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
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
    1. Decision to Close an Open Waiting List
    2. Procedures to Close an Open Waiting List
    3. Public Announcement/Request for Advertising
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 O: Closing An Open Waiting List

1. Decision to Close a Waiting List

When determining whether a waiting list should be closed, consider the number of applicants on the list. Suspension of taking applications (i.e. closing the list) cannot occur unless the waiting list review determines that it is unlikely all applicants on the list will be served within the next 12-month period or there are more than 75 applicants/20% of the county allocation on the waiting list. Closing a list eliminates unnecessary application processing costs, allows staff to devote time to other important program activities, and prevents false hope among families that assistance will be available in the near future.

2. Procedures to Close an Open Waiting List

• At such time that an “open” list will be closed, the MSHDA 141 must be completed and forwarded to the appropriate RS at least 60 days in advance of the projected close date.
• Upon approval, the RS will notify MSHDA Office of Housing Voucher Programs staff, MSHDA Office of Rental Development and Homeless Initiatives (ORDHI), the Continuum of Care, and designated lead agency of the effective date of the waiting list closure.

3. Public Announcement/Request for Advertising

MSHDA’s Office of Communications is responsible for actually placing the advertisements for all counties. All proposed public announcements must be reviewed and approved by the RS.