The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal assistance tool to help low-income and housing insecure Americans afford rent with a private landlord. Eligibility for the program is determined by a handful of factors, most importantly is household income. In order to qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, the applying individual or family must have an annual gross income 50% or more below the local median for the family size. In other words, eligible applicants have to make half or less than the average yearly earnings in their area relative to other households of their size. The Grinnell Housing Authority requires eligible applicants to have a gross income of 30% of the area median income. Those in the 30-50% range can currently only be enrolled if there is nobody on the waitlist at 30% or below. Current Eligible income maximums (30% level) for the Grinnell area are as follows:
1 Person:
$20,100
2 Person:
$23,000
3 Person:
$25,850
4 Person:
$31,200
5 Person:
$36,580
6 Person:
$41,960
As a rule of the program, at least 75% of vouchers the Grinnell Housing Authority provides must go to households whose income is 30% or less than the area median income.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or of otherwise eligible naturalization status. Any drug-related criminal offenses in the past 2 years automatically makes you ineligible for the program. Past enrollment on the program may also impact eligibility.
Partnered landlords reserve the right to deny applicants who are registered felons and/or have a criminal record.
Enrolled tenants are expected to pay 30-40% of their monthly income for rent.
Enrollees must live in their unit and not lease or own other properties.
They must follow all rules and stipulations of the lease agreement to the property.
Housing Choice Vouchers are tenant-based, and thus the funding follows the tenant. Enrolled tenants then may move properties and retain Voucher coverage. To move properties with a Housing Choice Voucher, the tenant must notify their current landlord and Housing Authority of their intent to move and where to. If the area the tenants wish to move is under the jurisdiction of a separate Housing Authority(s), they must notify them as well. To qualify for a move while retaining their Voucher coverage (portability), the tenant must meet the income guidelines for the receiving area, not be in violation of their current lease agreement, and have lived in the initial property’s area for at least 12 months. The tenant will complete a Portability Release Form to prove they meet the conditions for portability. Tenants must be wary of the time it can take for housing authorities to complete the voucher enlistment transfer, and that no housing authority is liable for expenses brought by the move prior to receiving portability or other miscellaneous costs related to the move.
The Grinnell Housing Authority has the right to request information in regard to the criminal history, income, assets, residency, and other related factors from applicants and appropriate organizations.
Tenants will have to sign a lease of at least one year in length with the partnered landlord. Landlords may require a security deposit as part of the lease agreement, which the Voucher does not cover.
All changes in income or family size for enrollees must be reported to the Grinnell Housing Authority within 10 days of the change. Reports should be made via form available at the Grinnell Housing Authority office.
There is currently a ~9 to 12-month waitlist for the Housing Choice Voucher Program in Grinnell. The waitlist is expected to move faster in the coming months. While the Housing Choice Voucher may not currently be of help for immediate assistance, it is still recommended to stop by the office to apply and see what help may be available in the meantime.