Owner Update “Question of The Month”

Q: How is the Shelter + Care (S+C) program different from the regular Voucher program?

A. First you should know that Shelter + Care looks much like the regular Voucher program, so there are more similarities than differences. TMHA pays the owner subsidy on the unit; the tenant pays his portion of rent based on his income. A S+C unit must pass inspection. A lease and contract is executed.

Major differences are:

• Waiting List – a S+C applicant bypasses our regular Voucher waiting list which is now about 18 months long, so for S+C applicants, this is a significant advantage.
• Security Deposit – S+C funds can be used for to pay a security deposit in the amount of one month’s rent. Our regular voucher funds cannot.
• 1-Month Vacancy Loss – S+C funds can be used to pay the owner a month’s rent in the case a S+C voucher holder vacates a unit in violation of the lease.
• Homelessness – TMHA must certify and document that the person is indeed homeless and disabled. On our regular voucher program, income is the primary eligibility factor. The homeless shelter will be a help with this requirement. The shelter has been consistently full since it opened.
• Social Services – S+C individuals and families will be required to work with a social service agency to manage life issues such as drug and/or alcohol dependency or chronic mental illness.
• Shorter Lease Term – under TMHA’s regular voucher program, the initial lease term is one year, followed by a month to month lease. Under S+C the initial term will be shorter – probably 6 months – to allow for possible situational changes that may need to occur under the participant’s service plan.
• Relaxed TMHA Screening Procedures – under the regular voucher program, TMHA denies applicants with violent criminal and/or drug related felonies. In the S+C program, TMHA may accept applicants with a checkered past because they are willing to participate in the care agency’s service plan. This is in recognition of the “second chance” philosophy needed to get these homeless, disabled persons back on their feet.

As with the regular voucher program, a key component of the S+C program is landlords to provide the housing. While the S+C participants may have some significant life issues to work on, they will also have the support of both the housing authority and the social service care agency to help work through tenancy-type problems to break the cycle of homelessness. TMHA hopes owners will respond favorably to those individuals and families with a Shelter Plus Care Voucher who apply for your rentals.




Lead Safe Work Practices R&R Course scheduled for Saturday, October 7th, 2006

Cuyahoga Community College, in collaboration with Mahoning Healthy Homes and with a Cuyahoga County Board of Health Grant, is offering an 8-hour (one day) course on Lead-Safe Work Practices. The course will take place from 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cost: $50.00

Lead-Safe Work Practices R&R course to train workers to perform interim controls of lead hazards in federally-assisted housing, under the HUD Lead-Safe Housing Rule.

Location: Corporate College East 4400 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128.

To Register: Call (216) 987-3075 or (216) 987-5875 or for more information contact Michelle King at (216) 987-2849.
 

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