NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2013, SECTION 8's NEW OPERATING HOURS WILL CHANGE FROM:
7 am – 5pm to 8 am -5pm
Monday through Friday; closed holidays and weekends
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program 2017 Administrative Plan
- Closing of the Section 8 Wait List
- WHAT IS Section 8?
- HOW DO I APPLY?
- HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
- WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
- WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
- WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE?
- ARE THERE ANY SELECTION PREFERENCES?
- HOW IS RENT DETERMINED?
- HOW LONG CAN I RECEIVE SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
- TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
- LANDLORD STATEMENT REQUEST FORM and 1099-MISC REQUEST FORM
- LANDLORD ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
WHAT IS Section 8?
Section 8 is a program that provides vouchers and certificates to eligible very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The vouchers and certificates are a form of monetary rental assistance that helps very low-income families rent affordable housing of their choice from landlords on Guam. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to GHURA to provide rental assistance for very low-income residents to make renting housing in the community affordable.
GHURA determines your eligibility based on:
Annual gross income;
Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and
U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for Section 8 rental assistance, contact the GHURA Housing Services Division at 671-477-9851 or pick up an application at the GHURA Main Office located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana, Guam.
HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
You will fill it out an applicant for Section 8. GHURA needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility:
Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head;
Your present address and telephone number;
Family characteristics (e.g., veteran) or circumstances that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences;
Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family's suitability as a tenant;
An estimate of your family's anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income; and
The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other information GHURA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition.
A representative from GHURA’s Housing Services Division will describe the Section 8 program and its requirements, and answer any questions you might have.
WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
Yes, a GHURA representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on your application. GHURA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the GHURA.
WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
GHURA will provide written notification. If GHURA determines that you are eligible, your name will be put on a waiting list, unless GHURA is able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, GHURA will contact you. If it is determined that you are ineligible, GHURA will explain why and, if you wish, you can request an informal hearing.
WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE?
If you are offered Section 8 rental assistance and accept it, you will have to sign a lease with the landlord from which you choose to rent. GHURA will provide the lease agreement.
ARE THERE ANY SELECTION PREFERENCES?
Include a description of the selection preference here.
HOW IS RENT DETERMINED?
Your rent, which is referred to as the Total Tenant Payment (TTP), would be based on your family's anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if any. HUD regulations allow GHURA to exclude from annual income the following allowances:
$480 for each dependent;
$400 for any elderly family, or a person with a disability; and
Some medical deductions for families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities.
Based on your application, a GHURA representative will determine if any of the allowable deductions should be subtracted from your annual income. Annual income is the anticipated total income from all sources received from the family head and spouse, and each additional member of the family 18 years of age or older. The formula used in determining the TTP is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar:
30 percent of the monthly-adjusted income. (Monthly Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations);
Welfare rent, if applicable; or
A $50 minimum rent.
HOW LONG CAN I RECEIVE SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
In general, you may receive Section 8 rental assistance for as long as you comply with the lease and as long as your family’s income is with in the Section 8 income limits.
TECHNICAL GUIDANCE:
The Section 8 program regulations are at 24 CFR Part 983.
Additional information about the Section 8 program can be found by visiting the Section 8 program web pages at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development web site.