MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Calcasieu Parish Housing Department is
to aid the financially disadvantage with decent, clean, and sanitary
housing by providing quality services to the people of Calcasieu Parish.
Programs
Information for Homeowners
Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher
(HCV) Program
Program Description:
The purpose of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is to
provide rental assistance to eligible families. The rules and
regulations of the HCV program are determined by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. The Calcasieu Parish Housing Department (CPHD)
is afforded choices in the operation of the program, which are included
in the agency’s Administrative Plan, a document approved by the
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.
The HCV program offers mobility to eligible families because they may
search for suitable housing anywhere in the CPHD’s jurisdiction and may
also be eligible to move under portability to other public housing
agencies’ jurisdictions.
When a family is determined to be eligible for the program and funding
is available, the PHA issues the family a housing voucher. When the
family finds a suitable housing unit and funding is available, the PHA
will enter into a contract with the owner and the family will enter into
a lease with the owner. Each party makes their respective payment to the
owner so that the owner receives full rent.
Even though the family is determined to be eligible for the program, the
owner has the responsibility of approving the family as a suitable
renter. The CPHD would continue to make payments to the owner as long as
the family is eligible and the housing unit continues to qualify under
the program by meeting minimum HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for the HCV program, the applicant family must:
-
Qualify as a family as defined by
HUD and the CPHD
-
Have income at or below HUD
specified income limits
-
Qualify on the basis of
citizenship or the eligible immigrant status of family members
-
Consent to the CPHD’s collection
and use of family information as provided in CPHD provided consent
forms.
The CPHD must also determine that the
current and past behavior of household members does not include
activities that are prohibited by HUD or the CPHD.
Income Limits/Guidelines:
HUD establishes income limits by household size for the area in which
the public housing agency is located. The income limits for Calcasieu
Parish for the HCV program are:
|
Household Size |
Income Limit |
|
1 |
$10,700 |
| 2 |
$12,200 |
| 3 |
$13,750 |
| 4 |
$15,250 |
| 5 |
$16,450 |
| 6 |
$17,700 |
Forms / Documents
Below is a list of downloadable form use for the HCV program
Current Property Listings
Program Status:
The Housing Department is not currently taking application for the HCV
program. The waiting list for assistance is currently closed.
Reopening of waiting list
If the waiting list has been closed, it cannot be reopened until the
CPHD publishes a notice in local newspapers of general circulation,
minority media, and other suitable media outlets. The CPHD will announce
the reopening of the waiting list at least 10 days prior to the date
applications will first be accepted. If the list is only being reopened
for certain categories of families, this information will be contained
in the notice.
Disaster Voucher Program
Program Description:
The Disaster Voucher Program (DVP) is a temporary rental assistance
program for certain HUD-assisted and special needs/homeless families
displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita.
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for the DVP, a family must have been displaced by Hurricane
Katrina or Rita and must have either been previously assisted under
certain HUD-assisted housing programs or must qualify as a pre-disaster
special needs/homeless family.
Income Limits/Guidelines:
Family income is not a consideration for eligibility for this program.
HUD has waived all requirements related to income eligibility and tenant
contribution for families participating under the DVP for the statutory
maximum term of 18 months.
Forms:
Below is a list of downloadable form use for this program
Program Status:
Currently, the Housing Department is taking application for this
program. The deadline is currently set for September 30, 2007. It
has been recently extended to December 31, 2007.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program
Program Description:
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) is a temporary rental assistance
program funded by the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA) to help
individual households afford housing costs related to rental assistance
and security deposits. TBRA is meant for temporary assistance only and
is not a life-long commitment. Many of the components of the TBRA
program are similar to and modeled after the Section 8 Housing Choice
Voucher (HCV) Program.
Like the HCV Program, families choose their unit and the assistance is
portable within the CPHD’s jurisdiction. The amount of rental assistance
paid on behalf of an eligible household is limited to the difference
between the established rent for the unit and thirty percent (30%) of
the eligible household’s gross monthly income.
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for TBRA, applicants must be registered with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and have an income at/or below 80%
percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size.
Income Limits/Guidelines:
In order to qualify for the TBRA, the gross annual income of the
household must be 80% or lower of area median income. The income limits
for Calcasieu Parish for the TBRA program are:
|
Household Size |
Income Limit |
|
1 |
$28,000 |
| 2 |
$32,000 |
| 3 |
$36,000 |
| 4 |
$40,000 |
| 5 |
$43,120 |
| 6 |
$46,320 |
Forms:
Below is a list of downloadable form use for this program
Program Status:
Currently, the Housing Department is not taking application for this
program. The program is expected to end December 31, 2007.
Shelter Plus Care
Program (S + C)
Shelter-Plus Care (S+C) provides rental assistance for hard-to-serve
homeless persons with disabilities in connection with supportive
services funded from sources outside the program. (S+C) is designed
to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for
homeless persons with disabilities, (primarily those with serious
mental illness, chronic problems with alcohol and/or drugs, and
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or related diseases) and
their families who are living in placed not intended for human
habitation (e.g., streets) or in emergency shelters. The program
allows for a variety of housing choices, and a range of supportive
services, in response to the needs of the hard-to reach homeless
population with disabilities. Other Federal, State, or local
sources, as well as private sources may fund the supportive
services. The CPHD has been funded seven vouchers over a five-year
period to provide this service. Anyone needing additional
information about the (S+C) Program may contact Kristin Arceneaux at
721-3577 or by e-mail at
karceneaux@cppj.net.
Down Payment
Assistance and Closing Costs
Calcasieu Parish Housing Department has
received $35,000 in grant funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of
Dallas to provide qualified low and moderate-income persons with
down payment and closing cost assistance. The Community Housing
Resource Board of SWLA will assist with homebuyers’ education for
the potential applicants. Qualified buyers will receive $7,000 in
assistance. Funds will be available on a first-come, first- served
basis based on the application process and marketing strategy as
outlined below.
-
Applicants must
have good credit and be able to qualify for a mortgage loan.
-
Maximum Income
Limits - (Low to moderate income only)
One (1) applicant must be very low income (at or below 50% of
median) One (1) applicant must be low income (between 51-60% of
median) Three (3) applicants can be moderate income (between
61-80% median) or lower Maximum income by household size:
updated with 2007 median income limits
1 = $17,800; 2 = $20,350; 3 = $22,900; 4 = $25,450; 5 = $27,500;
6 = 29,500 Low:
1 = $21,360; 2 = $24,420; 3 = $27,480; 4 = $30,540; 5 = $33,000;
6 = 35,400 Moderate:
1 = $28,480; 2 = $32,560; 3 = $36,640; 4 = $40,720; 5 = $44,000;
6 = 47,200
-
Owner Occupancy –
homebuyer must occupy the residence as his or her principal
residence. No investment property.
-
Property Type –
Single Family residential property. No mobile homes.
-
First Time
Homebuyer Requirement/Three Year Requirement - Obtain three
years’ tax returns to ensure homebuyer did not own property as a
primary residence during said three year period.
-
Homeless Persons
– 20% of the funds or $7,000 will be set-aside for homeless
persons.
-
Eligible Loan
Area - Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana – Five (5) scattered sites. At
minimum one (1) site must be in a rural area within Calcasieu
Parish and one (1) must be in a census tract in Calcasieu Parish
where the median income is at least 100% or more of the MSA
median income.
-
Purchases Only –
No refinances or home improvement.
-
Homebuyer
Education – Homebuyer Education Certificate from an approved
program is required. CHRB of SWLA will provide approved
Homebuyer Education Workshops for this purpose.
-
Deed Restrictions
– The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas requires a deed
restriction be filed at the time of purchase. The Federal Home
Loan Bank of Dallas shall forgive an amount equal to
one-sixtieth (1/60th) of this assistance each month that
Recipient owns and occupies the subject property until 5 years
has passed. Upon satisfactory expiration of the five-years,
recipient’s obligation to repay shall be fully satisfied and no
further repayment of this grant shall be required.
-
Preliminary
Application - Interested
parties will be directed to call the Calcasieu Parish Housing
Department. They will be asked to complete a preliminary
application to determine eligibility for the program.
-
Applicants will
be encouraged by the Calcasieu Parish Housing Department to make
application for a home loan at First Federal Bank of Louisiana
using one of many different home loan products/programs tailored
to low- to moderate-income individuals and/or first-time
homebuyers.
-
The participating
financial institution will be given an approval/commitment
letter for the applicant qualified by the Calcasieu Parish
Housing Department.
-
All applicants
will be given equal consideration without regard to ethnicity,
race, age color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or
familial status.
-
Marketing
Strategy
A. Phase One – Current Calcasieu Parish Housing Department
Section 8 clients will be targeted for the first phase of this
program. At least three have been identified at this time that
are ready for homeownership and are eligible for the Section 8
Homeownership Vouchers. This phase will include targeting the
identified homeless persons for homeownership through the
Homeless Coalition.
B. Phase Two - Remaining funds will be targeted to Calcasieu
Parish Employees who meet the income and other requirements for
the loan program and are first-time homebuyers. They will be
identified via employee payroll records with information about
the program being provided in pay stub stuffers and newsletter.
C. Phase Three – Remaining funds, if any, will be targeted to
the general public. Although it is expected to utilize all funds
in the first two phases of this program, media will be used to
make the public aware of the program and how to access the
program.
Homeowner’s Information
Maintaining good relations with existing homeowners and recruiting new
ones is an ongoing process. The CPHD recognizes and acknowledges the
value of our homeowners and are extremely interested in responding to
their needs in a manner that is responsive and that provides good
quality service.
Anyone interested in listing a unit under one of our housing programs
can contact Mr. Larry Fobbs at 721-3577 for assistance.
HQS
HUD requires that all units occupied by families receiving Housing
Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance meeting HUD’s Housing Quality Standards
(HQS) and permits the CPHD to establish additional requirements. HQS
inspections are required before the Housing Assistance Payments Contract
is signed and at least annually during the term of the contract.
HUD also requires the CPHD to determine that units rented by families
assisted under the HCV Program have rents that are reasonable when
compared to unassisted units in the market area.
Fair Market Rents
Fair Market Rents (FMRs) is the rent including the cost of utilities
(except telephone), as established by HUD for units of varying sizes (by
number of bedrooms), that must be paid in the housing market area to
rent privately owned, existing, decent, safe, and sanitary rental
housing of modest (non-luxury) nature with suitable amenities.
The Fair Market Rents for Calcasieu Parish are:
|
Bedroom Size |
Rent Amount |
|
0 |
$442.00 |
|
1 |
$498.00 |
| 2 |
$606.00 |
| 3 |
$748.00 |
| 4 |
$1,052.00 |
Date this page was
last edited
07/10/2007
|
