for Administration of the U. S. Urban Development (HUD ...

1 THE PLAN for Administration of the U. S. Department of housing and Urban Development (HUD) SECTION 8 housing choice voucher Program effective july 2017 S T A T E O F C O N N E C T I C U T D e p a r t m e n t o f H o u s i n g 5 0 5 H u d s o n S t r e e t H a r t f o r d , C T 0 6 1 0 6 - 7 1 0 7 Office of Individual and Family Program A tool for administering and managing the federal Section 8 voucher programs of the Connecticut Department of housing . These programs include the housing choice voucher , both tenant-based and project-based, Family Unification, Mainstream housing Opportunities Program for Persons with Disabilities and the Veterans Affairs Supportive housing programs TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - i Chapter 1 STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES .. 1-1 A. DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT/OVERVIEW .. 1-1 B. LOCAL GOALS [ 24 CFR ] .. 1-2 C. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN [ 24 CFR ].

2 1-3 D. ADMINISTRATIVE FEE RESERVE [ 24 CFR (d)(21)] .. 1-3 E. RULES AND REGULATIONS [ 24 CFR ].. 1-3 F. LOCAL PREFERENCE FOR ADMISSION .. 1-3 G. TERMINOLOGY .. 1-4 H. FAIR housing POLICY [ 24 CFR (d)(6)] .. 1-5 I. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY [ 24 CFR ] .. 1-6 J. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENTS .. 1-7 K. MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES .. 1-8 L. RECORDS FOR MONITORING PHA PERFORMANCE .. 1-9 M. PRIVACY RIGHTS [ 24 CFR ] .. 1-10 N. FAMILY OUTREACH .. 1-11 O. OWNER OUTREACH [ 24 CFR (d)(5)].. 1-11 P. DISCRETION TO OPERATE A PROJECT-BASED voucher (PBV) PROGRAM [ 24 CFR (c), (a), (b)(d) .. 1-11 Chapter 2 ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subparts B, D Part 982, Subpart E] .. 2-1 A. ELIGIBILITY FACTORS [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 2-1 B. FAMILY COMPOSITION [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 2-2 C. INCOME LIMITATIONS [ 24 CFR (b), ] .. 2-5 D. MANDATORY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS [ 24 CFR , ].]

3 2-6 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - ii E. CITIZENSHIP/ELIGIBLE IMMIGRATION STATUS [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart E] .. 2-6 F. OTHER CRITERIA FOR ADMISSIONS [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 2-7 G. TENANT SCREENING [ 24 CFR )] .. 2-7 H. CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY BEFORE effective DATE OF CONTRACT .. 2-8 I. INELIGIBLE FAMILIES .. 2-8 J. PROHIBITED ADMISSIONS CRITERIA [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 2-8 Chapter 3 APPLYING FOR ADMISSION [ 24 CFR , 24 CFR , 66FR 3607-9] .. 3-1 A. PROHIBITION AGAINST DENIAL OF ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT and STALKING [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart L] .. 3-1 B. OVERVIEW OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS .. 3-4 C. OPENING/CLOSING OF PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS [ 24 CFR , (d)(1), 24 CFR (a)(3)&(4)] .. 3-5 D. INITIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 3-6 E. APPLICANT STATUS WHILE ON WAITING LIST [ 24 CFR & 66FR 3607] .. 3-7 F. APPLICANT STATUS WHILE ON THE PROJECT-BASED PROGRAM WAITING LIST [ 24 CFR , ].

4 3-7 G. TIME OF SELECTION .. 3-7 H. COMPLETION OF A FULL APPLICATION .. 3-8 I. VERIFICATION [ 24 CFR (e)] .. 3-8 J. FINAL DETERMINATION AND NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY [ 24 CFR ] .. 3-8 Chapter 4 MAINTAINING THE WAITING LIST [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart D; (d)(1); , , , , 66FR 3609] .. 4-1 A. WAITING LIST [ 24 CFR ] .. 4-1 B. WAITING LIST PREFERENCES [ 24 CFR ] .. 4-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - iii C. DENIAL OF PREFERENCE [ 24 CFR (C)(3)] .. 4-3 D. EXCEPTIONS FOR SPECIAL ADMISSIONS [ 24 CFR , (d)(3)].. 4-4 E. FUNDING FOR SPECIFIED CATEGORY OF WAITING LIST FAMILIES [ 24 CFR (e), 206 (a)(b)] .. 4-5 F. INCOME TARGETING .. 4-8 G. INCOME TARGETING ELIGIBILITY [ 24 CFR ] .. 4-8 H. REMOVAL FROM WAITING LIST AND PURGING [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 4-8 Chapter 5 SUBSIDY STANDARDS [ 24 CFR (d)(9)] .. 5-1 A. DETERMINING FAMILY UNIT ( voucher ) SIZE [ 24 CFR ] .. 5-1 B. EXCEPTIONS TO SUBSIDY STANDARDS [( 24 CFR (a)&(b)].)

5 5-2 C. UNIT SIZE SELECTED [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 5-4 Chapter 6 FACTORS RELATED TO TOTAL TENANT PAYMENT AND FAMILY SHARE DETERMINATION [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subparts E and F; , ] .. 6-1 A. INCOME AND ALLOWANCES [ 24 CFR ].. 6-1 B. DISALLOWANCE OF EARNED INCOME FROM RENT DETERMINATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES [ 24 CFR ; (b)(3)] .. 6-2 C. MINIMUM RENT [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-5 D. DEFINITION OF TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT ABSENCE [ 24 CFR (d)(10), , ] .. 6-7 E. AVERAGING INCOME .. 6-11 F. MINIMUM INCOME .. 6-11 G. INCOME OF PERSON PERMANENTLY CONFINED TO NURSING HOME [ 24 CFR (d)(10)] .. 6-11 H. REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS AND GIFTS [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-11 I. ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-12 J. LUMP-SUM RECEIPTS [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-12 K. CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT FUNDS - ASSETS [ 24 CFR (d)] .. 6-13 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - iv L. ASSETS DISPOSED OF FOR LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE [ 24 CFR (d)(3)].

6 6-14 M. CHILD CARE EXPENSES [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-14 N. MEDICAL EXPENSES [ 24 CFR (a)(2), ] .. 6-14 O. PRO-RATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR MIXED FAMILIES [ 24 CFR ] .. 6-14 P. INCOME CHANGES RESULTING FROM WELFARE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS .. 6-15 Q. UTILITY ALLOWANCE AND UTILITY REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS [ 24 CFR , , (b)] .. 6-16 Chapter 7 VERIFICATION PROCEDURES [ 24 CFR Part 5, Subparts B, D, E and F; 24 CFR ; 24 CFR ] .. 7-1 A. METHODS OF VERIFICATION AND TIME ALLOWED [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-2 B. RELEASE OF INFORMATION [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-4 C. COMPUTER MATCHING .. 7-4 D. ITEMS TO BE VERIFIED [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-6 E. VERIFICATION OF INCOME [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-7 F. INCOME FROM ASSETS [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-11 G. VERIFICATION OF ASSETS .. 7-12 H. VERIFICATION OF ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS FROM INCOME [ 24 CFR ] .. 7-13 I. VERIFYING NON-FINANCIAL FACTORS [ 24 CFR (b)(2)] .. 7-15 Chapter 8 voucher ISSUANCE AND BRIEFINGS [ 24 CFR ].

7 8-1 A. ISSUANCE OF VOUCHERS [ 24 CFR (d), (d)(2)] .. 8-1 B. BRIEFING TYPES AND REQUIRED ATTENDANCE [ 24 CFR ] .. 8-1 C. ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN AREAS WITHOUT LOW-INCOME OR MINORITY CONCENTRATION [SEMAP Indicator] .. 8-5 D. ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO CLAIM DISCRIMINATION .. 8-5 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - v E. SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS [ 24 CFR ].. 8-5 F. TERM OF voucher [ 24 CFR , (d)(11)] .. 8-6 G. voucher ISSUANCE DETERMINATION FOR SPLIT HOUSEHOLDS [ 24 CFR ] .. 8-7 H. voucher RETENTION [ 24 CFR ] .. 8-8 Chapter 9 REQUEST FOR TENANCY APPROVAL AND CONTRACT EXECUTION [ 24 CFR ] .. 9-1 A. REQUEST FOR TENANCY APPROVAL [ 24 CFR , (b)] .. 9-1 B. ELIGIBLE TYPES OF housing [ 24 CFR ] .. 9-2 C. LEASE REVIEW [ 24 CFR ].. 9-2 D. SEPARATE AGREEMENTS .. 9-4 E. INITIAL INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR (a) & (b)] .. 9-5 F. RENT LIMITATIONS [ 24 CFR ] .. 9-5 G. DISAPPROVAL OF PROPOSED RENT [ 24 CFR ].

8 9-5 H. INFORMATION TO OWNERS [ 24 CFR (b), (d)(7)] .. 9-6 I. OWNER DISAPPROVAL [ 24 CFR ] .. 9-6 J. CHANGE IN TOTAL TENANT PAYMENT (TTP) BEFORE HAP effective DATE .. 9-6 K. CONTRACT EXECUTION PROCESS [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 9-7 L. PROOF OF 9-7 M. CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP .. 9-7 Chapter 10 housing QUALITY STANDARDS AND INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR ] .. 10-1 A. GUIDELINES/TYPES OF INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR (a), ] .. 10-1 B. INITIAL HQS INSPECTION [ 24 CFR (a), (b)(2)].. 10-2 C. ANNUAL HQS INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR (a)] .. 10-2 D. SPECIAL/COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 10-3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - vi E. QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTIONS [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 10-4 F. ACCEPTABILITY CRITERIA AND EXCEPTIONS TO HQS [ 24 CFR (a)] .. 10-4 G. EMERGENCY REPAIR ITEMS [ 24 CFR (a)] .. 10-5 H. CONSEQUENCES IF OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE (NON-EMERGENCY ITEMS) [ 24 CFR , ] .. 10-6 I. DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIBILITY [ 24 CFR ].

9 10-7 J. CONSEQUENCES IF FAMILY IS RESPONSIBLE [ 24 CFR (b)] .. 10-8 K. CHILD WITH AN ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVEL - LEAD SAFE housing RULE [ 24 CFR ] .. 10-8 Chapter 11 OWNER RENTS, RENT REASONABLENESS AND PAYMENT STANDARDS [ 24 CFR, , , , ] .. 11-1 A. RENT TO OWNER IN THE housing choice voucher PROGRAM .. 11-1 B. MAKING PAYMENTS TO OWNERS [ 24 CFR ] .. 11-1 C. RENT REASONABLENESS DETERMINATIONS [ 24 CFR ] .. 11-2 D. PAYMENT STANDARDS FOR THE voucher PROGRAM [ 24 CFR ] .. 11-3 E. ADJUSTMENTS TO PAYMENT STANDARDS [ 24 CFR ] .. 11-4 F. EXCEPTION PAYMENT STANDARDS .. 11-6 G. OWNER PAYMENT IN THE housing choice voucher PROGRAM [( 24 CFR (g)] .. 11-6 Chapter 12 RE-EXAMINATIONS [ 24 CFR, ] .. 12-1 A. ANNUAL ACTIVITIES [ 24 CFR , ] .. 12-1 B. ANNUAL RE-EXAMINATION [ 24 CFR ] .. 12-1 C. REPORTING INTERIM CHANGES [ 24 CFR ] .. 12-4 D. OTHER INTERIM REPORTING ISSUES .. 12-5 E.)

10 NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS OF RE-EXAMINATION [HUD Notice PIH 98-6] .. 12-5 F. TIMELY REPORTING OF CHANGES IN INCOME AND ASSETS [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 12-5 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC - vii G. CHANGES IN voucher SIZE BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN FAMILY COMPOSITION [ 24 CFR (c)] .. 12-6 H. CONTINUANCE OF ASSISTANCE FOR MIXED FAMILIES [ 24 CFR ] .. 12-7 I. MISREPRESENTATION OF FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES .. 12-7 Chapter 13 MOVES WITH CONTINUED ASSISTANCE (PORTABILITY) [24 CFR , , (a)] .. 13-1 A. ALLOWABLE MOVES .. 13-1 B. RESTRICTIONS ON MOVES [ 24 CFR , (a)] .. 13-1 C. PROCEDURE FOR MOVES [ 24 CFR ] .. 13-2 D. PORTABILITY [ 24 CFR ] .. 13-2 E. OUTGOING PORTABILITY [ 24 CFR , ] .. 13-2 F. INCOMING PORTABILITY [ 24 CFR , ] .. 13-3 Chapter 14 CONTRACT TERMINATIONS [ 24 CFR , ] .. 14-1 A. CONTRACT TERMINATION [ 24 CFR ] .. 14-1 B. TERMINATION BY THE FAMILY: MOVES [ 24 CFR (c)(2)] .. 14-1 C. TERMINATION OF TENANCY BY THE OWNER: EVICTIONS [ 24 CFR , ].