What is the Section 8 Program?
The Section 8 Program is a program funded by Congress and the President and
under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and
administered by the Housing Commission of the City of Marquette to provide decent,
safe and sanitary affordable rental housing for very low income families.
The Housing Commission (HC) assists these families by paying a portion of the
contract rent to the landlord and the family pays a portion of the rent to the
landlord. The family pays approximately 30 percent of their monthly income
as their share of the rent.
Who is eligible for Section 8?
Families with income that is 50 percent or less of the median income for the
area qualify as very low income families. An eligible family can be a
single person household, elderly or disabled, as well as families of two or
more.
What does the landlord need to do?
The landlord must attract a family that has already been determined as
eligible and has been issued a Voucher by the Housing Commission. The
landlord is responsible to screen the family for suitability as a tenant, just
as they would any prospective tenant. If the landlord decides to rent to
the family, a Request for Lease Approval (RLA) is completed and submitted to the
HA. Eligible families are given the RLA at the time they are issued a
Voucher. The HA schedules an inspection of the rental unit within 15 days
of receiving RLA. If the unit meets HUD Housing Quality Standards and the
rent amount is approvable by standards set by HUD, the lease is signed by the
landlord and tenant and the contract is signed by the HA representative and the
landlord.
The landlord is expected to collect a security deposit and the family's share
of the rent. The landlord is expected to maintain the property's overall
condition and see that the basic plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling
systems, etc. are functioning properly. Should the family violate the
terms of the lease or fail to pay the rent, the landlord would evict the family
through the normal court eviction procedure and send the HA copies of any
notices that the tenant is served so we can respond properly.
The HA will mail a check to the landlord on the first business day of each
month for the HA portion of the rent.
What does the family need to do?
The participating family is responsible to pay the rent and the utilities
for which they are obligated under the lease. They are also responsible to
follow all the terms of the lease. The family is responsible for normal
housekeeping maintenance of the rental unit. Serious or repeated lease
violations can result in the termination of housing assistance under the federal
regulations. If the family damages the rental unit beyond normal wear and
tear, they are responsible to pay for the damages. Damaging the unit will
also result in the termination of a family's assistance. The landlord must
collect these amounts through the local court system.
What are the rent limits?
The Section 8 Fair Market Rents are published in the Federal Register each
year and are effective each October 1.
