
The Housing Authority has partnered with www.Gosection8.com, which provides an enhanced program to list rental properties on line. is also encouraging landlords who have properties located outside areas of poverty and minority concentration to list their available apartments with the Bridgeport Section 8 Program. If you own property in any of the towns surrounding Bridgeport listed below, please include that information:
All applicants are required to attend a Briefing. The purpose of the Briefing is to:
Issue your Housing Choice Voucher
Provide you with all of the information you need in order to be successful in your search for suitable housing and to maintain good standing while you are on the program.
Your Voucher indicates the number of bedrooms for which your family is eligible. This unit size is based on HUD guidelines and the Public Housing Authority’s (PHA) written policy.
HUD requires that the PHA establish subsidy standards. These standards are used to determine the appropriate number of bedrooms for families of different size and different compositions. The subsidy standards take into consideration factors such as the total number of persons in the family, the age and sex of persons, and the relationship of persons. These standards help us to make the best use of the funds HUD provides for housing costs and to avoid overcrowding.
Your Voucher is effective for 60 days, up to a maximum of 120 days at written request in 30 day intervals. It is important that you do not delay your housing search. If your Voucher expires before you find suitable housing, you will have to reapply. Keep track of all of the units you look at during the search period. A Record of Search for Housing form has been included in your package.
Depending on the PHA’s written policies, your Voucher may be extended beyond 60 days. Your Briefing Packet includes a notice as to whether your Voucher can be extended.
You may be eligible to receive assistance at your present unit if the unit qualifies. The unit must:
More often than many of us realize, people are denied housing for reasons other than poor rental histories or bad credit. Under federal law, it is illegal to deny housing to anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against, contact your PHA representative or Fair Housing.
If you live in a high-poverty area, you may want to consider searching for a housing unit in another area. There are many possible advantages to your family such as improved employment and educational opportunities. Your PHA representative will explain the areas where you are eligible to seek housing.
One of the great features of the tenant-based assistance programs is that your assistance “moves” with you. You can use your assistance to move not only across town but also to anywhere in the United States within the jurisdiction of a PHA with a tenant-based assistance program. The HUD term for the ability of move outside your Housing Agency’s jurisdiction with rental assistance is portability. The PHA may limit moves under portability, so contact your PHA representative if you wish to exercise portability. You will be advised of any restrictions and procedures that may apply to you.
The PHA where you want to move may have different rules, policies and deadlines. There may be different payment standard. The new PHA will probably have different utility allowance that will affect the amount you pay for rent. A different size voucher may be issued to you. When you are first issued a voucher, you are always subject to the income limits of the PHA where you want to live.
In order for the unit to be approved, it must meet the following requirements:
When you make an appointment with a prospective owner or landlord, be prepared to ask and answer questions and to make a positive first impression. The landlord will be trying to evaluate you as a renter. At the same time, you will be evaluating both the unit and the landlord. Go early for your appointment and look around the neighborhood. Try to get a babysitter when meeting the owner. Even well-behaved children can become impatient. Don’t risk being judged by how you discipline or don’t discipline your children. When calling owners in response to ads, don’t prematurely ask, “Do you take Section 8?” Try to get an appointment to see the unit so that the owner has an opportunity to meet you first.
Be prepared to furnish information about your rental history. Try to get references from previous landlords, if possible. If you are currently renting a unit, make sure that it is in good condition, so that your present landlord will provide a good reference. Remember, your current and prior landlord’s name and address will be furnished to your prospective landlord. If you have no rental history, bring references from responsible persons who know you such as employers or persons you have done business with.
If the landlord speaks English and English is not your first language, or you are not comfortable discussing business matters in English, take a translator to the appointment with you. Make sure your translator will make a positive first impression. Do not take young children to translate.
The owner of the unit decides how much the security deposit will be. When you begin to search make sure that you made plans in advance to have the money available for the security deposit and the deposit for utilities, if applicable.
When you meet the owner or landlord, ask questions.
Try to find out from the police Community Relations office how often they have been called to the premises or immediate area.
As a Voucher holder, you may select from a variety of housing units and neighborhoods. The PHA can assist you in locating a unit by providing an owner’s referral list; however, you must still be approved by the owner. Most property owners and managers will ask you to complete an application and will check your rental history and credit. Owners can deny you a rental unit if you have a previous history of not fulfilling your obligations under a lease.
When you find a housing unit that you want to rent, the owner must complete a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) form and the HUD Tenancy Addendum. They must be submitted to the PHA along with the proposed lease. This lease must be filled out but not signed, the RFTA and the Tenancy Addendum are included in your Briefing Packet.
When the PHA receives your Request for Tenancy Approval, they will review it to determine if the unit is the correct size and the proposed rent is approvable. If the Request for Tenancy Approval and proposed lease are in order, the PHA will make an appointment to inspect the housing unit.
Remember: Unless you are granted an extension, your Voucher will expire 60 days from the date you received it. You need to turn in a Request for Tenancy Approval to the PHA before your Voucher expires.
On receipt and review of the Request for Tenancy Approval, the PHA will notify you and the owner of the date and time of the Housing Quality Standards Inspection. It is in your best interest to be present at the inspection so that you can see what repairs, if any, are required.
If the unit passes the initial inspection and the rent is reasonable, the PHA will prepare the necessary paperwork and your assistance will begin. If the unit does not pass the initial inspection, the owner will be given a reasonable time period to correct any items that failed.
However, rental assistance cannot begin until the repair items are completed and approved by the PHA inspector. If there are major repairs to be made, or if the owner seems reluctant to make the repairs, you may want to consider looking for another unit. The PHA will provide you with another Request for Tenancy Approval form.
It’s a good idea to be present and to be involved in the process. If you and the PHA work together, the chances are quite good that you will be successful in finding a suitable place to live.
If the lease and unit are satisfactory, the PHA will enter into a Contract with the owner, and you will sign a lease agreement with the owner.
The PHA will begin making the payments to the owner after the unit has been approved and the Housing Assistance Payments Contract has been signed. The PHA will mail the payment to the owner on or about the first of each month. The PHA will continue to make payments as long as:
If the PHA fails to make timely payments to the owner, the PHA may be obligated to pay a late fee. (State/local law)
Successful participation in the Section 8 Program requires that the family fulfill certain obligations to the PHA and other obligations to the owner.
Family who participate in the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program are required to comply with certain “Family Obligations.” These Family Obligations are required by HUD regulations are required by HYD regulations and are listed on the Voucher. By signing your Voucher, you acknowledge your responsibilities and obligations for participating in the program.
The Family obligations to the owner are contained in the lease agreement.
Please read it carefully
HUD matches income data you supplied to the PHA with IRS income data. If the income you reported to the PHA does not match the income information the IRS has for the same period, HUD will notify you.
You are required to give the PHA any letter or other notice that you receive from HUD concerning the amount or verification of your family’s income. If you receive a notice or letter from HUD concerning your income, contact the PHA right away.
The Department of HUD determines the amount of funding that is available for rental assistance in each community. It is important to ensure that the funds are used to assist only those families who are eligible. The reason PHAs have waiting lists is that there isn’t enough funding to assist all of the families who apply.
The PHA assumes that the information provided by the families is complete and accurate but occasionally we find that it is not. Making false statements and providing false information are serious violations of program rules as well as violations of State and Federal Criminal Laws.
Please be aware that if families provide false information or documents:
If you are not sure about the rules and procedures, please contact your PHA representative to get the correct information. No one should be evicted or lose their assistance unnecessarily. If you are aware of someone who is violating program rules, please contact your PHA representative.
Park City Communities wants to ensure that all Section 8 participants know and understand the Section 8 program and their rights. The pdfs below provide important information related to participation in the Section 8 program.
Recertification packet - english Recertification packet - espanol Interim request notification
PHA denial or termination of assistance for Family Informal Reviews and Hearings Denial of admission or termination of assistance for criminals and alcohol abusers