RENTAL ASSISTANCE

SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM

NOTICE

SECTION 8

HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM

SUSPENSION OF APPLICATIONS

THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU WILL

SUSPEND ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS

FOR THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM EFFECTIVE

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2005

Applications received in person or postmarked on or

after May 28, 2005 will not be accepted.

Acceptance of applications is being suspended because

there are already about 10,500 applicants on the waiting list

and new applicants will need to wait about ten (10) years

to receive rental assistance.  The suspension will also allow

the Section 8 staff to update the waiting list.  A public

notice will be issued when the waiting list is reopened.

The federally funded Section 8 Program provides for rental subsidies to be paid directly to landlords on behalf of income eligible families and primarily elderly, disabled or handicapped individuals.  The subsidy is "invisible" so that households receiving assistance are not identified and can remain anonymous within the community.  Landlords are also assured of regular payments from the Section 8 program on behalf of the tenant.

Eligible participants receive a Housing Voucher which entitles them to search for a rental unit. A contract to pay subsidies is signed between the City and the owner once the rental unit and the lease are approved.

Annual income eligibility re-examinations are required for the family to determine their share of the rent and an annual inspection is required to determine that the unit remains in a decent, safe and sanitary condition.

The Section 8 Office is currently not accepting new applications.

If you would like more information about the City's Section 8 program, please call (808) 527-5909. For more information on the Housing Voucher program go to http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/index.cfm

FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM

The primary purpose and goal of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is to help Section 8 families transition from government subsidies to a status of being economically independent, self-reliant and free of government subsidies. The City and State (HCDCH) jointly rekindled the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program on Oahu to assist their housing families with  opportunities to enhance their employability skills that will help them obtain  good jobs and benefits and attain self-sufficiency.

Since the housing barrier is addressed by the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment Program outlined above, FSS provides life coping workshops. FSS also networks to secure resources to help participants secure employment in survival jobs while they pursue their long term educational and/or vocational goals to improve their future. Once participants are hired in a survival job, the City Section 8 office establishes and maintains a savings account for the family based on their monthly rental increase. When the family fulfills their FSS contract, they become eligible to receive the FSS savings. Families attain "true self-sufficiency" because they are free of government subsidies, have secured a good job with benefits and now have substantial savings that can help them obtain an "The American Dream".  They can use the savings for a down payment towards home ownership, a car, continue their education or to use as they choose.

If you would like more information regarding the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, please call the FSS program (808) 527-5930.

CITY HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The City Housing Rental Assistance Program (RAP) was established to provide limited rental assistance for lower income families. Click on the Income Limits by Household Size. (5 KB PDF)

Rental assistance payments of up to a maximum of $150 per month may be made on behalf of an eligible participant. Anyone receiving other State or Federal rental assistance would not be eligible. An annual re-certification of eligibility is required for continued assistance. Due to the cost of administration, rental assistance is currently limited to being project-based (if a RAP tenant moves, the rental assistance for that tenant terminates; the new tenant moving intot he vacated unit may receive RAP assistance if income qualified).

Click for Listing of rental housing projects participating in the City Housing Rental Assistance Program.

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