SFHA-HCV-QA_032012

SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY

EDW IN M. LEE, MAYOR REV. AMOS C BROW N, CHAIRMAN

Questions from Housing Choice Voucher 2012 Resident Advisory Board March 20, 2012 1. How does a person move when they have a Project Base Voucher?

Contact the individual‟s Eligibility Worker. If vouchers are available the Eligibility Worker will begin the „voucher issuance‟ process.

2. Why can’t a HOPWA client port out of the City and County of San Francisco?

HOPWA is a locally funded San Francisco City and County Program funded through the Mayor‟s Office of Housing.

3. What happened with HOPWA? The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency was dissolved and the Mayor‟s Office of Housing is now taking on the funding aspect of the HOPWA program.

4. How can grants become available for SFHA? There are various types of grants. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide a Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”). The San Francisco Housing Authority (“SFHA”) will review the NOFA‟s as they become available. If eligible, the SFHA will apply.

5. If an owner does not fulfill their responsibilities, what does the SFHA do?

Initially, the rent is abated. After 6 months of abatement, the HAP contracted is cancelled.

6. Why are there restrictions? (Referring to Page 13; 4th paragraph from the bottom) Refer to Chapter 10 7. Why are there income limitations? (Referring to page 4) Question needs clarification.

8. Who do you go to if you have a crooked landlord?

Report the SFHA.

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9. What are CFR and ACC? Code of Federal Regulation (CFR): is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations (sometimes called administrative law) published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.

Annual Contributions Contract (ACC): The written contract between HUD and a housing authority under which HUD agrees to provide funding for a program under the 1937 Act, and the housing authority agrees to comply with HUD requirements for the program.

10. How do you find out who your worker is? www.sfha.org or call 415.715.3280 or 415.715.3226 11. Can anyone go back to school and get the tax credit?

Contact the IRS. 12. When given a 30 day notice and then a 15 day notice, does that mean 45 days in total?

No. 30 day notice is effective for 30 days. The 15 day notice is a reminder.

13. If a family is in a SRO and they are called out of town, how can they keep track of what’s going on with their number?

Call the status line 415.715.3254 14. Are there advocate groups that could speak on an applicant’s behalf?

The individual must speak to the individual advocates and give them authorization to speak on their behalf.

15. If a person does not accept a Project Base Voucher, what happens?

The applicant remains on the Housing Choice Voucher Waitlist 16. Does SFHA let applicants know when the list is getting ready to be purged?

Yes. All applicants are notified by mail.

17. What happens if you never get the letter that you have been pulled off the waiting list, what can the person do?

Contact the SFHA. An applicant has 12 months to be re-instated to the waitlist.

18. Suggestion: The policy should state that applicants should call every 6 months or twice a year to check in.

19. How far does HUD let SFHA modify Federal laws?

None. Federal law IS the law.

20. How does SFHA determine utility allowance?

An annual third party Utility Study is conducted. The most recent study was conducted by the Nelrod Company, July 2011.

21. How much is the utility allowance?

See Attachment Form HUD-52667 22. How much of a deduction can you get for prescription drugs and how are they deducted?

Depends on the type of prescription drug. For specifics the individual should contact their eligibility worker.