Chapter 11 Policy Overview Old Policy New Policy -- 11.1 Special Programs -- 11.1.A ECHP Vouchers -- 11.1.B HOME TBRA Coupons -- 11.1.C Moving Home Program Vouchers -- 11.1.D Nonelderly Disabled Vouchers -- 11.1.E Resident Advisory Board -- 11.1.F Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers 11.1 Independent Group Residences (IGR) Moved to section 11.2.C -- 11.2 Special Housing Types 11.2 Project-Based Subsidized Housing See Chapter 15 11.3 Special Set-Asides See the Exhibits to this Chapter for specialized voucher types 11.4 Congregate Housing Moved to section 11.2.B 11.5 Shared Housing Moved to section 11.2.D 11.6 Single Room Occupancy Moved to section 11.2.A 11.7 Comprehensive Improvement Deleted Assistance Program (CIAP) or Comprehensive Grant Program (CGP) -- 11.2.E Cooperative Housing -- 11.2.F Manufactured Homes -- 11.2.G Manufactured Home Space Rental Public Housing Division Page 1 of 9 02/01/2015
Chapter 11 Special Programs This chapter includes both special housing types and special programs administered by AHFC. These housing types and programs are administered using the policies set forth in other chapters of this Administrative Plan. Exceptions to specific policies are noted under each section. 11.1 SPECIAL PROGRAMS These programs are in this chapter because they either receive a funding stream outside of the Moving to Work Block Grant or they are made possible through a partnership agreement using Moving to Work flexibility. 11.1.A Empowering Choice Housing Program (ECHP) Vouchers AHFC has partnered with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) and the State of Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) to provide time-limited rental assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault. See Exhibit 11-7. 11.1.B HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Coupons Using HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, AHFC has formed partnerships with the State of Alaska to administer time-limited rental assistance. See Exhibit 11-3 for the Parolee/Probationer Program with the Department of Corrections See Exhibit 11-6 for the Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Program with the Department of Health and Human Services 11.1.C Moving Home Program (MHP) Vouchers Through a partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, AHFC uses a portion of its Moving to Work Block Grant to provide rental assistance to persons with disabilities who receive community-based, long-term services through Medicaid or state-funded services. See Exhibit 11-4. 11.1.D Nonelderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers This is a special allocation of vouchers awarded to AHFC when AHFC instituted an elder preference at Golden Towers. See Exhibit 11-5 for their administration. Public Housing Division Page 2 of 9 02/01/2015
11.1.E Resident Advisory Board (RAB) AHFC has a Resident Advisory Board to provide AHFC with advice on its operations and proposed activities. See Exhibit 11-2 for rules governing the operation of the Board. 11.1.F Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers HUD provides a voucher allocation to serve homeless veterans. Through a partnership with the Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS), AHFC provides rental assistance while AVAHS provides case management services. See Exhibit 11-1. 11.2 SPECIAL HOUSING TYPES Regulations at 24 CFR 982.601 allow AHFC to provide rental assistance to families that wish to reside in atypical residences. This section covers rentals that are single room occupancy, congregate, group, shared, cooperative, and manufactured home units. This section also includes providing rental assistance for a manufactured home space. See Chapter 14 for the HCV Homeownership Program. Special housing types follow Administrative Plan policies except where specifically noted below. 11.2.A Single Room Occupancy Single Room Occupancy (SRO) is a form of housing in which one or two persons are housed in individual rooms within a multiple-tenant building. The tenants may share bathrooms or kitchen facilities. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.602. This section does not apply to the Adelaide Building in Anchorage. That program is covered under a separate contract. A single person may reside in an SRO and must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. 2. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted tenancy must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. 3. Payment Standard and Utility Allowance The payment standard is limited to 75 percent of the zero-bedroom payment standard. The utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities is limited to 75 percent of the zero bedroom utility allowance. Public Housing Division Page 3 of 9 02/01/2015
4. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.605 for exceptions to the HQS for SRO units. 11.2.B Congregate Housing This is a form of housing in which each individual has a private bedroom or living quarters, but shares a common dining room, recreational room, or other facilities with other residents. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.606. An elderly individual or a person with a disability may choose this type of unit and must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. The individual may receive approval for a live-in aide to reside with him or her. 2. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted tenancy must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. 3. Payment Standard The payment standard is limited to the zero-bedroom payment standard. If the family has two or more rooms in the unit not including the kitchen or sanitary facilities reserved for their exclusive use, use the one-bedroom payment standard. If a live-in aide is approved for the family, the live-in aide must be counted when determining the payment standard. 4. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.609 for exceptions to the HQS for congregate units. 11.2.C Group Home Group homes are state-licensed, small, residential facilities located within a community and designed to serve the elderly or adults with chronic disabilities. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.610. 1. State Approval of Home The group home must be licensed, certified, or otherwise approved in writing by the State of Alaska as a group home for elderly individuals or persons with a disability. 2. Eligibility An elderly individual or a person with a disability may choose this type of unit and must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. The individual may receive approval for a live-in aide to reside with him or her. Public Housing Division Page 4 of 9 02/01/2015
a. Persons living in this unit must not require continual medical or nursing care. b. Except for live-in aides, all persons living in a group home, whether assisted or not, must be elderly or a person with a disability. c. No more than 12 persons may reside in a group home. This limit includes all persons who reside in the home assisted, unassisted, and live-in aides. 3. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted tenancy must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. 4. Payment Standard The payment standard is the lower of the zero-bedroom payment standard or the pro-rata share of the payment standard for the group home size. If a livein aide is approved for the family, the live-in aide must be counted when determining the family unit size. Pro-rata Share The pro-rata share or portion means dividing the number of persons in the assisted household by the total number of residents (assisted and unassisted) residing in the unit. Example: Margrave and her live-in aide will reside in a group home that already has three residents. Margrave s pro-rata share is: the total number in Margrave s household divided by the total number of persons in the home. Pro-rata portion is 2/5. 5. Utility Allowance The utility allowance is the pro-rata share of the utility allowance for the group home size. 6. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.614 for exceptions to the HQS for group homes. 11.2.D Shared Housing Shared housing is a single housing unit in which the assisted family resides with others. The unit may be an apartment or single-family home. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.615. An assisted family may share a unit with other persons assisted under the housing choice voucher program, or with other unassisted persons. The Public Housing Division Page 5 of 9 02/01/2015
owner of a shared housing unit may reside in the unit, but housing assistance may not be paid on behalf of the owner. The resident owner may not be related by blood or marriage to the assisted family. The assisted family must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. The family may receive approval for a live-in aide to reside with him or her. 2. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted family must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. 3. Payment Standard The payment standard is the lower of the payment standard for the family unit size or the pro-rata portion of the payment standard (see above for prorata portion). If a live-in aide is approved for the family, the live-in aide must be counted when determining the payment standard. 4. Utility Allowance The utility allowance is the pro-rata share of the utility allowance for the shared housing unit. 5. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.618 for exceptions to the HQS for congregate units. 11.2.E Cooperative Housing Cooperative housing is owned by a nonprofit corporation or association, where a member of the corporation or association has the right to reside in a particular apartment and to participate in management of the housing. This section only applies to rental assistance for a cooperative member in a cooperative housing unit. Families participating in a homeownership program in a cooperative unit fall under the Homeownership Program in Chapter 14. Families renting a cooperative housing unit from a cooperative member are subject to standard voucher program rules. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.619. The assisted family must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. 2. Monthly Carrying Charge The rent to owner is the monthly carrying charge under the occupancy agreement (lease) between the member and the cooperative. The carrying charge is the amount assessed to the member by the cooperative for Public Housing Division Page 6 of 9 02/01/2015
occupancy. This includes the member s share of the cooperative debt service, operating expenses, and necessary payments to cooperative reserve funds. Gross rent is the monthly carrying charge plus any utility allowance. 3. Payment Standard Staff will use Administrative Plan rules for determining the payment standard. 4. Utility Allowance Staff will use Administrative Plan rules for determining the utility allowance. 5. Housing Quality Standards All standard HQS rules apply to cooperative units. 11.2.F Manufactured Homes A manufactured home is a manufactured structure, transportable in one or more parts, that is built on a permanent chassis, is designed for use as a principal place of residence, and meets housing choice voucher program HQS. Regulations covering this type of unit are at 24 CFR 982.620. The assisted family must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. The family may receive approval for a live-in aide to reside with him or her. 2. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted family must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. 3. Payment Standard Staff will use Administrative Plan rules for determining the payment standard. 4. Utility Allowance Staff will use Administrative Plan rules for determining the utility allowance. 5. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.621 for exceptions to the HQS for manufactured home units. Public Housing Division Page 7 of 9 02/01/2015
11.2.G Manufactured Home Space Rental A PHA may provide rental assistance to a family that owns its own manufactured home and leases only the manufactured home space. Regulations covering this type of assistance begin at 24 CFR 982.622. The assisted family must meet all standard AHFC eligibility and screening criteria. The family may receive approval for a live-in aide to reside with him or her. 2. Rent to Owner The rent to owner may include maintenance and services that the owner must provide to the tenant under the lease for the space. The rent to owner does not include the costs of utilities and trash collection for the home. The owner may charge a separate fee for those costs if provided by the owner. Initially and at least annually during the assisted tenancy, the PHA must redetermine that the current rent to owner for the space is a reasonable rent (24 CFR 982.622). The owner must give the PHA information, as requested by the PHA, on rents charged by the owner for other manufactured home spaces. 3. Lease and HAP Contract Each assisted family must have an individual lease and HAP Contract. Staff will use form HUD-52642 Housing Assistance Payments Contract, Manufactured Home Space Rental for these. 4. Payment Standard Staff must consider the fair market rent for a manufactured home space. This is set at 40 percent of the published FMR for a two-bedroom unit. The HAP is the lower of: a. The payment standard minus the total tenant payment; or b. The rent paid for rental of the real property ( space rent ) on which the manufactured home owned by the family is located minus the total tenant payment. 5. Space Rent The space rent is the sum of the following items: a. Rent to owner for the space; b. Owner maintenance and management charges for the space; c. The utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Public Housing Division Page 8 of 9 02/01/2015
6. Utility Allowance The owner may charge the family a separate fee for the cost of utilities or trash collection provided by the owner. For the first 12 months of the initial lease term only, the allowances must include a reasonable amount for utility hook-up charges payable by the family if the family actually incurs the expenses because of a move. Allowances for utility hook-up charges do not apply to a family that leases a manufactured home space in place. Utility allowances for the space must not cover costs payable by a family to cover the digging of a well or installation of a septic system. 7. Housing Quality Standards Staff will refer to 24 CFR 982.621 for exceptions to the HQS for manufactured home units. Forms HUD-52642 Housing Assistance Payments Contract, Manufactured Home Space Rental Administrative Desk Manual None Public Housing Division Page 9 of 9 02/01/2015