Chapter V: Denials


Section C: Discretionary Applicant Denials

The situations listed below may result in the denial of assistance. Denial decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with written confirmation of the consultation between the HA and the appropriate Resource Specialist or Compliance Enforcement Coordinator.

  1. If any member of the household commits fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any federal housing program. [24 CFR 982.552]
  2. If any member of the household has committed fraud in connection with any federal or state-funded benefit program, e.g., TANF, Social Security Administration program, etc., the admission may be denied. The application is not denied solely on this basis without documentation or proof of the alleged fraud. The household may be admitted if the fraud is in connection with a federal or state-funded benefit program and the family was placed under a repayment agreement and verification that the debt was paid in full is obtained.
  3. The applicant or family currently owes rent or other amounts to MSHDA or another Public Housing Agency (PHA), in connection with Section 8 or public housing assistance under the 1937 Act. This includes situations when the family has not reimbursed a PHA for amounts paid to an owner under a previous HAP contract for rent, damages to a unit, or other amounts owed by the family under the lease. If the applicant pays off the debt in its entirety or signs and is current with a repayment agreement, then the applicant may be assisted. [24 CFR 982.552(c)(1)(v), (vi) and (vii)]
  4. The applicant or any household member has been evicted from federally assisted housing within the last five years. [24 CFR 982.552(c)(1)(ii)]
  5. If a PHA ever terminated assistance to any family under the HCV program for any member of the family. [24 CFR 982.552(c)(1)(iii)]
  6. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): A family may be admitted to the program if the family is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking which has resulted in a history of evictions, or crime provided the abuser is no longer a member of the household. The family must be willing to certify the incidents by completing the Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Stalking (MSHDA 1635) and/or by submitting Police or court records. [Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) PL 109-192, January 5, 2006]
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