Housing Voucher Programs - Policy and Procedures Manual

Chapter XX Sections

1. HUD/MSHDA Responsibilities
2. Family Eligibility
3. Issuance of Enhanced Voucher
4. Unit Size
5. Enhanced Voucher Payment Standard/Rent Reasonableness
6. Minimum Rent Requirement
7. Calculating HAP Payments
8. Re-examination Process
9. Rent Increases
10. Miscellaneous Program Requirements
11. Special Conditions after the First Year of Assistance
12. Elite and File Procedures
13. Special Administrative Fee Reporting
14. Definitions
15. Applicable Forms List

Chapter XX: Enhanced Subsidies For Housing Voucher Conversion Actions

Section K: Special Conditions After The First Year of Assistance

Enhanced Voucher Minimum Rent: When the family continues to reside in the unit, the enhanced voucher minimum rent continues to apply after the initial lease term.

If the family income significantly decreases (more than 15%), the applicable minimum rent requirement changes from a specific dollar amount to a percentage of income. See Section F.

If a family who received an enhanced voucher subsequently moves from the development, the voucher becomes a standard HCV and the standard voucher rules apply when calculating the family share of rent.

Enhanced Voucher Payment Standard (PS): The enhanced voucher PS rules apply to any subsequent rent increase if the family stays in place (subject to rent reasonableness); therefore, the new gross rent equals the payment standard. Generally, this occurs at the annual reexamination. The PS adjusts to cover an owner’s rent increase. The family’s PS will decrease at the annual reexamination only if:

• There is a change in the family’s size or composition that requires MSHDA to use the PS for the now appropriate bedroom size; or
• A change in MSHDA’s occupancy standards results in the family qualifying for a smaller bedroom size voucher.

Otherwise, the special PS set at the owner’s initial rent increase remains in effect for the family until the landlord increases the rent, or the family moves from the unit. MSHDA always applies the HCV program rules if the family subsequently moves from the unit.