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Owner Update “Question of The Month”
Q: When does TMHA plan to pull more names from the
Voucher waiting list?
A. IT DEPENDS (on funding). Many of you may have
noticed that there are very few Voucher families searching for
housing at the present time. That’s because TMHA has not issued
any new Vouchers since May, 2006 (except for families moving
with assistance and Shelter + Care Vouchers – see related
story). The reason is that back in the spring, our searching
voucher holders were exceptionally successful at finding units,
putting TMHA in an “overleased” position. Because of the funding
requirements that Congress and HUD has imposed on the Voucher
program in 2006, TMHA must reduce this overleasing situation by
the end of the year. Therefore, we’re putting no new families
“on the street” at this time.
The DEPENDS part of this answer is governed by the Federal
Congress, which had to make some kind of funding decision by
October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year. What Congress
did was to pass a Continuing Resolution on the HUD portion of
the budget which pretty much means that things continue as they
have been until they get around to deciding something else.
Given the upcoming election and the general political unknowns
at present, nothing will happen until the election occurs, the
dust settles, and the members come back to Washington D.C. and
take up the budget bills still undecided - the HUD bill being
one of these.
TMHA hopes to again begin pulling names from the waiting list
near the end of the year. However, having no idea what funding
will look like in 2007 makes leasing on the Voucher program a
somewhat tricky business until the funding scenario is known,
and that may not happen until 2007 is actually here. TMHA will
keep you updated.
Shelter + Care Program is Launched
The past two Owner Updates have highlighted the Shelter + Care
program for which TMHA recently received funding. Homeless,
disabled people are served by S+C, which provides shelter in the
form of a housing voucher that will house the client in
privately owned rentals, such as those now on our Voucher
program. The “Care” component is offered by one or more of the
community service collaborators in the form of a case management
service plan to help the clients to manage life issues facing
them. The Shelter Plus Care program has proved to be successful
in other communities by giving these (formerly) homeless,
disabled people a stable housing base while they work through
other life problems.
During October TMHA began, receiving 4 individuals into the
program. The first S+C participant should go under active lease
at the beginning of November. One change for owners who know how
the Voucher program works is the initial lease term. Under the
regular Voucher program, the lease term is one year; under S+C
it is 6 months. After that time, the lease goes to an
automatically renewing month to month lease. The other
significant difference is the Security Deposit. On the regular
Voucher program, there are no funds for Security Deposits.
However, under S+C, TMHA can pay the Security Deposit to the
Owner. Occupancy Specialist Elain Yenni is handling the Shelter
+ Care lease-up process, so if you have any questions when a S+C
voucher holder seeks housing from you, please contact her at
330-308-8099.
TMHA Office Closings For November
The Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority office will
observe the following holidays in the month of November and will
be closed for business these days:
- November 10th – Veterans Day Observed
- November 23, 24 – Thanksgiving Holiday
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