Housing Voucher Programs - Policy and Procedures Manual

Chapter II Sections

1. Opening A Waiting List
2. Outreach
3. Application Distribution Procedures
4. Application Review Procedures
   1. Program Eligibility Income Limit Qualifications
   2. Student Eligibility
   3. Delinquency Check
   4. Incomplete Applications
   5. Receipt of Application for a Closed Waiting List
   6. Receipt of Application for Different County
   7. Receipt of Application and Applicant on Another Waiting List
5. Waiting List Placement Procedures
6. Notice of Application Acceptance Procedures
7. Waiting Lists for Special Programs
8. Enter Data in Elite
9. Printing the Waiting List
10. Ranking Applications
11. Changes While on the Waiting List
12. Waiting List Pulls
13. Removing Applicant Names from Waiting List
14. Purging/Updating Waiting List
15. Closing an Open Waiting List
16. Cross Listing Notice for MRP/SRO
17. Application Maintenance
18. File Retention
19. Portability
20. Special Admissions
21. Applicable Forms List

Chapter II: Waiting List Management

Section D: Application Review Procedures

Before placement on the waiting list the HA must review received applications for eligibility. Review applications for the following:

1. Program Eligibility Income Limit Qualification

• Applications will only be accepted from families with gross incomes that are 50% area median income (AMI). See Appendix for current income limits.
• Elite will calculate the gross annual income from information provided by the applicant on the MSHDA 322. If income information cannot be determined (i.e. left blank), notify the applicant of the deficiency via a MSHDA 1634a requesting an income estimate within 14 days. Deny the application if the information is not provided within the designated time frame. An applicant name cannot be added to the waiting list without income information, as required income targeting information is not available.
• Enter all new applicants in Elite pre-application entry.
• When determining income eligibility for a single pregnant adult (one household member), income limits for one person apply.
• If the household gross income is above the appropriate income limit level, the applicant must be denied placement on the waiting list. Notify applicant of the denial using an Application Denial/Program Termination form (MSHDA 1634b). An informal review cannot be requested by the applicant.

2. Student Eligibility

• A full-time student (18+, high school or college) is eligible for HCV assistance when the student:
  1. Lives with his/her parent/guardian(s); and
  2. Is claimed as a dependent by their parent/guardian(s), and
  3. Eligibiity for the HCV program is based on the income of the parent/guardian(s) (the parents jointly or independently) and all other members of the family.
• All other part or full-time students enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education are eligible for housing assistance under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 if he/she can show independent status from parent/guardian(s) for at least one year prior to applying to the waiting list or the individual meets the U.S. Department of Education definition of an independent student, and they meet any of the following criteria.
  1. 24 years of age or older;
  2. A veteran of the U.S. Military;
  3. Married;
  4. Has a dependent child.
• If the applicant does not meet the criteria, the applicant must be denied placement on the waiting list. Notify applicant of the denial using a MSHDA 1634b.

3. Delinquency Check

• If the applicant's name appears in Elite as delinquent or the applicant has a known debt with another PHA and they’re current on a scheduled Repayment Agreement, the application must be accepted.
• If the applicant is delinquent or has refused to sign a Repayment Agreement, the application must be denied unless the applicant pays the total debt, brings the debt current, or signs a Repayment Agreement, whichever is applicable, within 14 days. Once denied, the applicant may reapply to an open waiting list provided the negative delinquency status has changed. Denial notification is sent/issued via the MSHDA 1634b.

4. Incomplete Applications

If an application is incomplete, i.e. unsigned application, missing information; notify the applicant of the deficiency via a MSHDA 1634a requesting the missing information within 14 days. Deny the application if the information is not provided within the designated time frame. Notify applicant of the denial using a MSHDA 1634b.

5. Receipt of Application for a Closed Waiting List

If an application is received for a county with a closed waiting list, the HA will notify the applicant that the application is denied because they applied to a closed waiting list. Denial notification is sent/issued via the MSHDA 1634b. An informal review cannot be requested by the applicant.

6. Receipt of Application for Different County

• If an application is received for a different county with an open waiting list, the HA must forward the application to the requested county for processing/notification. The receiving HA must E-mail the HA in the new county advising that an application is en route.
• If an application is received for a different county with a closed waiting list, the HA will notify the applicant that the application is denied because they applied to a closed waiting list. Denial notification is sent/issued via the MSHDA 1634b. An informal review cannot be requested by the applicant.

7. Receipt of Application and applicant is already on another county waiting list

Notify applicant they are denied because they can only be on one waiting list. Denial letter must advise applicant to contact HA in original county of application.