Housing Choice Voucher Program

Phone # 574-295-8392

Fax# 574-293-6878

Extensions:

LIPH Staff

H CV Staff

Elkhart Housing Authority

1396 Benham Ave. Elkhart Indiana 46516

Program Summary
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the Elkhart Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program.

The program allows low-income families the freedom to choose quality housing while maintaining rent payments they can afford. Qualified applicants and participants select units owned by private landlords. These units must qualify under Housing Quality Standards and Rent Reasonable Certification. The client's rent portion is based on 30% of their gross adjusted monthly income. If the rent and utility allowances do not exceed the payment standard, EHA will issue the balance of the rent directly to the landlord. Upon initial lease renewal, the client's rental portion cannot exceed 40% of their current gross adjusted monthly income.

How do you receive a Housing Choice Voucher?
The family must first apply for assistance when the HCV waiting list is open. This is posted under the rental classifieds, throughout local agencies and churches, and also on our website. If the application is accepted, the family goes onto the waiting list. Once the application reaches the top of the waiting list, the applicant is sent a letter to come to a pre-application interview. At that time, all documents required by HUD must be signed, family information must be provided, landlord verifications are collected, and police background checks are conducted. If the applicant qualifies, they are contacted to attend a required HUD briefing presentation and issued a voucher to begin looking for a unit. You may visit www.indianahousingnow.org to find available units in our area.

How does the client use the HCV?
Once a family finds a suitable unit, they must submit the Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) forms completed by the owner or the landlord. An inspection is scheduled to determine if the unit meets all the Housing Quality Standards. If the unit does not pass inspection, the owner or landlord will be given a chance to correct the deficiencies. The owner or landlord must complete this work by the third inspection or the unit is not allowed onto the HCV program.

Family Responsibilities:

The family must comply with all family obligations on the voucher and policy required by the Elkhart Housing Authority. These include, but are not limited to:
1) Supply all information required and requested by HUD and EHA.
2) All information supplied by the family must be true and complete.
3) Report any income changes within 60 days of the change (failure to do so will result in a repayment agreement and possible termination from the HCV program).
4) Report any changes of family composition (additions to the household must be approved PRIOR to anyone moving into your unit).
5) May not commit any serious or repeated violations of the lease.
6) May not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the HCV program.
7) May not engage in drug-related or violent criminal activity.
8) May not engage in the abuse of alcohol in a way that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises.
9) May not sublease, let the unit, assign the lease or transfer the unit.
10) May not receive HCV assistance while receiving another housing subsidy for the same or different unit under any other Federal, State or Local Housing Assistance Program.

11) May not damage the unit or premises (other than ordinary wear and tear) or permit any guest to damage the unit or premises.
12) The family (including each family member) must not own or have interest in the unit (except under the Home Ownership Program).

13) May not receive housing assistance while residing in a unit owned by a family member (unless approval provides reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities).

Discrimination:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in housing based on sex, race, color, religion, disability, familial status (presence of children under the age of 18) or national origin. If the family has reason to believe that they have been discriminated against, the family may file a housing discrimination complaint. This can be done through the Elkhart Human Relations Department. For additional information, you may ask an EHA employee and we would be glad to assist you.

Amy Gonzalez

Director of Housing Choice Voucher

Housing Choice Voucher

The HCV Waiting list is currently open.