Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy - …

1 DENVER HOUSING AUTHORITY Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy ACOP Housing Management Dept. 2/1/2017 The Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies ( ACOP ) is DHA s written statement of policies used to carry out the housing program in accordance with federal law and regulations, HUD requirements, and state and local laws. ACOP ----- Page 1-1 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 .. 4 OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM AND PLAN .. 4 PART I: DHA .. 4 PART II: THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM .. 5 PART III: THE ADMISSIONS AND Continued Occupancy POLICIES .. 5 CHAPTER 2 .. 5 FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY .. 5 PART I: NONDISCRIMINATION .. 5 PART II: POLICIES RELATED TO PERSONS WITH 6 PART III: IMPROVING ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP) .. 9 CHAPTER 3.

2 9 ELIGIBILITY .. 9 PART I: DEFINITIONS OF FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS .. 9 PART II: BASIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA .. 15 PART III: DENIAL OF Admission .. 17 CHAPTER 4 .. 21 APPLICATIONS, WAITLIST AND TENANT SELECTION .. 21 PART I: THE APPLICATION PROCESS .. 21 PART II: MANAGING THE WAITLIST .. 22 PART III: TENANT SELECTION .. 24 CHAPTER 5 .. 27 Occupancy STANDARDS AND UNIT OFFERS .. 27 PART I: Occupancy STANDARDS .. 27 PART II: UNIT OFFERS .. 29 ACOP ----- Page 1-2 CHAPTER 6 .. 31 INCOME AND RENT CALCULATIONS .. 31 PART I: ANNUAL INCOME .. 31 PART II: ADJUSTED INCOME .. 43 PART III: CALCULATING RENT .. 47 CHAPTER 7 .. 50 VERIFICATION .. 50 PART I: GENERAL VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS .. 50 PART II: Verifying FAMILY INFORMATION .. 52 PART III: Verifying Income and Assets .. 56 PART IV: Verifying Mandatory Deductions.

3 57 CHAPTER 8 .. 60 LEASING AND INSPECTIONS .. 60 PART I: LEASING .. 60 PART II: INSPECTIONS .. 61 CHAPTER 9 .. 64 REEXAMINATIONS .. 64 PART I: ANNUAL REEXAMINATIONS FOR FAMILIES PAYING INCOME BASED RENTS .. 64 PART II: REEXAMINATIONS FOR FAMILIES PAYING FLAT RENTS .. 66 PART III: INTERIM 67 PART IV: RECALCULATING TENANT RENT .. 69 CHAPTER 10 .. 69 ANIMALS .. 69 PART I: ASSISTANCE ANIMALS .. 69 PART II: PET POLICIES FOR ALL DEVELOPMENTS .. 70 ACOP ----- Page 1-3 CHAPTER 11 .. 71 COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS .. 71 CHAPTER 12 .. 71 TRANSFER Policy .. 71 CHAPTER 13 .. 73 LEASE TERMINATIONS .. 73 CHAPTER 14 .. 74 GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS .. 74 CHAPTER 15 .. 76 PROGRAM INTEGRITY .. 76 PART I: PREVENTING ERRORS AND PROGRAM ABUSE .. 76 PART II: CORRECTIVE MEASURES AND PENALTIES.

4 78 CHAPTER 16 .. 80 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION .. 80 PART I: SETTING UTILITY ALLOWANCES .. 80 PART II: ESTABLISHING FLAT RENTS AND PUBLIC HOUSING MAXIMUM RENTS .. 81 PART III: FAMILY DEBTS TO DHA .. 82 PART V: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA) .. 83 PART VI: DECONCENTRATION Policy /CONVENTIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING .. 83 ACOP ----- Page 1-4 Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM AND PLAN PART I: DHA Public housing is funded by the federal government and administered by the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver, also known as Denver Housing Authority ( DHA ) for the jurisdiction of the City and County of Denver. DHA MISSION DHA s mission is to serve the residents of Denver by developing, owning, and operating safe, decent and affordable housing in a manner that promotes thriving communities.

5 DHA resolves to: Administer applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations to achieve high ratings in compliance measurement indicators while maintaining efficiency in program operation to ensure fair and consistent treatment of clients served. Provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing in good repair in compliance with program uniform physical condition standards for very low- and low-income families. Achieve a healthy mix of incomes in its public housing developments by attracting and retaining higher income families and by working toward deconcentration of poverty goals. Encourage self-sufficiency of participant families and assist in the expansion of family opportunities which address educational, socio-economic, recreational and other human services needs.

6 Promote fair housing and the opportunity for very low- and low-income families of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and all other protected classes to participate in the public housing program and its services. Create positive public awareness and expand the level of family and community support in accomplishing DHA s mission. Attain and maintain a high level of standards and professionalism in day-to-day management of all program components. Administer an efficient, high-performing agency through continuous improvement of DHA s support systems and commitment to our employees and their development. DHA will make every effort to keep residents informed of program rules and regulations, and to advise participants of how the program rules affect them.

7 ACOP ----- Page 1-5 PART II: THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM Applicable regulations include but are not limited to: 24 CFR Part 5: General Program Requirements 24 CFR Part 8: Nondiscrimination 24 CFR Part 35: Lead-Based Paint 24 CFR Part 902: Public Housing Assessment System 24 CFR Part 903: Public Housing Agency Plans 24 CFR Part 945: Designated Housing 24 CFR Part 960: Admission and Occupancy Policies 24 CFR Part 965: DHA-Owned or Leased Projects General Provisions 24 CFR Part 966: Lease and Grievance Procedures PART III: THE ADMISSIONS AND Continued Occupancy POLICIES The Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies ( ACOP ) is DHA s written statement of policies used to carry out the housing program in accordance with federal law and regulations, HUD requirements, and state and local laws.

8 The ACOP also contains policies that support the objectives contained in DHA s Agency Plan. All issues related to public housing not addressed in this ACOP are governed by the federal regulations, the Department of Housing And Urban Development ( HUD ) handbooks and guidebooks, HUD notices, and applicable state and local laws. DHA will review and update the ACOP as needed to reflect changes in regulations, DHA operations, or when needed to ensure staff consistency in operation. If DHA and ACOP conflict with the regulations listed above then, HUD regulations will have precedence. Chapter 2 FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PART I: NONDISCRIMINATION It is the Policy of DHA to treat all applicants and resident families equally, providing the same quality of service, regardless of family characteristics and background.

9 DHA will not discriminate in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, LGBT Status, gender identity, marital status, military status, political affiliation, or other protected class ( Protected Classes ). No person shall, on the grounds of their Protected Class be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under DHA s programs. ACOP ----- Page 1-6 It is the Policy of DHA to fully comply with all Federal, State and local nondiscrimination laws and with rules and regulations governing fair housing and equal opportunity in housing and employment, including but not limited to: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

10 Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (as amended by the Community Development Act of 1974 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (to the extent that it applies, otherwise Section 504 and the Fair Housing Amendments govern). Executive Order 11063. The Violence against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA). The Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Final Rule, published in the Federal Register February 3, 2012. The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The Denver County Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. And all applicable state laws or local ordinances and any legislation protecting individual rights of residents, applicants, or staff that may subsequently be enacted.