Show All Answers

1. How do I know if my family (if any) and I are eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher program?

ELIGIBILITY

The PHA is responsible for ensuring that every individual and family admitted to the HCV program meets all program eligibility requirements. This includes any individual approved to join the family after the family has been admitted to the program. The family must provide any information needed by the PHA to confirm eligibility and determine the level of the family’s assistance.

To be eligible for the HCV program:

• The applicant family must:
  • Qualify as a family as defined by HUD and the PHA.
  • Have income at or below HUD-specified low-income limits. 
    • Current HUD income limits are available online at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
    • click the current year and click the button for Individual Income Limits Areas
    • you will then be able to choose the state and city/town to know if you are eligible. 
  • Qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible immigrant status of family members.
  • Provide social security number information for household members as required.
  • Consent to the PHA’s collection and use of family information as provided for in PHA-provided consent forms.
• The PHA must determine that the current or past behavior of household members does not include activities that are prohibited by HUD or the PHA.

More information and definitions are available in Chapter 3 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

2. How do I apply for a voucher?

To apply for a Housing Choice Voucher on-line you can visit the Maine Centralized Section 8 - Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List. Read the information for the wait list and follow the instructions. If you would prefer to receive an application to complete and submit you can call 207-773-4753 and request an application and it will be mailed to you or you can come to our office at 14 Baxter Boulevard, Portland ME 04101 to pick one up. YOU ONLY APPLY ONCE. You may meet the preferences under several Housing Authorities.

3. Is there a waiting list for a voucher?

Yes

there is a waiting list for vouchers (see "How do I Apply for a Voucher?"). 

The PHA will use the following local preferences, as well as date and time of the application, establish placement position on a waiting list. Families who have also applied for Project Based Vouchers will be selected according to Chapter 17 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

Preferences:

The following preference groups are prioritized and offered vouchers based on qualification for funding, availability of vouchers, and the administrative need to for PHA to utilize available vouchers. All households must be on the Centralized Waitlist prior to receiving a voucher.

1. The PHA will offer a preference to any participating family that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding.
2. PHA, under the direction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, may give preference for tenant-based assistance to persons displaced by natural or national disaster as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) until such time that funding designated for this preference has been committed.
3. The PHA may offer a preference to families who include victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are seeking an emergency transfer under VAWA from PHA’s public housing program or other covered housing program operated by PHA.
4. The PHA may offer a preference to FYI-TPV recipients who have successfully completed 36 months with the FYI-TPV Program and can demonstrate an ongoing need for assistance. *
5. The PHA may offer a preference to current Bridging Rental Assistance Program recipients
6. The PHA may offer a preference to VASH recipients who no longer qualify or choose to receive VASH services if HCV’s are currently available. *
7. The PHA may offer a preference to First-Place recipients. *
8. The PHA may offer a preference to up to 40 families that meet the criteria for the Limited Preference Program for Chronically Homeless (LPPCC) program *

*See Chapter 19 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan for details on preference groups.

For all other applicants the following Point System applies:

Portland Housing gives preference to an applicant family on the waiting list if they qualify for one or more of the preference categories listed below. Local Preference points are cumulative and are added to the applicant family’s priority points (if any) to determine an applicant family’s position on the waiting list

Local Preference	Points
Family with minor children, and/or Elderly, and/or disabled	5 points
Families with a member who lives or works within the area of PHA’s area of operation.	2 Point
Families who are currently homeless under HUD definition and/or have a Rent Burden of more than 50% of family income.	1 Point

 

The PHA will first assist families that have been terminated from the HCV program due to insufficient funding and then assist families that qualify for the VAWA preference.

4. What if I move after applying?

Once you have applied for a voucher it is your responsibility to make sure your mailing address is correct. You can make changes to your address, e-mail and preferences , etc through the on-line Waiting List system.

5. What happens when my name comes to the top of the waiting list?

When your name comes to the top of the list you will be contacted by someone from the Housing Authority who has chosen you from the Wait List. Each Housing Authority has it's own process but you will be required to complete an intake application, be able to provide verification of Social Security numbers, statuses as a Citizen of the United States or legal residency and date of birth. You will also be asked to submit income, asset, and various other verifications as required for each member in your family. PHA will also do several required checks for criminal background, sex offender status and whether you owe any money to any other Housing Authority. Your eligibility for a Voucher will be decided during this process.
If you are determined to be eligible at that time you will attend a briefing where you will be told all the details about the voucher program and be issued your Housing Choice Voucher.

6. Does the Wait List close?

The Voucher Waiting List is a combined wait list that allows participating Housing Authorities to draw a pool of applicants who meet their particular preferences. This list may be updated but it is never closed. Each Housing Authority will draw from the list based on their own program's funding and availability of Vouchers to issue. view our helpful quick links.

Show All Answers

1. Who provides the funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funds to Portland Housing Authority so we can provide rent subsidies to eligible, low-income individuals and families under the HCV program.

Housing Authorities throughout the United States operate this same program in their areas. If a landlord participates in the HCV program the administering housing authority sends a payment for a portion of the rent around the first of the month.

2. How does the program work?

Check out HUD's video on how Housing Choice Vouchers work for Landlords. 

3. What are the basic requirements for the unit?

The unit must meet the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. This inspection will be conducted by a HQS Inspector who works for the Portland Housing Authority.

The rent the landlord is asking for must be a reasonable and affordable. This will be determined by the Housing Officer assigned to the voucher-holder (the name of the Housing Officer is on the voucher). The family cannot pay more than 40% of their household income for housing costs, including any utilities that they are responsible for.

For more information on the Housing Quality Standards, please visit the HUD website.

4. What are the landlord's obligations?

For landlords participating in or wishing to take part in the Housing Choice Voucher program, please visit our helpful guide to landlords' obligations.

5. How can a landlord make a unit available?

A landlord can go to www.mainehousingsearch.org to post their unit. Voucher holders are all given this resource to locate affordable housing units. Landlords are also welcome to call (207) 773-4753 and housing authority staff will inform current voucher holders of the availability. 

Show All Answers

1. What are my obligations under the Housing Choice Voucher program?

Tenant obligations are covered in detail in Chapter 5 Part I.C. of the Section 8/Voucher Administrative Plan. 

5-I.C. FAMILY OBLIGATIONS (from the 2021 Section 8/Voucher Administrative Plan)

Obligations of the family are described in the housing choice voucher (HCV) regulations and on the voucher itself. These obligations include responsibilities the family is required to fulfill, as well as prohibited actions. The PHA must inform families of these obligations during the oral briefing, and the same information must be included in the briefing packet. When the family’s unit is approved and the HAP contract is executed, the family must meet those obligations in order to continue participating in the program. Violation of any family obligation may result in termination of assistance, as described in Chapter 12.

Time Frames for Reporting Changes Required By Family Obligations

PHA Policy

Unless otherwise noted below, when family obligations require the family to respond to a request or notify the PHA of a change, notifying the PHA of the request or change within 10 business days is considered prompt notice.

When a family is required to provide notice to the PHA, the notice must be in writing.

Family Obligations [24 CFR 982.551]

The family obligations of the voucher are listed as follows:

• The family must supply any information that the PHA or HUD determines to be necessary, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status.
• The family must supply any information requested by the PHA or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition.
• The family must disclose and verify social security numbers and sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information.
• Any information supplied by the family must be true and complete.
• The family is responsible for any Housing Quality Standards (HQS) breach by the family caused by failure to pay tenant-provided utilities or appliances, or damages to the dwelling unit or premises beyond normal wear and tear caused by any member of the household or guest.

PHA Policy

Damages beyond normal wear and tear will be considered to be damages which could be assessed against the security deposit under state law or court practice.

• The family must allow the PHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice, as described in Chapter 8 of this plan.
• The family must not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease.

PHA Policy

The PHA will determine if a family has committed serious or repeated violations of the lease based on available evidence, including but not limited to, a court-ordered eviction or an owner’s notice to evict, police reports, and affidavits from the owner, neighbors, or other credible parties with direct knowledge.

Serious and repeated lease violations will include, but not be limited to, nonpayment of rent, disturbance of neighbors, destruction of property, living or housekeeping habits that cause damage to the unit or premises, and criminal activity. Generally, the criterion to be used will be whether or not the reason for the eviction was the fault of the tenant or guests. Any incidents of, or criminal activity related to, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking will not be construed as serious or repeated lease violations by the victim [24 CFR 5.2005(c)(1)].

• The family must notify the PHA and the owner before moving out of the unit or terminating the lease.

PHA Policy

The family must comply with lease requirements regarding written notice to the owner. The family must provide written notice to the PHA at the same time the owner is notified.

• The family must promptly give the PHA a copy of any owner eviction notice.
• The family must use the assisted unit for residence by the family. The unit must be the family’s only residence.
• The composition of the assisted family residing in the unit must be approved by the PHA. The family must promptly notify the PHA in writing of the birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody of a child. The family must request PHA approval to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit.

PHA Policy

The request to add a family member must be submitted in writing and approved prior to the person moving into the unit. The PHA will determine eligibility of the new member in accordance with the policies in Chapter 3. PHA will also require documentation of landlord approval to add the additional family member to the lease.

• The family must promptly notify the PHA in writing if any family member no longer lives in the unit.
• If the PHA has given approval, a foster child or a live-in aide may reside in the unit. The PHA has the discretion to adopt reasonable policies concerning residency by a foster child or a live-in aide, and to define when PHA consent may be given or denied. For policies related to the request and approval/disapproval of foster children, foster adults, and live-in aides, see Chapter 3 (sections I.K and I.M), and Chapter 11 (section II.B).The family must not sublease the unit, assign the lease, or transfer the unit.

PHA Policy

Subleasing includes receiving payment to cover rent and utility costs by a person living in the unit who is not listed as a family member.

• The family must supply any information requested by the PHA to verify that the family is living in the unit or information related to family absence from the unit.
• The family must promptly notify the PHA when the family is absent from the unit.

PHA Policy

Notice is required under this provision only when all family members will be absent from the unit for an extended period. An extended period is defined as any period greater than 30 calendar days within a 45 day period. Written notice must be provided to the PHA at the start of the extended absence.

• The family must pay utility bills and provide and maintain any appliances that the owner is not required to provide under the lease [Form HUD-52646, Voucher].
• The family must not own or have any interest in the unit, (other than in a cooperative and owners of a manufactured home leasing a manufactured home space).
• Family members must not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program. (See Chapter 14, Program Integrity for additional information).
• Family members must not engage in drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity or other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises. See Chapter 12 for HUD and PHA policies related to drug-related and violent criminal activity.
• Members of the household must not engage in abuse of alcohol in a way that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of the other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises. See Chapter 12 for a discussion of HUD and PHA policies related to alcohol abuse.
• An assisted family or member of the family must not receive HCV program assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or a different unit under any other federal, state or local housing assistance program.
• A family must not receive HCV program assistance while residing in a unit owned by a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family, unless the PHA has determined (and has notified the owner and the family of such determination) that approving rental of the unit, notwithstanding such relationship, would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities. [Form HUD-52646, Voucher]

2. How do I move to another Housing Authority's jurisdiction (portability)?

For more information on the steps and requirements for portability with your Housing Choice Voucher, please read the How Portability works handout from the office of Public and Indian Housing.

Show All Answers

1. How do I know if I am ready for homeownership?

Owning a home is a huge responsibility and understanding that responsibility is essential to your success as a homeowner. That is why it is mandatory that you attend an approved Homebuyer Education Class prior to purchasing a home. After completing the class you will be better equipped to decide if homeownership is for you. A list of available classes is available at: www.mainehomeworks.org.
You can get a better idea if you are ready for homeownership by answering the following questions:
• Do you have a stable source of income?
• Have you been employed full time for the last year?
• Do you pay your bills on time, every time?
• Are you able to add to your savings monthly?
• Do you have a minimum savings of $2,000?
• Do you understand the significant responsibilities of homeownership and do you believe you are ready to make the commitment?

2. What are the eligibility requirements to participate in the Voucher Homeownership Program?

There are a number of eligibility requirements, which we have compiled into a helpful guide.

3. How do I obtain financing?

The family is responsible for securing its own financing and may choose any lender willing to work with HCV Homeownership program. For the most part, lenders require a credit score of 640 or higher. Rural Development offers a subsidized mortgage with 100% financing that works well for many families. Some lenders will take your HCV assistance into consideration when determining how much a family can afford to borrow. Many financing options may not work within our payment standard restrictions if the mortgage payment is too high.

Balloon Payment Mortgages, Variable interest rates and seller financing are prohibited.The PHA has final approval as to whether the financing arrangement is affordable. The family’s portion may not exceed 40% of their adjusted family income.

The lender determines the amount of mortgage you can afford. This amount depends on several factors such as your income, your debt, the interest rate, and the PHA payment standard. Some financing options require the family to place a down payment on the home. The lender will pre-qualify your for a loan based on these factors. It is important to get pre-qualified by the lender prior to shopping for a home.

4. Do I have to have good credit?

YES, you must have good credit! If you don’t, a credit counselor can instruct you on how to clean up your credit record and improve your credit score. Money Management International (www.moneymanagement.org) or CA$H Maine (www.cashmaine.org) are good resources for credit repair advice. However you may have never established a traditional credit record and that’s okay, but the lender will need to verify that you have a good record of paying your bills on time. The lender will review your record of making timely payments for rent, utilities and other payments. This is called alternative credit. For the most part, lenders require no late payments for the last two years or credit rating of 640 or higher.
If you have filed bankruptcy, most banks require a minimum of two years from the date of bankruptcy before you would be eligible for a mortgage loan. Money Management International

5. Are there any programs to help me save for a down payment?

There are a number of programs to help you save for a down payment, which we have compiled into a helpful guide.

6. What other costs are there?

You will have to pay for an appraisal which costs approximately $300 - $400 and a professional home inspection which costs approximately $200 - $700.
There may be other incidental expenses prior to your purchase that you would be responsible for, such as, Application Fees, Credit Reports, Prepaid Insurance, Prepaid Taxes, Attorney fees and Title fee. Depending on how you finance your home these costs can accumulate. The normal range is from $1,500 to $4,500 in addition to your down payment. All or part of these closing costs can be paid by the seller. Some financing options allow these costs to be rolled into the loan.

7. Am I limited as to how much I can pay for a home?

Monthly mortgage payments should be no more than 29% of gross income, while the mortgage payment combined with non-housing expenses, should total no more than 40 % of gross income. Your total housing expenses must also be within the allowable payment standard for your family’s bedroom size. The family must pay any amount over and above the payment standard in addition to 30% of their adjusted monthly income.

In most cases, your family can help you purchase a home by assisting with a down payment. We do not allow non-occupying co-signors or co-borrowers.

8. Do I need to get my home inspected?

Yes. There are actually two types of inspections that are required. You must hire an independent home inspector to inspect the home to identify any physical defects and evaluate the condition of major building system components. The Housing Authority will complete the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, which are the inspection standards used for rental assistance.

9. Am I responsible for other expenses incurred as a result of purchasing the home?

Yes. You are responsible for all monthly homeownership expenses and for any expenses that you incur as a homeowner. You will be responsible for all maintenance of the home. As mentioned earlier you need to save for the unexpected such as; roof damage, water heater replacement, furnace repair, increased taxes, etc. Owning a home is expensive. You need to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages between owning verses renting.

10. If interested in Homeownership, what should I do next?

Contact Linda Ballew, Special Programs Manager, Portland Housing Authority, at 773-4753 to request an application or more information.