawas Co., this funding not only aids local families, but benefits our local economy.



Shelter Plus Care Program

This program is a new emergency housing initiative for TMHA, and is targeted to people who are both homeless and disabled. The S+C participant is issued a Voucher to seek housing in the community from a private owner, and will contribute 30% of his income toward rent and utilities. TMHA remits the remainder of the rent to the owner as a rental assistant payment. The Shelter + Care participant must be receiving services from a care agency to aid in managing his disability. Shelter + Care is regarded as a stop gap measure to stabilize housing for the S+C participant so that he/she can focus energies on other disabling life issues. TMHA was awarded $262,440 over a five-year period for this program.
 

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