housing choice voucher landlord quarterly news AWS
www.hacp.org
Fall 2017
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LANDLORD QUARTERLY NEWS OUR VETERANS NEED YOUR HELP Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing
Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Help us serve those who have served our country. If you own rental property in Pittsburgh, you can ensure a veteran has a place to call home by getting involved with a program that has helped thousands of veterans to overcome homeless and lead independent lives. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is seeking Pittsburgh landlords and property owners willing to provide homes for deserving veterans. Our veterans are actively searching for 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is partnering with the Veteran’s Affairs Administration in an effort to provide long-term affordable housing to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VASH program, HACP will provide housing for these veterans and their families. If you are willing to help house homeless veterans and their families, please email your information to us at [email protected] or contact Tommie Thomas at phone number: 412-456-5000, ext. 4034. If you have properties outside of the city, but within Allegheny County, please contact Randi Beattie at: 412-402-2408.
Are You Ready to Become a “Preferred Owner”? The Preferred Owners program is designed to promote and improve the quality of Housing Choice Voucher Program properties. This program aims to increase the number of properties in quality neighborhoods and provide the preferred owners with various benefits such as priority inspection scheduling, biennial inspections, and extended expiration date of initial inspections. Additionally, preferred owners may apply for vacancy payments if a voucher holder moves out (equal to no more than two months of the previous tenants HAP payment), and finally properties will be placed at the top of HACP’s property listing webpage. Apply online today through HACP’s website: www.hacp.org!
Recruiting Members for the Landlord Advisory Council
HACP is seeking six volunteers to serve on the Landlord Advisory Council, starting their term January 1, 2017. The role of the Landlord Advisory Council is to represent the Housing Choice Voucher Program landlords while assisting in the development the HACP Administrative Plan. This committee discusses any policies, programs, operations or strategies for meeting housing needs and goals. We are seeking motivated, respectful individuals looking to make a difference in their community, provide feedback on various topics, and be open to new ideas. If you are interested in applying for a position on the Landlord Advisory Council, please contact Tommie Thomas at [email protected] or pick up an application at the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Housing Choice Voucher office, located at 200 Ross Street, 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. All applications are due by November 30, 2017.
Hear from our Landlord Outreach Specialist, Tommie Thomas:
Tommie is dedicated to serving our community and helping others facilitating smooth transactions between the applicants, the landlord community, and the Housing Authority. If you have a vacancy, please contact Tommie as he will be able to provide landlords with income qualified Housing Choice Voucher applicants to help streamline the eligibility process. Landlords can then conduct background checks to find applicants that meet their criteria. Tommie can be reached at: [email protected] or by phone: 412-456-5000, ext. 4034. In a recent interview with Mr. Thomas, he was asked the following questions: How has your experience at The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh been? My experience at HACP has been challenging and rewarding. Working in the housing industry is a new experience for me but I’m excited and anxious to learn and gain valuable experience in the industry. What type of tasks are you responsible for performing? My tasks as the landlord support representative are: • Processing rent increased & change of property ownership • Change of direct deposits • Communicating with landlords regarding contract status • Submitting payment adjustments and vacancy payments for landlords • Posting property listings • Attending advocacy meetings • Helping with the preferred landlord program What would you tell landlords who are reconsidering renting to a Housing Choice Voucher holders? I would tell a landlord who is considering renting to a Housing Choice Voucher holder that my job is to help them throughout the process and I can be reached four ways: phone, fax, email and by appointment. As a landlord or property manager, what type of things can we look forward to in the next year or two? As a landlord or property manager, we can look forward to more construction, renovations and properties being sold in the city of Pittsburgh over the next year or two while the Baby Boomers continue to cash out of the market and new business are developed in our city.
How to Submit a Rent Increase
Landlords may request a rent increase once per year. Rent increase requests must be received by the HACP not later than 90 days prior to the tenant’s anniversary date. The rent increase request must be signed by the tenant. Any rent increase requests received later than the submission deadline, or that are missing the tenant’s signature, will be denied. To help make sure your requests are submitted on time, please refer to the Rent Increase Request Submission Deadlines below. The Rent Increase Request form can be downloaded from the HACP website. Please submit the Rent Increase Request forms to the HACP Section 8 Office, email [email protected], or fax 412-456-5224.
Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program
Does your home or apartment have old peeling paint? Are there young kids in the home? Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Can Help! The Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program will identify and control lead-based paint hazards in approximately 175 eligible units throughout Allegheny County, including the City of Pittsburgh. Services available to eligible families and properties may include: • Lead-Based Paint Testing The Program will arrange for a lead-based paint inspection and risk assessment to be conducted to test for the presence of lead-based paint and identify lead hazards. • Lead Hazard Control Strategy Each property will have a specific lead hazard control strategy developed to repair all lead hazards identified during the testing. Treatments will depend upon the specific property and lead hazards identified, but may include: ◆ Window replacement ◆ Enclosing exterior trim and components ◆ Door replacement ◆ Repairing and repainting lead-hazardous surfaces ◆ Repairing or replacing linoleum or carpet flooring • Lead Hazard Control The Program will hire and pay a Pennsylvania State Certified Lead Abatement Contractor to conduct the specified lead-safe renovations. • Evaluation Following completion of the work, a visual inspection and lead-dust sampling will be performed to ensure the home is lead-safe. For more information on eligibility requirements call: 412-227-5700 or visit the website, www.alleghenycountry.us/leadsafeprogram.
Fall 2017
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LANDLORD QUARTERLY NEWS OUR VETERANS NEED YOUR HELP Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing
Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Help us serve those who have served our country. If you own rental property in Pittsburgh, you can ensure a veteran has a place to call home by getting involved with a program that has helped thousands of veterans to overcome homeless and lead independent lives. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is seeking Pittsburgh landlords and property owners willing to provide homes for deserving veterans. Our veterans are actively searching for 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is partnering with the Veteran’s Affairs Administration in an effort to provide long-term affordable housing to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VASH program, HACP will provide housing for these veterans and their families. If you are willing to help house homeless veterans and their families, please email your information to us at [email protected] or contact Tommie Thomas at phone number: 412-456-5000, ext. 4034. If you have properties outside of the city, but within Allegheny County, please contact Randi Beattie at: 412-402-2408.
Are You Ready to Become a “Preferred Owner”? The Preferred Owners program is designed to promote and improve the quality of Housing Choice Voucher Program properties. This program aims to increase the number of properties in quality neighborhoods and provide the preferred owners with various benefits such as priority inspection scheduling, biennial inspections, and extended expiration date of initial inspections. Additionally, preferred owners may apply for vacancy payments if a voucher holder moves out (equal to no more than two months of the previous tenants HAP payment), and finally properties will be placed at the top of HACP’s property listing webpage. Apply online today through HACP’s website: www.hacp.org!
Recruiting Members for the Landlord Advisory Council
HACP is seeking six volunteers to serve on the Landlord Advisory Council, starting their term January 1, 2017. The role of the Landlord Advisory Council is to represent the Housing Choice Voucher Program landlords while assisting in the development the HACP Administrative Plan. This committee discusses any policies, programs, operations or strategies for meeting housing needs and goals. We are seeking motivated, respectful individuals looking to make a difference in their community, provide feedback on various topics, and be open to new ideas. If you are interested in applying for a position on the Landlord Advisory Council, please contact Tommie Thomas at [email protected] or pick up an application at the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Housing Choice Voucher office, located at 200 Ross Street, 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. All applications are due by November 30, 2017.
Hear from our Landlord Outreach Specialist, Tommie Thomas:
Tommie is dedicated to serving our community and helping others facilitating smooth transactions between the applicants, the landlord community, and the Housing Authority. If you have a vacancy, please contact Tommie as he will be able to provide landlords with income qualified Housing Choice Voucher applicants to help streamline the eligibility process. Landlords can then conduct background checks to find applicants that meet their criteria. Tommie can be reached at: [email protected] or by phone: 412-456-5000, ext. 4034. In a recent interview with Mr. Thomas, he was asked the following questions: How has your experience at The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh been? My experience at HACP has been challenging and rewarding. Working in the housing industry is a new experience for me but I’m excited and anxious to learn and gain valuable experience in the industry. What type of tasks are you responsible for performing? My tasks as the landlord support representative are: • Processing rent increased & change of property ownership • Change of direct deposits • Communicating with landlords regarding contract status • Submitting payment adjustments and vacancy payments for landlords • Posting property listings • Attending advocacy meetings • Helping with the preferred landlord program What would you tell landlords who are reconsidering renting to a Housing Choice Voucher holders? I would tell a landlord who is considering renting to a Housing Choice Voucher holder that my job is to help them throughout the process and I can be reached four ways: phone, fax, email and by appointment. As a landlord or property manager, what type of things can we look forward to in the next year or two? As a landlord or property manager, we can look forward to more construction, renovations and properties being sold in the city of Pittsburgh over the next year or two while the Baby Boomers continue to cash out of the market and new business are developed in our city.
How to Submit a Rent Increase
Landlords may request a rent increase once per year. Rent increase requests must be received by the HACP not later than 90 days prior to the tenant’s anniversary date. The rent increase request must be signed by the tenant. Any rent increase requests received later than the submission deadline, or that are missing the tenant’s signature, will be denied. To help make sure your requests are submitted on time, please refer to the Rent Increase Request Submission Deadlines below. The Rent Increase Request form can be downloaded from the HACP website. Please submit the Rent Increase Request forms to the HACP Section 8 Office, email [email protected], or fax 412-456-5224.
Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program
Does your home or apartment have old peeling paint? Are there young kids in the home? Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Can Help! The Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program will identify and control lead-based paint hazards in approximately 175 eligible units throughout Allegheny County, including the City of Pittsburgh. Services available to eligible families and properties may include: • Lead-Based Paint Testing The Program will arrange for a lead-based paint inspection and risk assessment to be conducted to test for the presence of lead-based paint and identify lead hazards. • Lead Hazard Control Strategy Each property will have a specific lead hazard control strategy developed to repair all lead hazards identified during the testing. Treatments will depend upon the specific property and lead hazards identified, but may include: ◆ Window replacement ◆ Enclosing exterior trim and components ◆ Door replacement ◆ Repairing and repainting lead-hazardous surfaces ◆ Repairing or replacing linoleum or carpet flooring • Lead Hazard Control The Program will hire and pay a Pennsylvania State Certified Lead Abatement Contractor to conduct the specified lead-safe renovations. • Evaluation Following completion of the work, a visual inspection and lead-dust sampling will be performed to ensure the home is lead-safe. For more information on eligibility requirements call: 412-227-5700 or visit the website, www.alleghenycountry.us/leadsafeprogram.
