FAQ's for Voucher Holders

Thaum kuv tau txais ib voucher, Ntau npaum li cas kuv yuav tsum nrhiav tau ib chav tsev?
Seem 1 8 Nyob tsev Xev Choice (TUS MOB NO) Program, cov neeg koom (90 Hnub?) nrhiav vaj tse.

Cov kev cai yuav tsum tau ua dab tsi rau Section 8 chav tsev?

1. The building must be safe and meet local and federal housing safety standards.
2. The rent must be affordable for you. The Section 8 program allows you to pay more than 30 percent of your income for rent and utilities, however new Section 8 clients or those who are moving into a new unit cannot pay more than 40 percent of their income at move-in.
3. The rent can’t be over-priced. It must meet a “rent reasonableness” test, which means the rent cannot be higher than rent for similar units in the area. This “test” is performed when you move into a new unit or when your landlord requests a rent increase.

Seem Yuav Section 8 pab them kuv qhov ruaj ntseg deposit?
Tsis. Koj yog lub luag hauj lwm them cov nqi ruaj ntseg deposit.

What is the step-by-step process for getting and using a Section 8 voucher?

1. You apply to the Section 8 wait list and when your name reaches the top of the list, Westbrook Housing reviews your household size and income and determines if you are eligible.
2. If you do not have a criminal record or poor landlord references, you are issued a voucher and a Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) form. You now have 90 days to find an apartment.
3. When you find a unit you want to rent, the landlord will screen you for suitability as tenant.
4. You and your landlord complete the RTA form and return it to Westbrook Housing.
5. Westbrook Housing inspects the unit to make sure it’s safe and meets housing standards. The inspector will approve the unit or note what repairs are needed.
6. Westbrook Housing negotiates rent with the landlord based on rent reasonableness guidelines and enters into a contract with the landlord.
7. The owner and you sign the lease and give a copy to Westbrook Housing.
8. Every year, Westbrook Housing will inspect the unit and review your eligibility.

How much do I pay and how much does Westbrook Housing pay toward rent?
You pays between 30 thiab 40 percent of your monthly income in rent. Westbrook Housing pays the remainder to your landlord in the form of a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Are there building standards that the apartment must meet?
Cov Qauv Qhia Vaj Tse (HQS) are the HUD minimum quality standards for Section 8 vaj tse. HQS was developed to make sure your home will be safe, healthy and comfortable. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, nyeem Ib qhov chaw zoo nyob.

Feem ntau cov tsev soj ntsuam xyuas yuav tsum tau txhaj?
Yuav tsum ua kom tiav ua ntej koj tsiv mus nyob rau hauv ib chav tsev, thiab ces ib xyoos ib zaug.

Kuv cov nyiaj tau los qhia txog kev pov thawj qhia txog kev raug mob?
Westbrook Housing will verify all income through your employers with written documentation. Westbrook Housing kuj periodically xyuas cov ntaub ntawv ua hauj lwm los ntawm HUD Enterprise Income Verification System. If Westbrook Housing finds you did not report income or a new job, your housing assistance can be terminated.

Kuv feem ntawm rent calculated?
Rent is calculated based on federal regulations, and it is recalculated whenever your income or family size changes. Your portion of the rent is about 30 percent of your monthly adjusted income. This amount is then subtracted from the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent to determine how much Westbrook Housing will pay in the subsidy.
The “payment standard” is a HUD-approved amount based on bedroom size and average fair market rents for the area. The bedroom size standard is two persons per bedroom, but the head of household is not expected to share a bedroom with a child.

Thaum twg tsev neeg yuav tsum tau nyiaj los yog kev ua tswv cuab tau qhia?
Tej kev hloov hauv cov nyiaj tau los yog tsev neeg composition yuav tsum tau qhia rau Westbrook housing sau ntawv tsis pub dhau 10 Hnub. To fill out income change forms and report the changes, hu rau koj tus neeg khiav dej num hauv qhov chaw khiav hauj lwm muab 207-854-9779.

Tej kev txiav txim siab yuav pub dab tsi?

• $480 is deducted from your gross monthly income for each household member who is under 18 Xyoo los yog xiam oob qhab los yog ib tug me nyuam kawm ntawv full-time.
• $400 for any elderly family (hnub nyoog 62 los sis laus dua).
• Cov nqi kho mob uas ntau tshaj 3 percent of annual family income of any elderly or disabled family.
• Tsim nyog siv cov nqi zov me nyuam uas tsim nyog pab kom koj los yog lwm tus neeg hauv tsev neeg yuav tsum ua hauj lwm los yog ua ntej nws kev kawm ntawv.

Where are vouchers accepted?
Wherever you choose to live, as long as the unit passes a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. It must also pass a rent reasonableness test to assure that the rent is fair.

When a property owner or manager is willing to rent units under the Section 8 Program, and a rental agreement or lease and Housing Assistance Payment contract must are signed.

Westbrook Housing has a list of units whose owners will accept a Section 8 Tsev Xev.

Why are annual reexaminations necessary?
Westbrook Housing is required by federal regulations to review each your income and family size at least once a year. This is done to assure that (1) the right amount of rent is being paid based on your actual income and (2) the home is the right size for the family.

How can I prepare for the reexamination?
For both your reexamination and annual inspection:

• Be on time for your appointment.
• Make sure you have all the information requested in your reexamination letter.

What happens during this review?
Westbrook Housing will notify you one to two months before the anniversary of your initial move-in date. A program officer will schedule a time to conduct the interview. At the interview, the officer will check to see that all information provided about income and family size is correct.

Sometime during the year, Westbrook Housing will also schedule an inspection of your home to make sure it still meets basic Housing Quality Standards.

The inspection is a good time for you to share any concerns you may have about the condition of your home or any maintenance problems you are having.

Kuv cov kev cai yog dab tsi?
Koj yuav tsum:

• Qhia tag nrho cov nyiaj tau los thiab khoom vaj khoom tsev thiab cov cuab tam hauv tsev neeg.
• Daim Ntawv Tso Cai Soj Ntsuam Koj Lub Tsev tom qab tsim nyog.
• Muab Westbrook housing thiab tus tswv tsev tsawg kawg yog 30 days written notice if you plan to move.
• Tsis sublet los yog xauj ib feem ntawm koj chav tsev.
• Never use illegal or controlled substances.
• Tsis txhob muab kev koom tes rau hauv cov tshuaj hais txog kev ua nruj ua tsiv los yog kev ua nruj ua tsiv.
• Tsis pub txhua tus neeg uas tsis yog koj tsev neeg siv koj qhov chaw nyob xa ntawv mus xa ntawv, tsheb sau npe, thiab lwm yam.
• Ua raws li cov nqe lus ntawm koj daim ntawv xauj tsev.

Kuv poob kuv qhov nqi zog?
Yog, below is a partial list of ways families lose their rental assistance:

• Move out without proper notice.
• Allow unauthorized people to live in the unit or use it as their mailing address.
• Fail to report all changes in income or to provide the information required by Westbrook Housing.
• Owe money to any housing authority.
• Become involved in drug-related or violent criminal activities.
• Repeatedly violate the terms of a lease.
• Cause significant damage to the unit.

Thaum twg kuv tsiv mus nyob?
Here are some general guidelines for moving out.

• Give Westbrook Housing and your landlord at least 30 sau ntawv ceeb toom.
• Contact your program officer to see if your income and family composition must be updated, and to obtain another voucher and a Request for Tenancy Approval form for the owner of your new unit.
• Make sure all rent due has been paid.
• Clean the unit thoroughly before you move, this includes major appliances and carpets.

Kuv yuav ua li cas thaum ib yam dab tsi yuav tsum tau kho?
Maintenance problems should be reported to the owner or property manager in writing. Yog hais tias qhov teeb meem yog tsis ho caij kiag los yog fee, the problem should be reported to Westbrook Housing in writing for possible action.

As a tenant, what are my responsibilities to the unit?
Practice good housekeeping habits in your home. Keep the home in a clean, safe and orderly condition. Let the property manager or owner know as soon as possible when a repair is needed.