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Eligibility
How do I know if I am eligible?
Standards for eligibility are established by HUD guidelines and by THA's Admission and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP). These standards include income eligibility, criminal history, rental history and whether a person qualifies for a "preference." Completed applications are only received on Mondays between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm . This establishes a family's place on the Public Housing Waiting List for the size of unit for which a family qualifies. As units become available, names are pulled from the top of the list for the size of unit available.
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When names are pulled from the list, applicants are screened for eligibility. This includes verifying income, checking family rental history and a background check on all adult members of the family to determine whether they have any drug related or violence related arrests or convictions.
How do I know if I am income eligible?
The following Chart shows the Income Eligibility limits for 2006:
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No. of Persons |
Income Ceiling for Public Housing |
Income Ceiling for Section 8 Housing |
1 |
$33,800 |
$21,150 |
2 |
$38,650 |
$24,150 |
3 |
$43,450 |
$27,200 |
4 |
$48,300 |
$30,200 |
5 |
$52,150 |
$32,600 |
6 |
$56,050 |
$35,050 |
7 |
$59,900 |
$37,450 |
8 |
$63,750 |
$39,850 |
What does it mean to claim a "preference?"
The Topeka Housing Authority has a preference for working families. Elderly and/or disabled families are also included in this preference. To qualify the Head of Household and/or the spouse must either be working, elderly or disabled. Those families that qualify for a preference will be placed on the Section 8 waiting list ahead of those who do not qualify for the preference.
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Must I work a minimum number of hours to qualify for the working preference?
No. Working is defined as any job for which you are receiving wages. You must, however, be working on a regular basis. Working a day or two occasionally would not qualify.
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Who is eligible for the elderly and/or disabled status?
Elderly status is given to the Head of Household and/or spouse who is 62 years old or more. Disabled status would be given to the Head of Household and/or spouse who is receiving SSI or SSDI for a disability or has been certified by a doctor as disabled according to the federal definition of disabled.
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How is the waiting list determined?
After preference is considered, applicants will be ranked according to the date and time they applied. Head of Household and/or spouse who are working, elderly and disabled all carry the same weight in determining a preference.
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How long is the waiting list?
The length of time an applicant waits depends on the number of vouchers available. Vouchers only become available as current Section 8 participants leave the program. Since applicants claiming a preference will always be considered first, an applicant who is unable to claim a preference could wait indefinitely.
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Can I change my preference if my circumstances change?
Yes. If your family situation changes, your ability to qualify for a preference may also change. Fill out a "Change of Preference" form when this happens.
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How can I find out what number I am on the waiting list?
Waiting list position information is available on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling 357-8842 , ext. 400. Approximate waiting length times are also available at this time.
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What should I do if I move?
Everyone that is on the Public Housing or Section 8 waiting list must provide a change of address within 10 business days. A seperate change of address must be provide for EACH program list. That is, if a person is on both Public Housing and Section 8 waiting lists, they must provide their new address to both programs. All mail sent by the Topeka Housing Authority is stamped "Return Service Requested." This means the Post Office will not forward this mail, even if a forwarding request has been completed with the Post Office! If a person fails to change their address in writing with THA, and a letter than is sent to them at the addreess they provided, they could be dropped from that program's Waiting List. Address change forms are available at the THA Administrative Office.
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What happens if I claim a preference that I don't really qualify for?
All preferences will be verified. Falsely claiming a preference will cause your application for assistance to be denied.
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How many bedrooms will I be able to have?
According to THA guidelines, there should be no more than two persons per room. Guidelines also are that a child that is two or under can share a room with a parent, and children of the same sex can share a room until one reaches age five.
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How does THA conduct Background checks?
THA uses a variety of resources to complete background checks. This includes using Topeka Police Department resources, the Shawnee County Court website, websites from other states and communities as well as various commercial companies that have resources to identify criminal history of applicants. Applicants that fail to provide accurate information are automatically denied.
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How does THA verify income?
THA contacts the employers identified on the application and requests that income be verified. THA also contacts other governmental agencies like SRS and Social Security to identify sources of income that they have access to. Most recently, HUD has developed a resource that cross-checks residents of Public and Section 8 housing with all sources that report income to the US government. Since this new source became available in early 2005, a significant number of people in Public Housing or on Section 8 have been discovered to have more income than reported. This constitutes fraud. Residents are required to repay the rent portion on unreported income. In some cases, residents have been prosecuted for Fraud. Applicants that fail to provide accurate information are automatically denied.
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What is the Difference between Public and Section 8 housing?
Public Housing refers to the 636 units of assisted housing that THA owns and manages on seven sites. Section 8 housing refers to a HUD program where income eligible families find their own housing and are assisted with their rental payments. (Rent is based on resident paying approximately 30% of the family income for rent, and THA paying the remainder).
Public Housing and Section 8 are two separate and distinct programs.
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