jba~o~! COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: William H. Williams MEETING DATE: October 25, 2004 OFFICE: Commissioner, Pct. 2 TIME PREFERRED: 10:15 a.m. SUBJECT: (Please be specific). Presentation. Rose Jackson will provide Commissioners' Court with details on the AACOG Weatherization Program, Section 8 Housing in Kerr County, and other related programs. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Commissioner Williams, Rose Jackson, AACOG. ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 15 Minutes IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court. ~~~~,~~,~,~~,~,~,;-,j~,~ Alamo Area Council of Governments ~ 8700 Tesoro Drive Suite 700 ERUAL HOUSING y OPPORTUNITY San Antonio, Texas 78217 Section Eight Housing Choice Voucher Program What is the Section Eight Program? • The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) Section Eight Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance to low-income families. Rental assistance is based on a household's income. • Section Eight tenants are given a voucher to choose their place of residence among landlords who accept Section Eight vouchers. This normally allows recipients to live in a place of their choice and in privately owned properties. How is Section Eight like Public Housing? • They are similar in that they both provide rental assistance. However, Public Housing is rental assistance tied to a specific apartment complex or rental unit; the rental assistance does not follow the family if it moves. In Section Eight the rental assistance is tied to the family. AACOG does not have a Public Housing program. What is AACOG's Section Eight Program service area? • AACOG's service area includes: Gillespie, Kerr, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Karnes, Atascosa, Frio, Medina, and Bandera counties. • Individuals must already be living in one of these counties or be willing to relocate. How does someone sign up for the Section Eight Program? • Contact Anna Kehde, Section Eight and Housing Specialist, either toll-free at 1-800-749-2010 or 210-362-5284. • Apre-application will be sent to the applicant. When that is returned, the applicant will be added to the Waiting List. When the applicant is close to the top of the Waiting List a full application will be sent to them. AACOG's Section Eight Program has no preferences for applicants; applicants are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the applicant has been deemed eligible and approved, a voucher is then issued to them and the applicant may begin to look for a suitable rental unit. ECtUAL HOUSING l~g7mlgA~Are Alamo Aired Council of Cnyernmentc EQUAL HOUSING "'UF(iwemmenh'' 8700 Tesoro Drive Suite 700 1 OPPORTUNITY San Antonio, Texas 78217 Section Eight Housing Choice Voucher Program What is the Section Eight Program? • The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) Section Eight Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance to low-income families. Rental assistance is based on a household's income. • Section Eight tenants are given a voucher to choose their place of residence among landlords who accept Section Eight vouchers. This normally allows recipients to live in a place of their choice and in privately owned properties. How is Section Eight like Public Housing? • They are similar in that they both provide rental assistance. However, Public Housing is rental assistance tied to a specific apartment complex or rental unit; the rental assistance does not follow the family if it moves. In Section Eight the rental assistance is tied to the family. AACOG does not have a Public Housing program. What is AACOG's Section Eight Program service area? • AACOG's service area includes: Gillespie, Kerr, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Karnes, Atascosa, Frio, Medina, and Bandera counties. • Individuals must already be living in one of these counties or be willing to relocate. How does someone sign up for the Section Eight Program? • Contact Anna Kehde, Section Eight and Housing Specialist, either toll-free at 1-800-749-2010 or 210-362-5284. • Apre-application will be sent to the applicant. When that is returned, the applicant will be added to the Waiting List. When the applicant is close to the top of the Waiting List a full application will be sent to them. AACOG's Section Eight Program has no preferences for applicants; applicants are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the applicant has been deemed eligible and approved, a voucher is then issued to them and the applicant may begin to look for a suitable rental unit. EQUiSL H4USIHG OPPOFsTUNITY i ,, ~'~~ Section Eight ~ oucher Housing choice V program program Choice Voucher Noosing t programl is (formerly the Section ~f~ funded by the U.S• a federal program Urban Depa~ent of Nousin$ and ro$rom provides pevelopment. The p ntal assistance for families to afford re housing. decent, safe+ and sanitary with a total 4ualified families of Tess than 50°(a of household income uchers the median income are issue aV0 private to find housing throu$1i landlord. pACOG makes this service available only in the following rural counties: ~mal, Frio, Atascosa, ganders, Karnes, Giliesple, Guadalupe+ Kendall, Kerr, Medina,Wilson. AACOG's For informa~on aboh r Pro$'~m Housing Choice Vou lease ca11210.362-5284 or 800- p 74g-2010. a 0 ti N N o~ o c o •~ ~~ °o A ~ N ';~ ~ ~~ a r~ls Rental assistance for co~-+"w°,..° ards affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary tow hoacsing, ~- ea~~ AIaOF gioAvemmer'ts lo'calr 21x!•362.524510 Fox:210.225.5aa og_com Website: ~• I~~hat is the Section Eight/ ~~ouring Choice Voucher Program? The Housing Choice Voucher (HCU) Program (formerly Section Eight) is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice. Acceptable housing i ~ units include single-family ~ homes, duplexes, mobile homes, and apartments. In addition, the owner must agree to rent under the ' ` ' 1 program and the unit meets m i n i m u m proYlding standards of affordable, health and decent, safe, and safety. sanitary housing A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Public Housing Authority (iri this case AACOG) on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference. The family is usually expected to pay about 30% of the family's monthly income. AACOG's SERVICE AREA: AACOG administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program in 11 counties: • Atascosa • Bandera • Comal • Frio • Gillespie • Guadalupe • Karnes ®' ~ 0^ ~ ~ • Kendall • Kerr • Medina • Wilson If you live in any of these counties and you are low-income and need rental assistance, you may be eligible for the HCV program. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO APPLY? 1. Call AACOG at 800-749-2010 or 210- 362-5284 to receive apre-application 2. Mail pre-application back to AACOG so that we can enter your name onto our Waiting List. 3. Once at the top of the Waiting List, applicants are sent an application. Once the application is completed, a person can be approved for the program based on their income and family size. In general, the total income cannot exceed 50% of the median income for the county in which the family lives. 4. If a voucher is available, one will be issued to the applicant. With this voucher, the applicant is able to search for suitable housing . 5. The unit is inspected for health and safety standards. If the unit passes, it is approved for move-in. 6. The rent is calculated. Tenants are typically required to pay 3096 of their monthly income towards the rent. AACOG assists with the remainder of the rent.