HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PARTICIPANT FAQS

MY VOUCHER IS GOING TO EXPIRE. HOW DO I GET AN EXTENSION?

Under the Tenant-Based HCV Program, clients have an initial period of 90 days to find a suitable unit.  After 90 days the voucher will expire, unless a written request for voucher extension and justification for the request are received.  Voucher extension requests should be submitted in writing at least one week prior to the voucher expiration date. The request can be turned in at the Nora office or through email to your eligibility specialist or to customerservice@spokanehousing.org.

SHA will review requests, and at its discretion may grant the extension for an additional 30 days.  Further extensions are permissible at the discretion of the SHA primarily for two reasons, as follows:

1. Extenuating Circumstance: Extenuating circumstances such as hospitalization of a family member or family emergency over an extended period of time that has affected the family’s ability to find a unit within the initial one hundred twenty (120) day term.  SHA may grant an extension to assist families whose size or special requirements make finding a unit difficult.
2. Reasonable Accommodation for an accessible unit: As a reasonable accommodation to make the program accessible to a family member who is a person with disabilities.

HOW DO I MOVE?

Please see the page Moves and Portability for more information.

HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT MY BUDGET IS FOR RENT?

After receiving your notice to vacate, you will be contacted by SHA staff who will schedule a briefing date for you to go over the details of your move. During the move briefing you will be given information specific to your household, including the price range of the unit that your voucher can accommodate.

DO YOU HAVE A FAX?

Yes. The fax number for SHA is (509) 327-5246.

HOW LONG DOES THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST PROCESS TAKE?

The reasonable accommodation process can vary depending on the length of time required by the housing authority to verify the household’s request. It is recommended that when requesting a reasonable accommodation the family have a clearly identified medical or mental health provider who is familiar with the household’s situation and can help verify the accommodation that the household is requesting. Generally, SHA will respond within 10 business days of receiving the verification of the accommodation request from the medical or mental health provider selected by the family. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please put your request in writing and submit this request to SHA.

Access the form here

WHY IS IT TWO HEARTBEATS PER ROOM?

SHA uses the two heartbeats per room standard primarily in order to assist the maximum number of families possible with the funding available. This standard is allowable under HUD guidelines and Housing Quality Inspection (HQS) protocols and provides one bedroom for each two persons within the household, regardless of age, relationship, or sex except in circumstances where a live-in-aide is approved for the family and the aide is granted their own bedroom to reside in while living with the family to provide care to a household member.

HOW DO I GET AN ADDITIONAL BEDROOM ON MY VOUCHER?

The SHA will consider granting an exception to a household’s voucher size if requested as a reasonable accommodation that is based on a disabled family member’s physical or mental health condition or to accommodate the need for the additional storage of required medical equipment. The family must request any exception to the subsidy standards in writing. The request must explain the need or justification for a larger family unit size and must include appropriate documentation. Requests based on health-related reasons must be verified by a qualified professional source (e.g., doctor or health professional), unless the disability and the disability–related request for accommodation is readily apparent or otherwise known. The family’s continued need for an additional bedroom due to special medical equipment must be re-verified at annual reexamination.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY LANDLORD WILL NOT FIX SOMETHING?

Maintenance requests to your landlord should be made in writing and should include the date showing when you made the request. After you have submitted the request in writing to the landlord and given them a reasonable amount of time to complete your request, you may then notify the housing authority of the landlord’s failure to complete the request and provide a copy of your written request to SHA. SHA staff will then follow up with your landlord to discuss the situation. If a determination is made that the repair is one that is the responsibility of your landlord, SHA will work with the landlord to try and remedy the situation.

HOW MUCH IS MY VOUCHER WORTH?

The worth of your voucher, also known as the voucher payment standard, is based on the current year’s Fair Market Rent (FMR) amounts which are set by HUD and used by housing authorities as guidance to establish an amount that each voucher is worth by bedroom size. The bedroom size of the voucher that is issued to a household is determined by the size of the family (see FAQ “Why is it two heartbeats per room?” for more information).

HOW IS MY INCOME CALCULATED TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF RENT I WILL PAY?

Household income is first calculated to reflect an annual income for the household. When calculating income SHA utilizes HUD regulations which specify the sources of income to include and exclude to arrive at a family’s annual income. Once annual income has been established HUD regulations require the SHA to subtract from annual income any HUD-mandated deductions for which a family qualifies. The annual income left over after deductions have been applied is known as the family’s adjusted income. SHA then uses the higher amount of either 30% of the family’s monthly adjusted income, 10% of the family’s monthly gross income, or $0 to determine a family’s total tenant payment (TTP). The amount that a family pays for rent (the family share) will never be less than the family’s TTP but may be greater than the TTP depending on the rent charged for the unit the family selects.

ARE MY WAGES COUNTED IF THEY ARE BEING GARNISHED?

Yes. In most instances, even if the amount is garnished from the wages of a family member, it must be included in annual income. An exception is made if an agency is reducing a family’s benefits to adjust for a prior overpayment (e.g., social security, SSI, TANF, or unemployment benefits). In those cases, the amount that is actually provided after the adjustment is counted rather than the gross amount.